I'm sorry that I haven't written sooner but I've been very busy settling into my new home at the Bard's College. The teachers are treating me well and are very nice even when I ask the most inane questions, but the students…well, they're a mixed bag. But as you've always said, "You must deal with what you are given" so I smile and move on.
I've been given one of the small cubicles in the basement to live and study in. The four other people in my class sleep in similar cubicles placed all in a row. They say that it's so we can become friends and help one another. I say it's so we can torture one another. One of the students, Jorn, snores worse than Pa.
Classes start very early around here – 4 AM to be exact. My fellow students and I rise a good hour before so we can dress and have breakfast before the day of learning begins.
Our first class of the day is with Inge "Six Fingers" (don't worry…she doesn't have six fingers) who teaches us how to play the lute. I'm the only student in the class who hasn't had some sort of instrument training, so a lot of what she says goes over my head. Thankfully, she's taken a liking to me and offered to give me extra help if I rise an hour earlier each morning.
Around 8 AM, we move on to Pantea Atei's flute and song class. I excel at this class to much of the chagrin of my fellow students. Ms. Atie says that I have perfect pitch, something that is hard to find in an untrained person. Inge sits in on our flute lessons many times to provide extra help to those that need it.
We take a 2 hour break at noon for lunch. Some students eat quickly so they can take a nap before the afternoon class. I like to take a walk around town instead, taking in the sights and talking to people around town. One of the other students, Ataf, likes to join me sometimes. When he does, we walk down to the docks and watch the ships come in and talk about our home lives.
We reconvene at 2 PM for history and speech with Giraud Germane – the same bard that discovered me back at home just a month ago. Though history can be dry, he tries to make it interesting for us by telling the stories in entertaining ways. Many of our speeches are just retelling of stories that we read in the many books stored in the library or heard from him. His critiques of our recitations are ruthless but very helpful. I know I'll learn a lot from him.
The headmaster, Viarmo, not only runs the school, but also provides drum lessons to those that are interested. Jorn is the only one in my class who is taking advantage of these lessons. When he graduates from the college, he plans to join the legion and use his drumming skills to help win wars, though I can't quite figure out how drums and wars go together.
When classes end around 6 in the evening, we're free to do whatever we want. Many head for the town's tavern for good food and entertainment. Our flute instructor, Pantea, plays there often and we enjoy critiquing her skills in private. Every once in a while the innkeeper allows one of us to sing a song or recite something that we've recently learned and the patrons tip us well. It's not a lot of money but it's usually enough to pay for our food and drink.
I shall end this letter here. It's getting late and I can already hear Jorn snoring in the dorms. All my love to you, Pa, and Stevie.
Patrycia
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