Obligatory Post on Classes?

Well, I’ve managed to survive my first three weeks of real class here at Trinity. The first week was frustrating because of the hassle of signing up for classes across three different departments, but facing it with patient persistence paid off as I was ultimately able to enrol in all the classes I desired/needed to take. All of my classes only meet once a week, for one or two hours, and I have regular 3 day weekends which is nice for exploring the city on Fridays, or getting out early for a weekend trip. The classes are primarily lecture-driven, which is a little strange at first given the tendency of classes (especially English ones) at Wash U to be reliant on class discussion. Some of the professors literally read off their lectures from a script, which is awkward. Another (daunting) difference is the minimal assessment of classes at Trinity—almost all my classes are assessed on simply one paper at the end of the term.

I have started to take Irish classes! Dia Dhuit, (pronounced “dia gwhitt”) meaning “God to you”, or the ubiquitous Irish salutation. The class has some shortcomings—it is not for credit, and thus is not taken as seriously as I or the other students might take it if I were actually getting a grade (although most of the students there are engaged simply because they are there on their own accord); in addition, the class only meets twice a week, each for just fifty minutes, which pales in comparison to how often I met for German in high school (everyday for 45 minutes) and how often students meet in college level language courses (almost 6 hours of class). However, seizing the opportunity of learning a new language has reinvigorated a desire within me to start taking language classes back at Wash U. Frau, I think you’ll be happiest to hear that I am taking German when I get back in the spring!

I'm finally back in the rhythm of going to school, which is good because I suppose that's why I'm here! I really enjoy all my classes and the different approach to classroom learning that I am having at Trinity is certainly eye-opening and refreshing.