homework, homework, and...

Some of you may be wondering why my usually prolific blogging has been reduced to next to nothing. Here is the answer:

I have no time for anything but homework.

Our daily schedule:
Wake up between 7 and 8 am (depending on how much homework was left undone the night before). Walk to campus for breakfast.
Class from 9-1.
Lunch.
Class from 2-3.
After lunch, if there are no lectures or "cultural activities," we go back to our hotel to start our homework. After a few hours, we track down some dinner. This usually takes a while, as our area is not restaurant central. Then, we return to the hotel for MORE homework. Eventually, we collapse for our 6 or so hours of sleep.

The schedule has been more punishing than Middlebury, which I didn't think was humanly possible. Hopefully, it will lighten up a bit this week, as we'll have a whole week to cover 2 chapters, instead of just 4 days!

The good news is that I placed into the highest class! It's pretty bizarre that I can be considered an "Advanced" student when I still can't understand the news, but that's arabic for you.