This week was pretty uneventful, including the weekend. I honestly did nothing except go to school and then come home and study.
Well, I guess my life here in Spain isn´t that boring. I mean, how could it be? I am in another country. So here are some everyday things that I have just simply gotten used to, but are different from the US.
PE CLASS. Who would have thought that PE would actually be teaching physical education. PE in my school is not just playing games or playing sports, it is like legitamate working out. We pass medicine balls, we run laps (of the gym...), do push ups and sit ups, we do improvised versions of aerobics, basically everything you can think of. So, every Tuesday and Thursday I get a pretty good workout. Also, all the kids in my class are realllly out of shape. I mean, most spainards are out of shape...but it is hilarious in PE class because I will be doing fine the whole class and everyone else will be like panting and sweating a whole bunch. And after class all the guys always high-five me and say "¡Que atleticaa!" (literally.."how athletic!") and call me a "deportista" (I do not know the indirect translation...but its basically someone who does sports)
TEACHER´S NAMES. Yeah, my biology teacher isn´t Señor Fernandez, the students call him Eduardo. My math teacher? Maria. My french teacher? Rosa. My philosophy teacher? Carmelo. You get the picture? All of the teachers go by first names. It is something I am just soo not used too yet. I cannot get myself to address a teacher with their first name, so I just don´t address them at all...
STUDENT WORK ETHIC. So basically everyone here, in my public school anyway, doesn´t care about school. If you don´t do well on a test, whatever. If you fail the class, whatever. They simply retake the year. I have 18 year olds and 19 year olds in my class, my class of 11th graders. Seniors? Some are even 20 years old. They simply just don´t care. I mean, there are some kids who do, but probably like 20% of the school...
Those are just a few things that came right to my head.
Some things to look forward to: (I am suppperrrr excited for these next two weeks!)
Thursday, October 27 - Ice Skating field trip for PE...I can´t wait to show up the rest of the kids in my class. I will be better at something than them!
Friday, Octover 28 - Tuesday, November 1st (november already???) - Voy a ir a MADRID<3, y Toledo, y Segovia. I can´t wait!
The weekend after that (4th and 5th I believe..) - Cordoba for an AFS thing with all the exchange students from Andalucia.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine
I havn´t felt homesick in more than a week! Things are really starting to pick up here in Spain. My friends at school still have yet to invite me out, but I am catching the drift that it isn´t that they don´t want to hang out with me, they just don´t go out. I am still going out with Maria´s friends on weekends, and that is also getting better. Her friends are all extremely welcoming and encouraging and more than willing to let me have part in their plans.
School is pretty uneventful. As usual. No surprise there. I have finished reading Frankenstein, but it was a short version, so I should probably look into finding the real version and read that. I have until december to read it and then write about it for my philosophy class, so that shouldn´t be a problem. I am currently reading, "Lazarillo de Tormes" which means "The guide for the blind of Tormes", its in spanish but I am managing. I have to read this by next week, but it is short. It actually isn´t that bad and it is quite humorous. I also have to read some book about science for my science class, but there is no deadline...so of course, me being a procrastinator...I havn´t even started it.
Yesterday I spent the day with another AFS student, Annika, the one who goes to my school. AFS frowns upon becoming good friends with other AFS students for fear that you will only hang out with them and not experience the culture and language of your host country. Annika and I are both aware of this, but of course, we have justified our friendship. 1. The kids at our school don´t go out...so thus we are resulting to each other to see the sites in Malaga ourselves. 2. Annika is only here for three months, so, it is not like I can depend on her for the whole year and 3. Annika doesn´t have as many opportunities with her host family to do things like I do (with maria´s friends, and my host parents take me places and do things) so, she can tag along with me and it isn´t even a problem. Annika is from Switzerland, however, she lived in Ohio for 8 years so she speaks fluent english with no accent. (she also speaks swiss/german, regular german, french, and now being in spain she is learning spanish. I wish I knew that many languages...)
Annika has also invited me to visit her after she goes home to Switzerland, so maybe while I am here in Spain I will get to see a little bit more than just the airport in Switzerland. (Because technically, I have been in Switzerland, but only in the airport, so it doesn´t really count) We actually planned out exactly when I could visit and aparently our plan works perfectly, I just have to see if I even can go in the first place. And of course, how much it costs.
With Annika and my host family, we went to see La Alcazaba. An old castle in Malaga right in downtown. It is beautiful, like everything else here...
Then, after going to la Alcazaba, Annika came to my house and she got to experience alittle of the culture of a different family in Spain. We also walked to the beach, becuase she cannot walk to the beach from her house, and has not seen the beach yet. And after I went out with Maria´s friends, Annika was invited but, she has a pretty bad cold, so she opted to go home and get some rest.
