Instituto

The post you've all been waiting for, about... school! There are many differences between my school here and the American high school scene, but both have their own advantages and disadvantages. The course that I'm in here is called Primero de Bachillerato (First year of Bachillerato), equal to 11th grade. In Spain, school is mandatory until you're 16. After that (assuming you've passed the previous course, 4° de ESO, equal to 10th grade) you have the option of going to a specialty school for cosmetology, gardening, etc., finding work, or doing Bachillerato -- equal to 11th and 12th grade -- which is required to do in order to apply to universities. Ideally, you'll go to Bachillerato. 

Bachillerato is two years long (1° Bach = Year one of Bachillerato, 2° Bach = Year two). Unlike the US, you don't get to pick each of your classes. Instead, you usually have a few options as to the focus of your studies, according to your future career and/or what you plan to study in university . For example, at my school you can choose between the Humanities track and the Social Sciences track. How this works is that everyone takes the same core classes, but the Humanities people take more language classes (Greek and Latin) and the Sciences people take more math/economy classes. I'm in the social sciences track, which is probably better for exchange students since it doesn't involve so many languages! Many people say that Humanities is the harder of the two tracks, but I'm not really sure if that's true or not.  


Throughout the day, I remain in the same classroom with the same group of students, and the various teachers come to teach their subject each hour. The Humanities people in my class leave every now and then for their Greek/Latin classes while I stay with the rest of the sciences people for Economy class and additional math classes. I have 10 subjects all together:


1. Math
2. Lengua (Spanish Class, kind of like English class in the US)
3. PE
4. English
5. French
6. Philosophy
7. Proyecto Integrado (We read/examen various Spanish works of literature)
8. Economy
9. History
10. Science


(I also have a special Spanish course two times a week that my school provides for students learning Spanish.) School begins at 8:30 and my class has six subjects a day, each an hour long. Our schedule is different every day of the week, so I still haven't memorized the schedule. Everyone is always asking, "What do we have next?". After the first two classes, we have a 20 minute "recess" to eat, relax, etc. After that we have two more classes, followed by a 10-minute recess. We then have our final two classes of the day and go home! (Ending at 3:00 pm.) There aren't any sports/clubs/teams/etc. throughout the school -- you have to find them around the community -- so school is just school. In my institute, there are three different buildings in which the classes of ESO (equal to 7th-10th grade), Bachillerato, and specialty workshops (like cosmetology) are. We have an outdoor basketball court, soccer field (on the cement), and volleyball court, in which people roam during recess. Sometimes I have this feeling I'm in elementary school again, but it's 7th - 12th grade. 


In my school, the students of Bachillerato are separted into three different classrooms, with about thirty students in each group. My class, 1° Bach C, is pretty awesome if I do say so myself.

1° C! LA MEJOR! (With our Philosophy teacher... stud.)

My classroom from the back wall

If we're honest though, I don't do much in school. I spend many of my days studying Spanish, drawing, writing notes/letters, doing nothing, etc. This is the last week of the second trimester, and I'm pretty sure I passed three of my classes this time around (P.E., Proyecto Integrado, and English). Many people ask me why I bother going to school, but there are a few answers to that. 

1. It's required by law in order to keep my student visa.
2. It's required by Rotary. 
3. I want to experience and live in the culture of Spain, just like any other 17-year old Spaniard would.  
4. If I didn't go to school I have no idea what I would do with my life, since nearly all my friends are from my school and would be there during the day... You can only entertain yourself for so long?

I used to not do anything because of language barrier. Now, there is still a language barrier, but not nearly as big. I can understand a lot of my classes if I concentrate. This coming trimester, I'd really like to improve. I have a pretty good grasp on the language that I have the capability of doing better, it's just finding the motivation. Class structure is much different here than in the US. In the US, we write tons of papers, do projects, and have tests as well as quizzes. Here, however, it is nearly all exams. During class, we usually read/discuss text from the book, and afterwards there is very little homework. This is when Bachillerato begins to seem like what I imagine university more as. Students have to study out of their book like crazy at home (I'm pretty sure most of them just try to memorize their text books, no joke) in order to pass the exams. The grading system here is 0-10, 10 being the best. If you receive a 5 or more in a class, it's passing. The thing is that tons of people don't pass. They study like crazy but so many times they still fail the exams. Getting a 10 on an exam is nearly unheard of. If you study really hard for an exam, I'd expect you to get somewhere from a 6-8. Nine if you really know your stuff. It isn't uncommon for someone to fail a few classes and have to repeat the whole year over; there are a good number of 18- and 19-year-olds in 1° Bachillerato. 

