30 September 2008

Primera Semana de Escuela Española

Lunes: I went to school today, with intentions it would be just like back home. Its definitely not. The school has students from ages 12 through 18. There are four floors, one being in the basement for P.E. I thought I would go to all of my classes today but I didn't. I still have a few new ones coming tomorrow and even a few more on Wed. Schedules over here, are more like you have either two choices being in your 12th year of school. You fall into a Bachillerato (I don't know what that is) A or B. I am in B, for Science and Technology. You sit in the same desk all day, for six hours. The teachers are the ones that change classes, for the most part. You have five minutes in between classes to walk around, and after your third class you have a half hour break, Recreo. I found that kids here are willing to help, even though its hard when they only speak Spanish. I went to P.E. after my break and they wanted to play "El Matar". I asked if it was like Dodgeball in the U.S. to some of the students that appear to like sports, and they all said yes. They lied. Haha. Its so hard to explain. They use a football, and there are two teams that turn into four teams. . . and it was embarassing when the teacher told me I had to play, instead of just watching and trying to figure it out. I got the hang of it, and at the end this one kid said something about me playing football back in the states. I said "No. Me gusta Futbol, no Futbol Americano" and everyone clapped, ha. :)







This is my school, La Caleta. My class is on the top floor.


Martes: I started my 10th Grade year all over today, it felt like. First I had Math, and we are learning Matrices, or Matrixes. All of my teachers use the Zeta here, and I am getting used to it. I can understand what they are saying, when they draw stuff on the board. I have to buy my books tonight though. :( I had no idea that this was coming. Then I had Chemistry and Biology today, as well as Philosophy. And then I had to choose between Religion or Alternative. . . I had no idea what was where and I was sitting in the Religion room, and when the teacher was taking role I was just sitting there and a huge group of Spaniards walked in yelling at me, and so I followed them, and we sat on the computer all hour in this other class. . . I suppose it is like a study hall. I showed and explained them everyone on my slideshow deal I made for my going away party, and they said Amy was hot, Nick and I look like the kids off Superbad, Jesse looks like a president, and Rachael and I take too many pictures together. Haha. I enjoyed trying to explain to them all of my friends in Wyoming. Oh, when I tell them I am from Wyoming, they stare blankly at me and laugh. "Wyoming?!"







This is my class. My seat is the backpack on the left.

Miercoles: Today I had P.E. again, and it was hilarious. They do some crazy stretches and have a different way of playing games like tag in the U.S. Its really fun to watch because the kids are constantly laughing at the teacher, because the teacher loves El Flamanco. El Flamanco is an Andalucian (the region I am living in in Spain) dance that everyone knows. The whole class today just clapped, danced, and then it was my turn. They tried to show me. Tried. :) Haha, I will never, ever, dance El Flamanco in the U.S. Bahaha. And I met this new transfer student from Madrid, Manuel. He and I tried to have a conversation but I definitely can't speak Spanish as well as the Spaniards, duh, and so I got really nervous. :/ But I came to the conclusion that I can't give up when I don't understand. I need to just focus and obtain as much as I can to learn the language, which is my main goal of this experience.






When I look out my window, I see the Atlantic Ocean across the street.

Jueves: Today was by far the hardest day of the week. I feel as if I have nothing else to say to anyone, because I don't know what else to say. Haha. I was sitting in Biology and I remembered Biology in 10th Grade. We are learning about Asexual Reproduction, and in Biology as a sophomore we all declared that Amy can reproduce asexually. Bahaha, that was a class joke. Jokes in one language aren't funny in another language, I have learned today. : No "Your Mom" jokes over here, either. But, I did hit the point where everyone is asking you how to say bad words in English, haha. Historia de Espana, and Filosofia are going to kill me, and if those don't then Lengua is. Today, just was a bad day.







After school, the streets are flooded with Spaniards!

Viernes: Finally it is the weekend. I feel as if I am taking AP classes in Rock Springs! The week goes by so much faster with school, I think that helps a lot. Lengua, Filosofia, and Hisoria are all classes that I just explained to the teacher that I will take notes, and try my best to understand whats going on but its completely different than anything I have ever done and I am not seeing myself passing the exams in November. Oh, they do use Trimesters over here instead of Semesters, so thats going to be pretty different. :/ That was my first week. . . wow.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

hi mason! :) sounds like your first week was challenging and nerve-racking but you have a really great attitude about everything. the whole thing sounds really fun! i'm stoked that you can see the ocean out of your window :) try to learn el flamenco so you can teach it to me! :) pe sounds like it's good times :) your classroom looks nice. and maybe it's better that you don't really move classrooms, the teachers do, because then you can form better friendships with the kids your with all day in class.....? hopefully anyway. good luck with all your school work too! i'll keep checking your blog and keeping tabs on you. i love hearing about your new life!! :) love you! take care xo, erika

Unknown said...

Congratulations for your blog, Mason. I think it's the first time I read such a complete account of a whole week at school, and from a student's point of view. I'm glad you face things in such a positive attitude, and I'm sure the experience is going to be fruitful.