Umm.

No tengo ni idea which lingua I am trying to speak. Mi cerebro is really confused and no quiere to work any longer, pero it has to. As of ahora, I do not think puedo hablar either language very bien. Este es a sign of improvement? I think SI!

Ok enough of that crap. The weird thing is that sometimes (thats a really big sometimes) I actually think like that. It's a little trippy. And confusing. And AWESOME.

I was waiting to blog again until school started so that I could entertain y'all with that, but BEFORE I do so, I would like to share a few stories that I had forgotten about or occurred recently. Story number one:

A few days before school started my family took me to Valencia to see the city (the old part with cool churches and stuff). While we were walking around, we saw this little spanish campaign parade thing in support of Fidel Castro. It was only a few people, but I thought that was a little weird because not many people like Fidel Castro because of the whole communist thing. Their main argument was something regarding the imprisonment of 5 cubans in the United States for possible terrorist plans, but I don't know the full story. I just wanted to share because I thought it was interesting. Also, please dont associate that little fact with all of Spain, because I asked my host family about it, and they didn't agree with the campaign. I'm assuming it's a very small portion of people, and a weird coincidence that I happened to be there when it happened. Lesson learned: Spanish campaigns have really good music.

On a slightly lighter note, I have a new found cultural difference for you. The spanish do a lot of waiting around. Here, it's a pass time. In the United States, it's a bad habit. During the few days before school started, I went out a lot with my friends. I would leave my house around 7, walk somewhere to meet people. Then we'd all wait around at random destination waiting around for someone else to come. Then we'd all get up and walk somewhere else, and wait for more people. Then we'd do it again and again and by 10 or so, we'd have the whole group in one place. Then we'd get up and go somewhere else to finally sit around and do nothing again. I'm probably so annoying because I'll be walking along with them, constantly asking 'where are we going?' The answer is ALWAYS either, 'I don't know', 'to get someone else', or 'to go eat'. Lesson learned: Go with the flow.

I am sorry in advance, men and boys, for this next story. I just think its funny so I'm going to tell it. The first few days I was here my host parents were explaining a few household things, and one of them was that my host mom did all the laundry, so all I needed to do was put my dirty clothes in the 'laundry' room (it's really more like an all purpose room). So about 5 days later, I finally gained the courage to put my dirty clothes in the laundry room, even though I knew my host parents would then see my underwear, which is something I'm still not comfortable with. Anyway, the next day, I went into the 'laundry' room to look for an easy spanish book to read (they have a small library in the 'laundry' room) and all I see is a wrack in the middle of the room full of my underwear. I'm talking like 8 or 9 pairs. I just had to laugh because this room has a library, a liquor cabinet and a punching bag for my host brother, among other things, which means everyone in the family had gone in there. Which means they've all seen my underwear. Lesson learned: only put 2 or 3 pairs of underwear in the wash at a time.

Ok i can't think of anything else to say.....

Goodbye!!!!

JUST KIDDING.

Okay here's the school story:

SCHOOL IS SO DIFFERENT IT'S CRAZY. This is 'School Day in the Life of Jane: The short version'. My Spanish (and Italian) friends and I got to school a bit early, so we had to stand around and wait before class started for about 15 minutes (something, as I have already explained above, they are very good at). I, however, am not good at that, so I got really antsy and nervous before it all started. When we were allowed to enter, I was all by myself because my Spanish friends are in the other program of IB students. (They have a technology program and a humanities program) (I'm in technology because I like math and there's not as much reading). Anyway, all my teachers talk really fast, and I didn't understand much. I think if I did understand I would like it, which is comforting. Also, theres only 10 kids in my whole class so thats probably good for learning purposes.

Ok, now this is 'A School Day in the life of Jane: The Long Version'. (You can stop reading now if you've had enough. I'd understand). Here's a little knowledge you may want to know about the school before I begin. School is from 8AM to 3PM. My schedule is as follows.

MONDAYS: 1. Technical Drawing. I have NO idea what that is. 2. Theory of knowledge. (philosophy) 3. Castellano (spanish). 4. Chemistry. 5. Math. 6. English. 7. English. (Double english! Mondays are the bomb.)

TUESDAYS: 1. English. 2. Physics. 3. Counseling (you just get to go ask teachers questions). 4. Math. 5. Math. 6. Chemistry. 7. Castellano.

WEDNESDAYS: 1. Physics. 2. Physics (bad day....) 3. Castellano. 4. English. 5. Math. 6. Geography 7. Free hour. Then I get a half hour break, and from 330-530 I have to do graduation requirements (sports, community service, art....) Wednesdays kind of suck....

