Where in the World is Cat?

Well, the Fourth came and went like any other day here at Middlebury. Seeing as we're all studying foreign languages and cultures no big party or plans were made for celebration, which is fine I guess. This weekend the Russian school is making a trip to Lake Dunbar, about 20 minutes away to picnic and go swimming. I can't wait - I know I'll need the break after this week. I'm up to about 6 hours of homework a night now, pile on the clubs and I'm averaging about 4-5 hours of sleep a night. Just like high school. I did opt out of a couple of clubs (most regrettably, the culinary club) and am out of sports for two weeks on a bum leg, so time is "abudant" at the moment.

Classes at the moment are focusing on the culture of Russian drunkenness. Yes, you read correctly, the "culture of drunkenness". This may be surprising to some, but to anyone who knows a bit about Russian culture shouldn't be surprised at all. This week we shall study this culture is all aspects - through reading lessons, listening exercises, cultural lessons and even grammar lessons (Russian language has different verbs for drinking - to drink casually, to drink quickly, drink heavily, to get drunk, to get drunk heavily, to be horribly drunk, etc, etc.). Simply amazing.

Other than that - weather has been incredible up here. Sunny, hot, but a nice breeze most of the time. Perfect for running - if I could. I found an incredible running route that runs across campus and through the city - runs by the waterfall in town, over the river, around the small boutique shops in the village and up some challenging hills with beautiful landscaping. One of these days I'll snap some pics along the route and post them. Until the leg heals, I'll just be walking the route.