This morning I had to get up at 8 to go downtown so I could run the 10k race of Malaga! It was my first 10k, I didn´t do spectacular (55 mins give or take, I don´t know for certain, but I will know tomorrow) but I am proud. Plus it was like 90 degrees, especially in the sun. This race was also probably one of the biggest races I have ever run in. I swear the whole city of Malaga was running in this race, and then some. The whole 10 kilometers I was fighting to keep my spot, never once was there a gap of people. I wish I could have taken a picture from one of the hills looking down at the thousands of people in front of me and behind me....
School is pretty uneventful. As usual. No surprise there. I have finished reading Frankenstein, but it was a short version, so I should probably look into finding the real version and read that. I have until december to read it and then write about it for my philosophy class, so that shouldn´t be a problem. I am currently reading, "Lazarillo de Tormes" which means "The guide for the blind of Tormes", its in spanish but I am managing. I have to read this by next week, but it is short. It actually isn´t that bad and it is quite humorous. I also have to read some book about science for my science class, but there is no deadline...so of course, me being a procrastinator...I havn´t even started it.
Yesterday I spent the day with another AFS student, Annika, the one who goes to my school. AFS frowns upon becoming good friends with other AFS students for fear that you will only hang out with them and not experience the culture and language of your host country. Annika and I are both aware of this, but of course, we have justified our friendship. 1. The kids at our school don´t go out...so thus we are resulting to each other to see the sites in Malaga ourselves. 2. Annika is only here for three months, so, it is not like I can depend on her for the whole year and 3. Annika doesn´t have as many opportunities with her host family to do things like I do (with maria´s friends, and my host parents take me places and do things) so, she can tag along with me and it isn´t even a problem. Annika is from Switzerland, however, she lived in Ohio for 8 years so she speaks fluent english with no accent. (she also speaks swiss/german, regular german, french, and now being in spain she is learning spanish. I wish I knew that many languages...)
Annika has also invited me to visit her after she goes home to Switzerland, so maybe while I am here in Spain I will get to see a little bit more than just the airport in Switzerland. (Because technically, I have been in Switzerland, but only in the airport, so it doesn´t really count) We actually planned out exactly when I could visit and aparently our plan works perfectly, I just have to see if I even can go in the first place. And of course, how much it costs.
With Annika and my host family, we went to see La Alcazaba. An old castle in Malaga right in downtown. It is beautiful, like everything else here...
 |
| Annika and me standing in la alcazaba with the port in the backround |
Then, after going to la Alcazaba, Annika came to my house and she got to experience alittle of the culture of a different family in Spain. We also walked to the beach, becuase she cannot walk to the beach from her house, and has not seen the beach yet. And after I went out with Maria´s friends, Annika was invited but, she has a pretty bad cold, so she opted to go home and get some rest.
This morning I had to get up at 8 to go downtown so I could run the 10k race of Malaga! It was my first 10k, I didn´t do spectacular (55 mins give or take, I don´t know for certain, but I will know tomorrow) but I am proud. Plus it was like 90 degrees, especially in the sun. This race was also probably one of the biggest races I have ever run in. I swear the whole city of Malaga was running in this race, and then some. The whole 10 kilometers I was fighting to keep my spot, never once was there a gap of people. I wish I could have taken a picture from one of the hills looking down at the thousands of people in front of me and behind me....
 |
| This is the shirt I recieved after the race. |
Sunday, October 9, 2011
“Don't fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things. The saddest summary of a life contains three descriptions: could have, might have, and should have.”
Today when I woke up I had a serious case of homesickness. So, I pulled myself out of bed, forced myself to go downstairs and find out the plan for the day and just take it and make what I could out of it.
Today, I had one of my bests days yet.
After church, I went horseback riding! I have missed my horses, and riding was easily enough to make my day 100% better.
however, after riding I went out to lunch with my host family and some of their friends. I tried octopus for the first time and squid, and had a whole bunch of new foods that I had never had before. All of them were delicious!
And thennn, after that I got to go in a private plane owned by my host family´s friends. It was amazing. It is only a two person plane, so we had to go up one at a time with Monolo, the family friend. Monolo even let me drive it!
Also, I learned out to drive a motorcycle, that has gears, like a standard car. It was so difficult and I kept doing wheelies by accident...but it was sooo much fun once I got the hang of it. Hey Mom, can I get my motorcycles license when I home? and maybe my pilots license while I am at it...
Today, I had one of my bests days yet.
