So... I have gotten through my first week of school. Last week I had 4 days of actual classes (Monday-Thursday), because we had a promotional trip on Friday. I have a love hate relationship with school. I love that my uniform is literally sweatshirt and sweatpants; and getting ready in the morning consists of me rolling out of bed, putting that on, and brushing my teeth. I leave the house at 6:50 and get back home around 4. It's a long day, but it never really seems like it because of how the day is split up.
Classes have been definitely going. I don't understand a lot of them, but I have a lot of friends that speak English well and can explain things to me if I don't understand. My classes are different every day of the week. How it works is I stay in one classroom with all of classmates, and the teachers switch. I like all of my classes somewhat and get along with the teachers... although I really don't talk to them... There's only one class I'm really good at- and that's English. Everything else is so so (or really bad and I understand nothing because a lot of the content of my classes is stuff I have never even thought about learning) and I get help from my classmates.
There are 3 breaks throughout the day that I use to eat some snacks and hang out with my friends. I have made quite a few friends here that I get along with well, I just haven't actually socialized with anybody outside of school. Hopefully that will change soon!
If I was going to go into a lot of detail about school I would be here forever... and ever... so I'll mention some highlights that I remember from my first day.
The day started with all of us exchange students coming together. I was very surprised with all the other exchange students that I was going to school with and how I never found out I was going to school with them because I had talked to all of them before. I go to school with Kate (USA), Taylor (USA), Louise (Belgium), and Yoyo (Taiwan). We all talk to each other throughout the day if we see each other too. The director of the school introduced us to the entire school before this ceremonial thing they have at the beginning of each week. Except they didn't have it today... so I'm actually not sure how often they do it... but that was interesting because there was 1000+ people just looking at us. Although they quickly forgot who we all were. Every time I've been introduced to a teacher they don't even realize I'm an exchange student who knows no Spanish at first. Even though I'm the only white person in every room I go to. After that, she showed us around the school some and took us to our classes. That was surprising since I was supposed to be in Hillary's old class and had already made friends with all of her friends before school started... but that's not what happened. I was put in a different class, and it felt strange at first, but I quickly made some amazing friends in my class. Another thing about my first day was English class. My English teacher had me go up to the front of the classroom to be interviewed by my class with whatever questions they had for me- except they had to ask in English and I had to respond in English. It was actually kind of fun but also just an interesting situation. During that interview I got asked if I had a boyfriend... and that was about the 3rd time I'd been asked that day... and I've been asked almost everyday since then. At this point, I think people know more about Jesse than me...
Since then, school is always consistent, but always different. I like how I have a different schedule everyday. There isn't much of any homework, but I normally have homework because I need to translate things and teach myself things at home. Have I actually done that as much as I should though? No... I have a math test tomorrow I need to be studying for... but that's for future Caroline to worry about... Compared to what I've heard from the other 6450 outbounds, I'm putting a lot of effort into my school work. And I do enjoy what I'm learning at school. It's just all so different that I have some getting used to and need to familiarize myself with the subjects. I also have to do my work in Spanish, which is challenging, but my classmates are always there to help me.
Overall, school has been great! I wish I could go out more and keep myself busy after school, but that time I have leaves for some nice napping time. I know once I get more used to it and get closer with my friends it will be ok to do things like hang out after school and go out on the weekends. I feel a little lonely and out of place for having been here almost a month, but at the same time, it's only been a month. It has flown by and I can't believe it's been that long already. Even though it feels like I still have forever to be here, I know I will get used to it soon, and then that time will fly by. Soon, this place will be like home.
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