Secularization!

           This is perfect. No, really. I am so glad school has started back up. I am such an academic person. That, and it's such a cool environment. Today was the day I actually thought, Why didn't I decide to study abroad for a year in Poland? Honestly, it would be the absolute best way to improve my Polish, and I'd be in the culture I love, and the fact that these classes are composed of such various people just fascinates me. Although, it would be really hard to pull me away from Vandy for a continuous year, especially from the Muffins! That plus, I still want to study abroad in Australia as well.
           The day was wonderful. I had my history class this morning with its first actual lecture. We started off with some backstory of Poland and how it disappeared off the fact of the map for a long time, and how Poles fought through to keep up with their culture and language even while being divided into a ton of a different areas. We went into the reasoning for why World War I happened and how it all unfolded as well.  Good lecture style, and per usual, I take a billion notes, which I really don't need to take as much as I do, considering this course includes no actual exams. Regardless, good class, thus far. Afterwards, my Secularization in Theory and Practice class began. Oh. My. Goodness.
           The professor is a British-born, Australian raised man, with Australian parents. First year really teaching here. I think he's typically a professor at Northwestern University, actually, as that's one of his primary e-mails he gave us. He said that he heard Erasmus students typically go on the program to party more so than study. He was so understanding about students not knowing English as their primary language. He took like... an hour and fifteen minutes to go through the syllabus. Oh! He took attendance! I haven't had professors really do that. During this, he asked us where we were all from, and it was really cool hearing everyone's home countries and the accents. People were really involved in discussion as well! Like, this professor is trying his hardest to keep us active in the classroom so that it's not just pure lecture. It's going to be such a fascinating class, because we'll be focusing on the Secularization in Europe with a focus on Christianity, primarily. But if we talk about the Islamic perspective, then it'll be in cases where Islams are immigrating in and what not.
           We're going to be reading some really interesting texts, and looking at some case studies, and doing presentations! In fact... being me, I volunteered to be the first presentation. Bwahahaha. I have so much material to work with from my area. You see, he really wants to get an idea of our areas and our perspectives, and since the rest of the students are from Europe, if they go by stereotypes, then they're going to think America is pretty much a rather Godless country, in a way. Not completely, obviously, but that it's all about separation of Church and State, you know? So I'm going to talk about how that's actually an issue where I live, in a way. Between Evolution, gay rights, the 10 commandments, praying in school and football games. Sort of showing how secularization hasn't been that active in my area, I guess, in a way. He seemed quite pleased by this idea, too! All I can say is I hope I do well. Also, we asked him about us being Americans, and how we leave early, so he had the heads up about this problem and seemed to be fine with it. We can choose, based on our home universities.
           Even better! I found out... that I can take my Polish class!!! Now that I've realized that though, I'm incredibly nervous. What if it ends up being too much? What if I can't understand everything? What if the professor isn't understanding of my situation? What if I screw up and end up failing the class? Oh gosh... And I think this one actually ends with an exam, not a paper, which... makes me shudder. After hearing about so many papers, I just... don't want to take an exam. It's so nerve-wracking and what if I can't take it? Ooooh, what if I can't take it and I have to write an essay instead?! That'd be nice... But I have to find the classroom tomorrow, and that'll be my only class. It's going to be nice, though.
           Afterwards, we headed back and chilled in the apartment. Very enjoyable, to be honest. Leftovers were delicious, we also ordered pizza, which was also yummy. Monika and I talked about a ton of interesting political topics and ideas. Seriously a very wonderful discussion we had! Eventually, though, we headed out again to meet up with Piotrek for the movie night! We started off our weekly movie nights wiiiith... Katyń. A very very sad and moving movie, but powerful and wonderfully made. This is the second time I've seen it, and had I not been in a room with people, I likely would've cried. Wajda truly did a wonderful job getting the point across of how screwed up the time period was, essentially. From all angles.
           Went back home again, and Monika, Nate, and I made dinner, again. We used some of the kiełbasa from yesterday and mixed it in with some onions and red peppers, and ate it with some sandwiches. Very nice dinner, quick and easy, and delicious. I'm loving this dinner cooking every night, working with what you have. It's a good learning experience. I've so been needing this. Either way, what a wonderful day! And tomorrow should be great! I hope! We'll see!