If students in the US studied as much as students here do, they'd surely have a 4.0. However, I think that high schools in the US often teach much more efficiently, through learning in multiple forms (other than exams) and being more interactive in. High school is definitely more fun in the US, becuase of the extracurricular activities within, various projects (like Food Drives), dances, and all the other things that make school more than just a place where we study. (The real reasons you usually go to school.) When I got here and people were in awe of American high school from me telling stories and movies and whatnot, I didn't really understand why. Now I do! Now, when I see movies with scenes of American high school, I think to myself, "Wow, I kind of miss that. We have something unique in the US." We have football games and prom and cheerleaders! We have school plays and lunch in the cafeteria and classes people just take for fun like sewing or painting or even newspaper! There is a sense of  school spirit and unity that I miss, and I look forward to returning to for senior year. However, I know with out a doubt that I will miss my classmates here so much! One perk of not changing classes is that you get to know one set of people really well. At first, I was worried that I wouldn't get to know many people, being in the same classroom all day, but somehow I've still managed to meet nearly everyone in 1° Bachillerato! However, 1° Bach C will always have a special place in dis girl's heart. Love you guys!

The African Sun Says "Hello!"

So apparently today is officially the start of spring? That seems so strange to me!

As far as my life goes... My mom sent me Girl Scout cookies and Reese's peanut butter cups in a care package recently, and the cookies lasted for a solid seven days. I'd say that's pretty good! I went to my first wedding in Spain last Saturday (the 10th)! It was actually pretty similar to weddings in the US. Here, there are two types of weddings: "Religious" weddings that take place in churches for Catholics/Christians, and "Civil" weddings that take place somewhere other than the church. The one I went to was a civil wedding. The ceremony took place outside, and was very short. Also, something different was that why the bride and groom were in front of everyone, they sat in chairs instead standing in front of the lady who married them. Right after the ceremony, champagne was served to everyone, followed by some tapas (small servings of various Spanish foods). We then went inside a wedding hall in which we ate a huge, delicious meal and later on danced a bit in.

Also a cool tradition at Spanish weddings -- the bride gives every woman/girl this flower-pin thing, and depending on whether you're married or not, puts it a certain way on your shirt/jacket. If your married, she places the pin correctly, with the flower upright and the sharp side pointing down, so it doesn't fall out. If these women still manage to lose it, that means they will lose their husband (or something like that). For all the women that aren't married -- me! -- the bride places the pin upside down, so that the pointy side is pointing upward. Like that, the pin is likely to fall out. If you lose the pin (not on purpose, but by accident) then you will find true love! I thought this was interesting. My pin actually did drop out, but I saw it fall so it wasn't truly losing it. I put it back on, and you will never believe what happened... I went to the restroom and it somehow fell in the toilet.... WHAT? What does that even suggest for my love-life?? For those wondering, I didn't fish it outta there.

My flower-pin that eventually fell in the toilet

Not much happened last week, until Thursday when I went to Melilla for my Rotary District Conference! Melilla is a Spanish territory on the coast of Morocco, Africa!!

Melilla is a Spanish territory on the northern African coast

Melilla was only a half-our plane ride from Malaga City! While in Melilla, my host parents stayed in a hotel with the rest of the Rotarians, and I stayed with an exchange student, Jess from New York, who is actually living in Melilla! We totally had the instant-exchange-student-connection and it was so nice spending the weekend with her. We had to help out a lot at the conference, but when we weren't there we had fun visiting the ancient city in Melilla, sunbathing at the beach, and exploring the streets and culture. Melilla was definitely interesting because of all the influence of Morroco! One day, we actually went to the military base of Melilla with Rotary! Some things that stood out to me in Melilla were all the Muslim women, the Arabic, and constant stares from people on the street. Overall I enjoyed the city, and I'm glad I got to hang out with Jess. Exchange students get exchange students perfectly. It's nice. Hopefully, Jess can come here in a few months for the Marbella Feria!

We made the newspaper!

After more than an hour of cooking and hoping for the best, Jess and I successfully made a tortilla de patatas (Spanish omelet with potatoes) 

Melilla has water the color of Kool-Aid :)

Inside the military base for a small lunch. Rotary meeting FTW

Jess and I with a soldier we met at the base

Jess and I with a goat.... long story? I'm still unsure of why this picture ever happened.

We came back on Sunday evening, and now it's back to the usual. At school, we're finishing up the second trimester, so that means exam time! AKA Everyone is cramming and freaking out. I believe we finish all the finals this week, have school next week (for some reason I'm not sure of if we've already finished exams), and the following week is Semana Santa, or Easter, so we have the week off (it's like our Spring Break). After that, there are about three months of school left and only four months remaining of my exchange! Time is flying guys. 