THURSDAYS: 1. Physics. 2. English. 3. Theory of knowledge. 4. Chemistry 5. Castellano 6. Geography. 7. Technical Drawing

FRIDAYS: 1. Physics. 2. Chemistry. 3. Geography. 4. Free hour. 5. Math. 6. Theory of knowledge. 7. Free hour. (Double free hour! Fridays are the bomb.)

Anyway.... school today was somewhat interesting. It started off on a rather strange note as well. My host brother Luis and I were at home alone last night because my host dad had to get surgery on his knee (he's fine now), so when I woke up for school, there was no one awake. When I was ready, I tried to leave but couldn't because I was locked in. It was like a movie because I was in a hurry, and trying to find the right key amongst about 20. After about 6 or 7 I gave up and went out the side door which you can unlock from the inside with out a key. Once I was out, I quickly realized that I needed a key to get out the gate door, which I obviously did not have. Since I am a problem solver, (and have extreme height working for me, not to mention pure super strength) I figured out a way to climb over the gate door, which, might I add, is taller that me. Also, basically my whole block saw me do it, so sorry Minnesotans because the Spaniards probably think we're all crazy now... climbing over stuff. My host family had quite the laugh when I told them that. Lesson learned: I don't actually need keys.

I'm not exactly sure what I think about school yet. It's really different. First off, I only have 10 kids in my class, and it's the same 10 kids every single subject, every single day. Second off, you go outside to eat lunch and for breaks. Third off, the teachers are so different. The kids actually like and respect them. It's a more friendly relationship.... not so teachery.

As today was thursday, I got to experience all my subjects/teachers with the exception of math, which I will see tomorrow. First hour was BY FAR the most frustrating, which is totally understandable. I didn't know ANYONE, and I didn't understand ANYTHING. The teacher talked really really fast, and now I'm just hoping I didn't miss a homework assignment or something. Also, it was a little frustrating because the teacher made me talk, and that gave away my foreignness (well actually my name gives away my foreignness. They pronounce it Yane), which lead the whole class to watch me the rest of the day. I felt like I had something on my face, or something sticking to my butt or something.

English class was fine. If I don't pass that, I'm quitting life.

I actually understood some of my Philosophy class, which I was surprised by. I think it has something to do with the teachers accent, but it might also be because I've been watching spanish TV. And listening to my host family talk to their dog which, believe it or not, has helped me learn a ton. More than anything else I'd say.

Chemistry was great. I never thought I would ever say that ever in my whole life ever, but I REALLY like my teacher. He's really 'cool' (relaxed, long hair, hippy type) and he helped me a lot. Also, he was the first teacher to offer to talk slower for me, so that was nice. He was very encouraging.

Castellano......... umm. Well. For lack of better words, it sucks. My teacher is a little difficult to work with. She did acknowledge the fact that I don't speak spanish very well, but apparently she doesn't care. I'm not actually sure what she said to me because she was speaking really fast when she said it, but I'm PRETTY sure she said something along the lines of, "I know you don't understand much unless I talk slower, but I need to talk normally for the other students. So I'm sorry if you don't understand, but i'm sure you'll learn to keep up." Again... don't hold me to that. I didn't understand anything she said that whole day, so I really can't tell you much. Except that we're reading Hamlet at some point. And I also made a friend. She said she could help me with physics/Castellano if I needed it. I was surprised because she didn't make a very good first impression... she seemed very exclusive. But she's not. Lesson learned: don't judge a book by it's cover.

Geography was funny. My teacher reminds me so much of Mary Ford. (If you're reading this, thats a complement!) She's very enthusiastic, and uses her hands a lot when she talks. And laughs at everything. Also, when I told her I lived in Minnesota, she knew about the Twin Cities, which is awesome. Also, I answered my first question in that class: "El mundo tiene problemas?" I said "Si." And then she said, "Que problemas?" and I said, "La Guerra y el medio ambiente." GO JANE!

Technical Drawing was really weird. I cant decide if it's a math class or an art class. I don't really care which one because I like both, but I sort of feel like I should know what the classes I'm taking are. The teacher in that class is superb. And nice. Plus I made a good impression when I had the right type of pencil for the class (2H) AND an eraser.

Other than that, I think I might be OK this year. What I understand is that the classes are in spanish, but the text books are in english since it's an international school. I'm not actually sure about that, but wouldn't it be great to not fail my classes? YES. Dare to dream, right??

So that's pretty much the whole story. Sorry about the length.

My host family got me peanut butter, so I'm pretty content over here.

I'll try put a few pictures on from my 'hood' soon.

Jane