After church, I went horseback riding! I have missed my horses, and riding was easily enough to make my day 100% better.
 |
however, after riding I went out to lunch with my host family and some of their friends. I tried octopus for the first time and squid, and had a whole bunch of new foods that I had never had before. All of them were delicious!
 |
| fish, sorry but I had around 5 different kinds of fish, and I don´t remember this ones name |
 |
| Octopus on top of potatoes, delicious. |
 |
| fried eggplant. Possibly my new favorite food, especially with honey/molasses |
And thennn, after that I got to go in a private plane owned by my host family´s friends. It was amazing. It is only a two person plane, so we had to go up one at a time with Monolo, the family friend. Monolo even let me drive it!
Also, I learned out to drive a motorcycle, that has gears, like a standard car. It was so difficult and I kept doing wheelies by accident...but it was sooo much fun once I got the hang of it. Hey Mom, can I get my motorcycles license when I home? and maybe my pilots license while I am at it...
Thursday, October 6, 2011
"Success is steady progress toward one's personal goals." Jim Rohn
For starters, today has been an excellent day. I have no school becuase of the "Huelga" or the strike. I got to get up around 10, had toast with nutella and a bowl of crunchy nut cereal. Best. Breakfast. Ever.
I then got to go shopping with my host mom, which I really enjoyed, becuase now I have new clothes to wear that fit the style here better. Plus, it was good bonding time and I really do enjoy my host mom´s company.
On top of today being a good day, the rest of the week has been good too, and I don´t see this weekend becoming bad.
Yesterday, I found out that I got one of the best grades on the science test we took on Tuesday. Go figure. I didn´t even answer two of the questions because I had no idea what they meant. So, I guess that means that whatever I did answer I got right.
At lunch yesterday I didn´t just sit there and stare into space, I actually had a conversation with one of my friends! And it wasn´t a one sided conversation that was boring, it actually flowed and we were both involved in the conversation. I am so proud! I am definitly making progress.
Yesterday, I also got invited to a surprise birthday party for one of my friends. Unfortunatly I can´t go and I felt really bad saying I couldn´t, but on Saturday is the AFS orientation in Granada, and that is the same day as the party.
On Sunday my host family is taking me to a horsebarn to find out if I can ride here in Spain. At first I was content not riding here (my alergies have been nonexisitant!) But, I am finding myself to be animal deprived, and riding just sounds amazing right now. I would be happy just to be able to help out around the barn. Horse people are always pretty interesting and in general pretty welcoming.
So overall this week has been 100% better than the whole of September, October is looking good!
Also, for my journalism class that I am taking through VHS I had to complete a photo slideshow of something. I did a day in the life of an AFS student in Spain, and I thought that I would share it here. So here it is:
I then got to go shopping with my host mom, which I really enjoyed, becuase now I have new clothes to wear that fit the style here better. Plus, it was good bonding time and I really do enjoy my host mom´s company.
On top of today being a good day, the rest of the week has been good too, and I don´t see this weekend becoming bad.
Yesterday, I found out that I got one of the best grades on the science test we took on Tuesday. Go figure. I didn´t even answer two of the questions because I had no idea what they meant. So, I guess that means that whatever I did answer I got right.
At lunch yesterday I didn´t just sit there and stare into space, I actually had a conversation with one of my friends! And it wasn´t a one sided conversation that was boring, it actually flowed and we were both involved in the conversation. I am so proud! I am definitly making progress.
Yesterday, I also got invited to a surprise birthday party for one of my friends. Unfortunatly I can´t go and I felt really bad saying I couldn´t, but on Saturday is the AFS orientation in Granada, and that is the same day as the party.
On Sunday my host family is taking me to a horsebarn to find out if I can ride here in Spain. At first I was content not riding here (my alergies have been nonexisitant!) But, I am finding myself to be animal deprived, and riding just sounds amazing right now. I would be happy just to be able to help out around the barn. Horse people are always pretty interesting and in general pretty welcoming.
So overall this week has been 100% better than the whole of September, October is looking good!
Also, for my journalism class that I am taking through VHS I had to complete a photo slideshow of something. I did a day in the life of an AFS student in Spain, and I thought that I would share it here. So here it is:
Monday, October 3, 2011
“A mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it is not open.” ― Frank Zappa
This past month has had its ups and downs. Everyday has its share of both. One minute I will be thinking about home, and what I have at home, and how things are there, and the next minute I am not caring how things were at home becuase things here are just as good, just different.
Every morning when I wake up, I have to remind myself to live in the moment, take this journey day by day. I have to remind myself of this because I too often find myself thinking of next summer and how things will be then, after I return home. And when I think that way, I long to be home again. I have to remind myself that its not the end result that matters, its the way that I got there that will tell about in the future.
