Sometimes we go to class in college

It took about two weeks, but I think classes are finally starting to get off the ground for me. Apparently it's common at Tartu University to not hold the first class meeting of the semester. Not for every class of course, but during the first week of this semester I only had one full class out of five if that tells you anything. The university structure here, while holding many similarities, is also very different from UNCG. At home I am used to many reminder e-mails or RA's to post reminders on the hall, but here you are entirely responsible for your own course registration, and anything else you need to sign up or apply for. I feel that I've stumbled through most of it these first weeks, but the learning experience has certainly made me more independent and capable I think.
The classes themselves are also different. Usually each class only meets once a week for one and a half hours. All of my classes this semester are very small, ranging from 6 to 20 students. I'm not sure if this is because my classes are in English and perhaps there are larger lectures for the Estonian students, or if this is the common for every class. During each class period, the professor lectures for the entire time. At home if a professor gets through the material they had planned before the assigned class time is through, they will dismiss the class early. Here, however, it is rare that the professor finishes early, and if they do, they continue on to next week's subject to fill up the time. There is nearly no outside work compared to what I am used to. It is common for a class to have weekly readings to accompany the lecture, and a course may require several papers, but there are no weekly reading quizzes, in fact, there are really no quizzes or tests at all. For the most part, only writing assignments to show what knowledge you've gained.
I am enjoying learning so much about other countries from the other international students here. Just the other night while several people were gathered in our kitchen just hanging out, the subject landed on the current situation with EU expansion and Turkey. It's common to find ourselves comparing cultures, dialects, languages, and all sorts of things about our homes on a daily bases.
The weather has continued to be cold here, although it's been sunny and a little warmer today. For the past two days we've seen nothing but snow falling outside our window. I love all of the snow though, because growing up in North Carolina this kind of weather is truly few and far between. We've already found a great sledding spot, and reclaimed childhood making a sport of it. Along with snowball fights of course. Despite all of the winter fun, I am eagerly looking forward to the famous Estonian spring.