Go to class, people. Just a thought.

The one interesting part of the 2.5 hour orientation for new students in “Lettres” (approximately liberal arts) that I attended on Welcome Day two weeks ago (97% of which did not apply to me but I got a bag full of brochures, a free t-shirt, and a plastic cup of wine so it was not a total waste, plus – let’s be honest – what else did I have to do?) was the dean’s response to a student asking what to do if she had to take two classes that happened to be at the same time.

Register for them both, and go to one class one week, the other the other week.

“Generally, attendance is not required. If your professors try to tell you it is, tell them to come talk to the dean.”

The same applies to a lesser degree in my program, French as a foreign language, since in theory language classes are meant to be attended. It is nice to know it won’t be too much of a problem to miss a couple days for my brother’s wedding next week.

I’m also continually surprised at how infrequently people attend capoeira classes. If there is one thing I’m good at in capoeira, it’s showing up. Granted, the upper cords have their own classes to teach, and the intermediate/advanced classes in practice run 2.5-3 hours so maybe one or two of those a week is enough for some people. But it seems like very few people of any level come more than two times a week (I can tell, because I'm always there). Seriously, your teacher is a MESTRE. Go to class. SO ungrateful, these Europeans.

I leave you with an unrelated picture of Ouchy and Lake Geneva.