I also have to constantly remind myself to go take everything with an open mind. I have to erase all my expectations for myself that I may have had at home and cater them to new expectations here. Not lower expectations necesarily, but make them achievable expectations, considering I am in a whole new environment with different challenges that I didn´t have in Connecticut.
I have noticed that at school, my teachers are all very happy with my work. It may not be at the same quality of the other students becuase my grammar when I write is terrriblleee, but they understand what I am trying to say, and for the most part, I understand what they are asking.
Today at school in my philosophy class, I understood the whole lecture! I was so proud. After class my friends asked me how I was doing and if I am understanding better, and I could tell them that, yes, I am and that I knew exactly what we learned today in philosophy. However, Philosophy is one of the only classes I can actually understand the teacher in. This is becuase he doesn´t speak with the Andalucian accent like everyone else. He actually pronounces the "s" in words and completes all his words. Basically, he enunciates better than anybody else in the school, so I can understand perfectly, even when he talks super fast.
So, for upcoming events this month; stuff to look forward to :)
This Thursday there is a strike against school. Students, and I think even teachers, are not attending school in an effort to demonstrate their oppinions about the budget cuts in the public school systems in Spain.
I have experienced first hand how these budget cuts affect the students because one of my teachers, of physics and chemistry, has not been in school for two weeks now. The school cannot provide a substitute and it is difficult to find a long term substitute if this teacher does not return. A friend of mine from school told me that last year a teacher didn´t come for two months, and for those two months they just had a study hall instead of the real class.
So basically, all of these students, including me are not going to be learning much chemistry or physics this year...
Next weekend, on Saturday, I have an AFS orientation in Granada! I can´t wait to see another part of Spain and to get together with all of my fellow AFSers and see how everyone is doing. This should be fun.
Sunday, October 16th I will be running a 10k race here in Malaga with my family. I have never run a 10k I don´t believe, so it will be interesting to see how I do. I cannot wait to run competetivly for the first time since JUNE. It has been so long since I have raced.
The last weekend in October my family is taking a vacation to Toledo. I am not sure what we are doing there, but it sounds like fun. I am pretty sure they mentioned something about a "feria" or fair, so I can´t wait!
October will be a fun filled month! I know this month will be tremendously better than my first!
Every morning when I wake up, I have to remind myself to live in the moment, take this journey day by day. I have to remind myself of this because I too often find myself thinking of next summer and how things will be then, after I return home. And when I think that way, I long to be home again. I have to remind myself that its not the end result that matters, its the way that I got there that will tell about in the future.
I also have to constantly remind myself to go take everything with an open mind. I have to erase all my expectations for myself that I may have had at home and cater them to new expectations here. Not lower expectations necesarily, but make them achievable expectations, considering I am in a whole new environment with different challenges that I didn´t have in Connecticut.
I have noticed that at school, my teachers are all very happy with my work. It may not be at the same quality of the other students becuase my grammar when I write is terrriblleee, but they understand what I am trying to say, and for the most part, I understand what they are asking.
Today at school in my philosophy class, I understood the whole lecture! I was so proud. After class my friends asked me how I was doing and if I am understanding better, and I could tell them that, yes, I am and that I knew exactly what we learned today in philosophy. However, Philosophy is one of the only classes I can actually understand the teacher in. This is becuase he doesn´t speak with the Andalucian accent like everyone else. He actually pronounces the "s" in words and completes all his words. Basically, he enunciates better than anybody else in the school, so I can understand perfectly, even when he talks super fast.
So, for upcoming events this month; stuff to look forward to :)
This Thursday there is a strike against school. Students, and I think even teachers, are not attending school in an effort to demonstrate their oppinions about the budget cuts in the public school systems in Spain.
I have experienced first hand how these budget cuts affect the students because one of my teachers, of physics and chemistry, has not been in school for two weeks now. The school cannot provide a substitute and it is difficult to find a long term substitute if this teacher does not return. A friend of mine from school told me that last year a teacher didn´t come for two months, and for those two months they just had a study hall instead of the real class.
So basically, all of these students, including me are not going to be learning much chemistry or physics this year...
Next weekend, on Saturday, I have an AFS orientation in Granada! I can´t wait to see another part of Spain and to get together with all of my fellow AFSers and see how everyone is doing. This should be fun.
Sunday, October 16th I will be running a 10k race here in Malaga with my family. I have never run a 10k I don´t believe, so it will be interesting to see how I do. I cannot wait to run competetivly for the first time since JUNE. It has been so long since I have raced.
The last weekend in October my family is taking a vacation to Toledo. I am not sure what we are doing there, but it sounds like fun. I am pretty sure they mentioned something about a "feria" or fair, so I can´t wait!
October will be a fun filled month! I know this month will be tremendously better than my first!
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