A typical day:
4:00-5:30am – wake up
5:45am – alarm goes off if I haven’t woken up
6:30am – if lunch isn’t pre-made, I need to be getting it together by now
6:55am – depart with roommate for school
7:07am – arrive at school, hang out in cafeteria and get coffee/finish work
7:30am – Class Begins
10:00am – break for 15 minutes, more coffee and/or snacks if desired
10:15am – resume work/lecture
12:00pm – break for lunch
12:30pm – resume work/lecture
4:00pm – End of Day*
4:30pm – arrive home
4:31-8:00pm – free time, usually devoted to cooking, cleaning, eating, socializing, or work
8:30-10:00pm – go to bed
* Technically, we are free to stay until 4:30, but the teachers have lives too so we try not to unless we really must. Sometimes we are given leave to pack up/clean up early and we are able to leave right at 4.
Monday and Tuesday are spent working on micromechanics–that is sawing, filing, drilling, and all the other stuff that creates something. Blue lab coat days.
Wednesday and Thursday are devoted to more modern watchmaking, such as playing with movements, learning maintenance, and practicing all things related to watchmaking. White lab coat days.
Friday is a return to micromechanics with the addition of buffing/polishing practice at the end of the day.
Very difficult week last weak but all is still going well. They’re starting to grade us and the feedback is enlightening. A couple more grades will be given this week. I have a blueprint to draft and continued theoretical studying, as always.
I’ve been in contact with the watchmaker back home and he’s been giving me advice and little trade tips as I’m starting to work on the more intricate aspects of a watch–such as methods of applying oil.
Will be using the rest of this three day weekend to work and spend time with the classmates as I can. More info on school projects as they become more interesting/photogenic (in the following weeks). Right now they’re mostly just chunks of brass.
Thanks for reading,
Matt
Matt's Time in Lititz 