Summer in Spain 2015: Thursday, July 16

There was a lengthy discussion in 1st class today for our participation grade. Covered subjects such as who had an easier life in their youth: you or your grandparents? Is it better to live/work in the country or in a city? and Is it better to learn in a group that has the same culture or that is multicultural?
2nd class more history. We also decided on the topics for our final projects. Mine is the Silver Age of Spanish literature. This presentation is our only grade in place of our exams.
Midterm Exam in 3rd class. Lot of writing but I felt prepared.

Amanda and I printed off tickets for a dance preformance we attended in the evening.

Lunch: lentle soup with veggies, am omelet and lettuce with olive oil and salt. Peach for dessert.

Relaxed in the afternoon. At 7 Amanda and I got ready and went to the preformance.

It was in the Teatro Real (royal theater) which is accross from the royal palace and next to the Plaza de Isabella II. It was quite grand with high ceilings and special salons for the wealthy folk. We were way up in the cheep seats on the 4th floor (here it is the 3rd floor as they don't count the ground floor as a level). It was a true lesson in "you get what you pay for," as we were literally in a dark corner where we couldn't even see the little video screens much less the actual stage. We were lucky that there weren't many people on our level meaning we could change seats.

The preformance was by the Netherlands Dance Company, a very famous company apparently, and was contemporary ballet. The dancing was very beautiful at times and then at others it was rather bizarre, especially in the second portion. What was terrible was that right at the beginning, after dealing with our dum seat situation, the main dancer appears in a tiny little hunched up ball in the front of the stage. He looks almost emaciated because of the lights and the shadows..then he begins to unravel in a way that seems reluctant, heavy, and almost painful. And right at that moment...when there is no music or any kind of sound in the entire theater Amanda says: "me in the mornings." And this might not seem that funny but for some reason it was so extraordinarily funny in this sophisticated, silent setting that I had to plug my nose to silence my giggling.

We really did enjoy the preformance, it was just very different than anything I had expected.

Following the preformance we went home and did some homework. I talked to Mom, Dad, and Ethan. And that's about it.