Happy Spring, Feliz Primavera!

Josie

P.S. After re-reading this, I decided my English has met a new low. I'm sorry about that, but I hope it just means my Spanish is taking over! Right now, it's kind of difficult to express myself in any language. More on that later though.  :)

BON JOVI, U B IN MY HEAD

We're halfway there.

Well, technically, I guess we're more than halfway there now. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, I passed the halfway-through mark of my exchange on Friday (-ish; I'm not completely confident in my math). I can believe that. In some ways, I feel like I've been here forever [just over 5 months], and it's difficult to remember how I was/how things are in the US. But when I think about all I've done here and how much I've grown as a person, time, for once, makes sense to me. In less than five months, I'll be back in Iowa, about to start senior year. I look forward to seeing my family and friends back home so much, but the thought of leaving Spain saddens and somewhat scares me, mostly because of all the people here that I'll have to leave -- unlike departing from Iowa, I don't know when I'll be able to return here. It's a thought that makes me cringe! However, I've been trying to live in the moment, and make the most of my time here. Thinking about the future so much can be overbearing!  As for the next half of my exchange, my goals are to do better in school, enjoy the time I have left with my friends here, and become fluent in SPANISH!

I don't have much to tell you about Semana Blanca. It was a nice week to relax and hang out with friends a little bit. Really though, I don't mind going to school because I get to be with friends all day, and most teachers don't expect too much from me. So if I don't do well, they're not surprised, but if I do well in school, I'm kind of amazing. It's like being a freshman in sports all over again.

Since that's all I can think of to write as far as an update on my life, here's a mini lesson in Spanish slang.


No flipes!
Exclamation
Pronounced: No fleep-ays!
Translation: No flips!

I'm not exactly sure if I have the correct literal translation, but that's not really important. "No flipes" is used the same way as Americans use "no way!". There are many expressions with "flipes" in them, but they all usually come back around to "No way!".




Que guay! or Que chulo!  
Exclamation
Pronounced: Kay why! / Kay choo-low!
Translation: Cool!

Say one of these when you see/hear of something cool or when somebody has/is wearing something interesting. These phrases are used basically the exact same way as "cool" in English is.



Guiri
Noun
Pronounced: Giddy
Translation: Foreigner

I am called this all of the time. When somebody is from a different country, they're considered a guiri.Some people who have lived here for a long period of time might be offended by this name (they'd prefer to be called residents rather than foreigners), but honestly it's not insulting.



Tio
Noun
Pronounced: Tee-oh
Translation: Uncle

Although this literally means uncle, people use "tio" to refer to each other casually, kind of like Americans use "dude" or "man."
Example: "Que pasa tio?!" = What's up dude/man?!


Que maquina!
Exclamation/Adjective
Pronounced: Kay mawk-een-uh
Translation: What a machine!

Use this when someone does something like a boss. They're a machine! I feel like this makes sense in English, but honestly I can't remember.
Example: Boy hikes up La Concha Mountain: Que maquina!
Example 2: Somebody dances for 3 hours straight: Que maquina!



Xano; Shano
Adjective (usually)
Pronounced: Ch-han-oh
Translation: Everything

I'm 99% sure that my class made up this word. We're the only ones who use it as far as I know. It can be spelled multiple ways, and can basically mean what ever you want it to. Say it when describing something cool, when someone is annoying, or when you just need a word to express yourself at the moment.
Example: Girls are being preppy and won't shut up about their material problems: Que xano!



Jesus! / Salud!
Exclamation
Pronounced: Hey-soows! / Sahl-ood
Translations: Jesus! / Health!

This is what someone says after somebody else sneezes. It's the equivalent to "Bless you!". This isn't really slang, but it's good to know.


Por la cara
Adjective
Pronounced: Poor lah cah-duh
Translation: By the face

This is basically equal to "random" in English. The literal translation is strange, I know, but it is what it is.
Example: Man 1:"Why is he singing High School Musical Songs in the bathroom?" Man 2: "I don't know - por la cara."



Toma!
Exclamation
Pronounced: Toe - mah
Translation: Take it!

When you beat someone at something -- a game, argument, etc. -- and you want to rub it in their face, yell, "TOMA!". It's like saying, "Take that, bro!"



Que cuqui!
Exclamation
Pronounced: Kay kew-key!
Translation: How sweet! / How cute!

I'm not 100% sure on this one. If I have the right definition, then it'd be like, "Que cuqui! Look at those adorable panda bears, nibbling on bamboo!"



Well, I think that's all for now! I'm probably forgetting a few phrases that I meant to put down, but I'll try to think of more in the mean time.

Love you guys,
Josie xx