(How to Speak About) The Future

In Spanish, speaking about the future almost always requires speaking with the subjunctive, which by definition, means adding doubt or uncertainty to the meaning of the phrase. Cuando vuelva a los Estados Unidos... When I return to the States... I cannot use the indicative here because I haven't yet returned to the States, thus, as the Spanish speaker is constantly reminded, I can't assume that it will be true since it hasn't yet happened. There is something frustrating about that to me; I can't say without doubt in Spanish that I am going to Morocco on Thursday even though I know I am. As an obsessive planner, it almost mocks my love of organization and my beloved calendar. I'm a little offended. But it has made me realize that with so many decisions comes a lot of alternatives and that choosing one outcome doesn't necessarily negate the others -- anything can happen, so to speak.

The spring, especially, for some reason, the month of April, seems to bring a lot of decisions about the future. Room draw for housing next year was this week, class registration for the fall is due on Friday, a lot of decisions about summer internships are released in early April, which comes with decisions about housing and transportation for the summer, elections for all student government positions are this month, and this year, the impending decisions about "life after college" seem too close for comfort. Lucky for me, my housing situation has worked out perfectly -- I am living with five friends in a suite in an all-senior dorm on campus! I also have miraculously secured a summer internship: I am working for a psychology professor of cognitive neuroscience at the University of Washington with a stipend from my college and I'll be living in my friend's apartment 10 minutes from the lab in Seattle while she is abroad in Rome. This morning I submitted my class registration for the fall, as well. Perhaps that is what brought upon this entry, because I debated between classes for hours and hours these past weeks before finally deciding on my list. It just seems as though for every decision that is made, there is so much time and uncertainty. In sum: besides my amateur philosophical musings, I wanted to keep my fans (haha) updated on my life to come. Things have been working out for me this spring and I feel incredibly lucky -- I have certainly been on the bad luck side of things (for housing, classes, internships, etc.), but this year has been filled with good news (knock on wood).

And now seems like a fitting time to review my list of goals for the semester -- since I have no doubt that it will reflect my thoughts on uncertainty and the (sometimes) importance of talking about the future Spanish-style.

1. Visit London (and my 8 friends studying abroad there) -- CHECK! I loved London; I wish I could go back.
2. Learn to cook a Spanish tortilla -- Not yet. But my host mother has promised to teach me.
3. Speak Spanish fluidly and understand fully -- That was a little hopeful of me. I understand Spanish very well but speaking fluidly is taking a little more time.
4. Visit Italy and eat an entire pizza for lunch -- CHECK! Well I ate it for dinner, but mission accomplished.
5. See the Mediterranean Sea -- I'll do ya one better: I SWAM in the Mediterranean Sea. And it was so beautiful.
6. Learn the streets of Granada (and throw away my map!) -- I haven't used my map in weeks and I would say I know my way around well enough.
7. Make Spanish friends -- Well I guess I have sort of made friends with my classmates?
8. Go to a soccer game -- Hoping to go in Barcelona or Madrid when I'm traveling with my parents in June.
9. Play tennis on clay courts -- I have yet to see anyone with a tennis racket anywhere.
10. Buy European clothes so I don't always look so American -- I look a little more Spanish. Operation Springtime Spanish Clothing commences in Morocco. More to come.

So not as bad as I thought I guess? Maybe there is hope for my planning nature after all...