El Patillas

Happy Thursday!  I don’t have class on Fridays, so tonight I went out with a couple of people.  We went to this bar called “El Patillas.”  It’s called El Patillas because the bartender has some serious sideburns going on.  It turns out that it is the go-to place for people looking to hang out and play music.  We spent a good couple of hours listening to a group of people playing the guitar and singing—not drunken singing, but seriously impressive vocals and musicianship.  At some point, I got hijacked into a conversation in with a Spanish guy who was rocking a mullet and looking to practice his English.  I also found out it’s common for people to roll their own cigarettes here.  Maybe I’m just sheltered, but I’d never seen it done before.  Overall, a good experience.

Classes have been ridiculous thus far.  Not because they’re actually ridiculous, mostly because I don’t know what’s going on.  The Spanish students are pretty good about translating.  I turned in my first paper yesterday!  I hope I don’t get an F.

I went to Astorga and Leon this past weekend with some friends.  They are both really beautiful cities.  We went to Astorga on Saturday and Leon on Monday (we didn’t have class.)  Both days I got up at 5 a.m. to catch the bus—it was exhausting!  My sleeping on the bus skills are definitely improving.

This weekend I am looking forward to relaxing and hopefully getting some homework done.  It takes four times as long, since I have to work so hard to translate the Spanish.

My biggest fear right now:  lice.  Diego said his teacher warned them today that some kids in the school have lice.  I was shocked, but Eva has had them two times.  I guess it’s common here.  Now I am praying that I don’t get them.

I am sooo excited right now, because my mom and brother are coming to visit me at the beginning of November!  I'm waiting impatiently.