Return to the Doldrums

Posted by Alex | | Posted On Saturday 23 April 2011 at 17:14

Every April I hit this horrible financial low. It's usually because the Student Loan Company thinks it's a brilliant idea to space loans four months apart, unaware that Easter tends to mess things up. Some years you can finish your second semester early, and it doesn't matter that you only have £50 to your name. Others, you're hanging around til the end of April, living off Tesco Value tinned beans. This is one of those years.

Normally, I'd say 'sod it' and keep spending, and just live off the 4p-a-can spaghetti-o's from LIDL. Being in Spain, though, I've decided I'm a little bit further from 'the norm' than usual. So, while everyone I know has had the chance to visit Andalucia and the Basque Country, and hop off to Prague or Rome, I'm left stewing in my own juices on the sofa in my room, trying so hard not to spend money. I can safely say this has been the most boring Easter on record.

This explains the lack of blogs. I haven't been "too busy" to write. In fact, I've had a lack of anything to write about. I haven't had the funds to go gallivanting off to more interesting places. I haven't even had the funds to do something interesting in Lleida -- tapas, variat, xurros -- nada. Damn and blast! What's worse: it's 8 days until rent/bills, and then it's another week until I will have any funds beyond what I am hoarding to be able to do my usual €20 Monday shopping.

So, the only half-interesting piece of news I can give you is that those applications paid off. Well, one of them did at least. I am assuming the worst (as there is only a best and a worst with applications) and saying that I did not get picked for Erasmus Soc committee -- I guess telling them that you think their society could do better to integrate with non-Erasmus Societies isn't the best way to apply for a position. But, on the plus-side, I did get selected as President of the Spanish-Italian Society for next year! Huzzah! It also seems to be run by all fourth-years, without the input of any 2nd years -- Freshers, I am disappointed you didn't have the balls to apply, and if you did: Spanish-Italian Committee, I am disappointed you didn't think any Freshers were good enough to take on the challenge. I kid, I kid; it just means keeping our heads about us, and remembering we have to cater for everyone, not just us post-Erasmus folk!

Any other business? Subjects have been picked for next year. I'm back on to Catalan, since I may as well stick it out and parlar molt bé rather than waste what I know in favour of cinema or political history (though that module will be the one with the best stories, considering both Andrew Dowling and Montserrat Lunati are teaching it). On the Italian side of things, I've got a semester of Art History, and I foolishly picked up a dissertation -- they say you have to meet certain requirements before you can do one, so I'm just hoping that I have met those. No idea what I'd write about though -- Dante as Literary Critic in De Vulgari Eloquentia? Dante as linguistician in the same book? Interpretations of Risorgimento in Post-Unification Literature? Marinetti and the Futurists? I have so many interests I would like to pursue, but only my tutor will be able to tell me what exactly I am allowed and not allowed to look at. Maybe I'm thinking too broadly, on more of a PhD thesis kind of exploration, when really I need to be thinking of something very focussed that will give me 6000-8000 words. I have time, I guess...

Anyway, I suppose that's enough about my boring life until May, unless something amazing happens and I win the lottery. Until then: what's going on with you guys? Facebook me, tweet me, comment me; I am genuinely curious as to what other human beings have been doing with their time!

Comments:

There are 0 comments for Return to the Doldrums

Post a Comment