Free time

Over the past three days I have had more free time than I really know what to do with.  Not to say that it's a bad thing to have free time, but I'm just one of these people (like Grandma and Dad) who would rather be busy working on something than sitting around doing nothing.  So Monday was a holiday, which meant no classes.  I didn't really do much of anything on Monday.  Watched a couple of episodes of NCIS, did a lot of homework, and did some reading.  I have a paper due next Friday (the 12th) and we are going out of town this weekend so I wanted to go ahead and get it knocked out.  Since I didn't have class on Tuesday either, I worked on my paper for most of the day (after my "check up" meeting with one of our program directors about my classes).  I finished it yesterday, and, including the bibliography, it was 10 pages long.  Not the longest paper I've ever written in Spanish, but it wasn't easy to write at all.  At least the topic was slightly interesting - Spanish tiles and their Islamic roots. 

Today I had one class and then Camilla and I went to the University Store (aka their version of Student Stores).  It wasn't like UNC's Student Stores at all and reminded me a lot of any other tourist shop in the downtown area.  They had clothing with University logos on it (t-shirts, hoodies, sweatpants, etc.) and students get a 10% discount on clothing.  I got a hoodie--mainly because I didn't bring one with me so I would be able to buy one and because it's absolutely freezing in my senora's house at night.  They also had lots of little tourist gifts: postcards, magnets, posters, t-shirts, etc. 

Afterward, we wandered into el Archivo de las Indias (aka a museum that has documents from when the Spanish were exploring the Americas).  It was neat to see but definitely not the most interesting place I've ever visited.  We rushed through it because Camilla had already been and had to get home from lunch, but I will probably stop by again just to take a closer look at some of the stuff. 

After Camilla headed home, I went into Starbucks to kill a little time.  I bought a frappechino and settled down in one of the comfy chairs to do a little homework.  I had some reading to do for my psychology class and spent the next hour and a half reading and taking notes.  Then Paola met me for lunch.  We were planning to go to an Italian place near the city center, but didn't feel like walking since it was already 3:30.  So we settled for el Horno de Buenaventura.  It's kind of a touristy place, but they had an extensive menu (including several bakery/dessert items).  We split a thing of paella that was pretty good.  It, of course, was in no way comparable to my senora's paella, but it was fulfilling.  :)

Tomorrow is a full day of classes, homework, and Bible Study.  Friday is more class then a FLAMENCO show!!  And Saturday I leave for Barcelona!! So exciting!! :)