School!

My last post mainly focused on my dramatic experience the first day of school, and I didn't talk much about what the actual school is like! It´s a private Catholic school, so it's pretty different than what I'm used to in Bexley. We have to wear uniforms (featured above. They're not great pictures but you can get a general sense of the uniform. It consists of sweat pants, a t shirt, and a jacket). It's not cute, but it's actually really comfortable, so I don't mind it much. The school building holds elementary classes and high school. I am in the last year of high school here, which is called ¨Quinto¨. I am in a class with about 35 other kids my age (only 4 of which are boys!) and we stay in that same classroom for almost the whole day while the teachers switch rooms. The only times we leave the classroom are during two 30 minute breaks we get throughout the day and for English class. The students are split based on English levels. I was placed in the highest level of English (for obvious reasons) for the first few days, but I think pretty soon I will transfer out and help assist some of the lower classes, helping with vocabulary, etc. That way I can be practicing my Spanish too!

The days are looooong. My host family just moved houses, and their new house is much farther from the school. We wake up at 5:30 every morning, get ready, eat a small breakfast and walk to the bus stop. The bus ride is about an hour and a half to get to the school, so with the walking to/from bus stops it takes almost 2 hours! So we leave the house at like 6:30 in the morning and don´t get back until 5:30 in the evening, and by that time it's already getting dark, because it´s winter here. By the time we get home I´m already exhausted and I still have to do all my homework and everything, and that requires a lot of energy because it's all in Spanish! Although I suppose it's good that I'm staying busy.. It takes my mind off of home and all of the Spanish practice is definitely helping.

Socially I'm doing great at school. Everyone loves talking to me and I've found a lot of people in the class with similar taste in music, shows, etc. They're all very nice when it comes to helping me understand what's going on in classes and they're eager to teach me all of the Spanish slang words. When we leave the classroom and walk through the hallways or in the court yard, people from other grades just stare at me when I pass by. Sometimes people say hi to me or come give me hugs... It's so strange having so much attention on me! I know it will get old for them after a while but right now they´re so intrigued. They all think it's amazing that I've been to New York City and Disney World.. And they think it's so cool that I can go see all of the bands I like in concert. I forgot that when a band comes here it's a big deal... There aren't nearly as many concerts here as back home. South American concerts for American artists are pretty rare.

I feel a bit uncomfortable being at a Catholic school, but my classmates and teachers are nice and it´s very helpful for my Spanish, so all is good!

Oh, and I forgot the best part! I get to wear my Merrells to school every day! I know my Daddy is gonna be very happy about that :)