Learning for learning's sake

Hello again from Cardiff!

Today was our first day of classes, but it didn't feel like it, as I didn't have class until 5:10 pm, and it was the class that is taught by Prof. Geier from Colgate and is exclusively for us Colgate kids. My day was spent exploring the gigantic grocery store Tesco, as well as further exploring the city center. Class was interesting; it is about the history and future of technology, as well as its role in society, etc. etc.

The point of this post is actually about some of my other classes that I have only had a glimpse at. All of us Colgate kids are required to take three Welsh/ Wales related classes. So far, we have had two Welsh language classes where we are learning the basics of Welsh, like how to count to ten and, of course, talk about the weather. (maybe most importantly, say the name of the longest town name in the world (Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch)). Wow.

Though Welsh is certainly enjoyable to learn, we have been asking ourselves why we are taking the time learning to speak a language that is only spoken by 20% of people in Wales, much less the rest of the world ( there is also a small Welsh enclave in Patagonia). There are a lot of reasons for learning Welsh; its fun to tell people we can, it helps spread the word about a culture that people hardly know exists, and, for me, it is, simply, a challenging and interesting way to learn something new and completely foreign. Perhaps this is where the value lies in such a class. We may never use Welsh again, and may completely forget it within weeks of returning home, but we will remember what we put in to it. I plan to give it my all, even if I sound like a complete fool.