The Spanish school system is interesting. I think it's kind of cool. When you're around my age, you pick a track, a group of subjects you're interested in pursuing as a career. There's Sciences, Technology, and Socials. I think. At the end of Segundo Bachillerato (that's like their Senior year) everyone has to take a huge test called Selectividad, which controls whether you get into Universidad or not. Everyone is already stressing over the test. It's crazy! But get this: college here just costs around 1,000 euros. That's close to what some people pay for their college BOOKS in the states.
For some reason I am in the Sciences track. And add that to the fact that the majority of my classes are taught in Catalan, a different language, resulted in a confusing first week of school for this girl! I kind of bounced around looking for classes I could semi-understand, and friendly kids who would help me out. Historia de Arte was a bit easier because there were visuals; I learned all the parts of a column. Religion I understood a little. I felt good about Matematicas (because after all, numbers are numbers), but then a little guy in a white lab coat starting writing on the white board, x's and lins and infinities and m's all under one little square-root roof, and I realized maybe this Matematicas was a little beyond me. Sue Ahrendt, come help me out! At the end of the day I ended up in a classroom full of 8-year olds learning English, and I read with them and we acted out plays. It was fun to see and listen to all those ninos trying out the language. They all sounded like the guys from Nacho Libre as they struggled with the words. It's hard, I realized. English. Why does the 'U' make an 'ooo" sound in 'you' and an 'uh' sound in 'fun'? Why do we say funny things like "I'll give you a lift" when we're not intending to lift anything? We had fun. They like the peace sign (picture). I said "Hasta Luego" and they said "See you later!"
I've been here for three weeks almost. Grandma and Grandpa, I got your letters yesterday, thank you so much!! Mail is so fun. Love you. I am making friends. Yesterday I got invited to go to the club. People party all night here, starting at midnight. The Barcelona nightlife seems a just a tid bit different than the Grand Marais nightlife. I'm excited. I miss fall back home though. I hope all is well back home!
PS. Fun fact: in Barcelona, a ham and cheese and egg sandwich is called a "bikini".
No comments:
Post a Comment