Rollin' Along

These past few weeks have been like a giant volcano spewing out life complications. March just isn't my month. I find out SBC is closing, I get sick for the first time in two years ruining my whole "immune system of steel" bragging rights thing I had going on (I usually have an immune system of steel...but steel can rust when it rains, and it's definitely been raining in my life), my dog gets put down, and then I find out some bad news about someone in one of my best friend's family (being vague because it's a personal matter that's not my business to share publicly on the internet). But trust me, it definitely did not add sunshine and sparkles to my life.

So, what did I do this week? Well, I took everything that is bothering me and stuck it in an imaginary suitcase every time I went to class so I could focus. Aaaand, when I went to my classes this week, I learned three out of four of my midterm grades...and I didn't fail, so that's something good! My lowest grade was in my Mitos Literarios class. I got a 7.something. In my clase de fonética y fonología, I got an 8.2 -- which was super surprising because when I took it, I was definitely sure I had failed #1. because I guessed on so many questions and #2. because I didn't even study for it...at all. In my escritura creativa class I got a 9, which I was honestly expecting because it was really easy. Last but not least, I don't know what I got on my poesía midterm...and I don't want to know, because I think that's probably my worst one. I find out tomorrow, though.

Now that midterms are over, I can focus all of my free time on the whole new college search thing I've got going on. That's basically all I did this week. "What's Kari up to in Spain," you ask? Oh you know, I just go to class then bolt home so I can respond to emails and try to figure out my life. I spent this week submitting forms, Skyping with people from different colleges, and emailing a bunch of people. I created a huge list of questions to ask to admissions counselors and two other lists to ask to Spanish professors and Education professors. This upcoming week I'm Skyping with a couple more Education professors.

Talking with the colleges' education professors is something really important to me. I think the most important thing for me in the college search is the school's education program. I'm basically done with my Spanish major at all of these colleges thanks to my wonderful time here in Sevilla, so I care about the Spanish department a lot less (I still care, just not as much), because instead of only having two or three classes left like with Spanish, I still have two more years of education classes since I'm looking to do a five year MAT program...so I have to make sure I talk with the education professors to get a good understanding of their programs so I can pick the best one for me.

Also, I've still not narrowed down my college choices (although a lot will have to do on how financial aid and education programs compare, which I still don't have all of the info on). I'm looking at Hollins University, Randolph College, and Salem College. I am having such a hard time trying to figure out which one I want to go to. I realized that I don't even know how to pick a college. I straight up don't know what I'm doing. When I was a senior in high school, choosing a college wasn't a thing for me. I had Sweet Briar, and that was it. I applied to a couple of other schools as backups, but I had my heart set on Sweet Briar, so there were no real comparisons or questions to be asked. It was basically just Sweet Briar or nothing.

This search process is really overwhelming. I don't know how everyone else does it! Granted, they don't have to do it from an ocean away in their junior year of college...but still, it was so easy for me before...the answer was always Sweet Briar. I loved everything about it. I just felt that it was the right school for me. I didn't feel the need to compare it to other schools or to look at my other options...it was a perfect fit! But now, I'm being forced to look at other options. You know, this process is just like buying new shoes, except you're given a limited amount of options and none of them fit. One might be too tight and not offer all that you want, the other one might be too big and you just don't think you'll be able to make it work...and then the other just rubs your feet the wrong way, and while you figure once you break it in it'll be okay, the initial blisters are unattractive and a huge pain. I guess I just have to find the school like the last shoe I mentioned. Things won't be perfect at first, and I might find the change to be really painful...but with time, I guess I'll adapt to it.

And don't get me wrong, these are all good schools with faculty and staff who've been extremely helpful over the past few weeks. They are colleges that are all beautiful and each with an interesting history, and I'm sure they are very special in their own way. Also, I know that for many people, these three schools are someone else's dream schools just like Sweet Briar was mine. To them, one of those schools was it. It was perfect! They wouldn't want to go anywhere else just like I don't want to go anywhere else.

But now, Sweet Briar is just a dream like it was before I applied...except this time, I know this dream of me graduating from SBC won't come true. I'm done at Sweet Briar. I was done before I knew I was done when I drove off campus in May 2014. I said to myself as I was leaving, "The next time I drive onto campus, I'll be a senior. I can't believe it!" Now, the next time I drive on campus I won't even be a student.

These are the kind of thoughts that have been occupying my mind for the past week. Maybe next week I'll have more concrete feelings towards a school. Maybe I'll have eliminated a school from my list, or who knows, maybe a miracle will happen and Sweet Briar will be saved. I don't really know anything right now. It's all just still up in the air.

So, back to my life in Spain really quick before I finish this thing up. It was kinda of just a sad and dreary week. It rained a lot, and we went to Granada on a JYS trip this weekend, which I was really looking forward to as a break from everything...but it rained the whole time we were there. I still had a good time, but it just wasn't as enjoyable as it could have been. Also, this week is the last week of classes before Semana Santa begins. I'm really looking forward to experiencing Semana Santa. It's going to be super cool, and maybe it'll be a good distraction to everything else that's going on.

An Almost Blogless Week

This is going to have to be a skip week for me. The reason the title says "almost blogless" is because technically, this is still a blog. #loopholes

Why?

#1. I am sick with acute tonsilitis which means my tonsils are infected and disgusting. It basically feels like someone ripped my tonsils out of my throat, ran them over exactly 72 times with an 18-wheeler, and then glued them back in my throat with acid. I also had a fever Friday and a good half of Saturday, and today (Sunday) my host mom made me go to the hospital because the medicine the house-call doctor gave me on Friday has done diddly squat. If anything, my throat has only gotten worse. I also just generally feel pretty out of it. Writing this short amount is actually pretty energy consuming. Thank goodness for spellchecker.

#2. As you probably know, Sweet Briar is closing, and I still haven't completely gathered my thoughts. I don't know what to say yet...and if you know me, you know I like to have what I want to say ready to say before I say it.

#3. Exams. This week I have midterms. I have yet to begin studying due to the whole Sweet Briar thing and then unexpected illness thing. If I feel ready to write my blog later this week, I'll likely not have the time because (you can bet each hair on your head) I'll be cramming for those exams.

So yeah. Basically the only thing you really need to know about this week is that Tuesday I found out my college is closing which basically feels like your life is ending, Friday I got really sick, and exams are this week. So much bad luck in one week. I kind of hate everything, but underneath the hatred, I know something good will come out of this...I hope.

Aaaandddd, if I can just make it to Thursday, Megan is coming to visit from Paris!! I haven't seen her since September before I left for Spain. It's been tooo long. Here's to hoping I'm still a functioning human being when she gets here...because right now I'm definitely more on the non-functioning side of things.