march 6, 2004

My roommate just informed me that her METRONOME went off in German class today. Sigh. Music majors.
Second semester is underway. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays aren’t quite as early as they were last semester, but they seem much busier. I start at 9:05 with a long walk to Old Main–or at least as long as long walks get here at stolaf, provided you aren’t going in circles 🙂 German cinema has been interesting. We’re studying German history through films produced before and after Hitler’s reign. So far we’ve seen Caligari and a few different versions of Nosferatu. I’m a bit tired of the Dracula story–I’m looking forward to moving on to “The Blue Angel” and “M”, our next two movies. The class is interesting but time consuming. In addition to our MWF time slot, we also meet two evenings a week. On Monday nights we meet in Viking Theater to watch the week’s movie, and on Wednesdays six of us meet to discuss the film in German (the class itself is in English).
My German language class is more difficult than the one I had last semester. We’re reading nonfiction essays about Martin Luther, the Berlin wall, the economy, etc. and writing essays on a regular basis. I have the same professor I had last semester–he comes to class everyday looking like an airplane pilot. He has these big sunglasses and a black leather beret–but I think it’s the way he carries himself that makes me smile. He’s always late, because he stops to get a cup of tea on his way to class…he walks in so coolly, with a wide smile that just screams “here I am!” He’s a funny guy, that Professor Fink. I’m a fan.
From there, I have ten minutes to stop speaking German and start speaking Spanish. I still slip up and get made fun of for answering “ja” to Profesora Olson’s questions. I started taking Spanish because my Norwegian Literature class wasn’t all I had hoped for. I had planned on doing it on my own–my brother, Noah, got me some materials from his high school Spanish teacher. I’m glad I’m in the class, though. We’re moving a lot faster than I ever would have on my own. I love languages…I love words. Studying Spanish has been great for me this semester. My friend Stephen (from interim–he taught second graders with me) and I meet every Tuesday afternoon for an Espanman (Spanish/German) study session. He’s going to Germany over Spring Break, so I’m teaching him some helpful phrases in exchange for some free Spanish tutoring (he’s fluent).
My last class, first year writing, is at 8am on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I remember signing up for this class…I preregistered for it…I don’t know what I was thinking. It always feels way too early, and I’m finding that I definitely prefer the hour long MWF classes to the 90 minute T/Th classes. The class itself is interesting. It’s called Cases of Conscience, so we’re reading about the origin/role of conscience as defined by Kant and Freud, but we’re also reading plays and short stories. There’s something incredibly intriguing about conscience–I’m drawn to the subject.
In other news, I’m learning to love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. However trivial this may seem, learning to love two pieces of wheat bread with something in between has been no small feat–take it from a girl who’d eat nothing but ketchup on a bun everyday in second grade. For the past month, I’ve eaten peanut butter and jelly at least three times a week in an attempt to develop a taste for what was previously nauseating. My evil plan worked. I want to write a letter–a letter to peanut butter and jelly sandwich makers everywhere–a letter of thanks. I’m hooked.
All this talk about pb & j is making me hungry. On that note, I’m off to dinner. I hope you’re all doing well.
Take care. love anna