Back to school

Today my classes started again. Finally.

The fact is that I actually was quite excited last night. I had that kind of feeling I remember from my childhood (I'm 20 so this is my childhood over, right?) when you find it hard to sleep the night before the first day of school because of all the new things that are awaiting you the next day. I can't remember that I have been this excited about starting school for years and years.

Not even last year, when I was going to start my first year at university here in Glasgow. Then it was different: I was new to the place, everything was new and starting university was just one of all those new things (and I guess I was quite wrapped up in a post-freshers' week daze too).

But this year, when I know the place and when I'm (at least officially) not lost anymore I was almost surprised about how much I looked forward to the actual studies.

And it was quite overwhelming. It really was.

The most overwhelming thing was Gaelic.
I'm doing 2B this year, which is supposed to be a continuation of 1B (beginners' level) which I did last year.
The class started with the lecturer telling us to introduce ourselves, in Gaelic. Even that was a bit startling at first, as I haven't really been speaking the language properly for six months. It was good practice, though, and in fact I think that is the best way to learn a language. More talking and less grammar practice.
(I know about that; after twelve years of studying Finnish at school I'm still barely able to keep a conversation, since we never talked during the lessons. It was just tenses and cases).

After that, however, we got a text which we were supposed to translate. The first sentence goes like this:

"Communities across the Highlands could be asked to try out new ways of saving the energy used to power street lighting. Highland Council has suggested dimming lights, turning off every second street lamp or switching off all lights between midnight and 0600 BST"

Ok. So. Honestly. How the hell are you supposed to be able to translate language on such a level to Gaelic when you've been doing Gaelic for one year?
We're supposed to hand it in next Monday and I don't really know how to tackle this. Neither do most of the other people on the course. We simply are not on that level when it comes to the knowledge of Gaelic.

We also got as an assignment for this Wednesday, which was to talk for a few minutes about anything.
As already mentioned, I'm really into the learning-by- talking strategy, but, ANY topic?
Somehow I have a feeling that this course isn't really well planned.

But, I've only been to one lecture. It might be better.
And I do love Gaelic and I do want to take it to honours. I'm just a bit baffled by the gap between this and last year's course. (I like that word. Baffled. It sounds exactly like its meaning.)

I also had my first lecture in Scottish Literature, which I'm taking at level 1 this year instead of English Literature.
That was a more positive experience. Considering my struggle so far with keeping my eyes open while reading Walter Scott's Waverley, I was getting a bit worried that Scottish Lit maybe isn't the right for me.
But, I got the feeling that the Department of Scottish Literature is a much friendlier one than the English equivalent. In ScotLit the atmosphere is more relaxed, while the one in English Lit was quite...arrogant, snobbish.
At least that was the impression I got last year. I never felt at home there.

Since this was level 1 and the first lecture ever at university for many of the students there, it also consisted of general information about studying at university, such as time management and responsibility.
Though I'm in second year now and no beginner anymore, it was very helpful. I could have used that information one year ago.

So, maybe Scottish Literature isn't that bad, after all? I might even find Waverley interesting when we start discussing it. It bodes well.

Tomorrow I might try to get started with the energy saving procedures in the Highlands.

(In my hometown they turn the streetlights off between 1 and 5 am I think.)