First Few Days of School

Oh, highschool...
I know somebody was praying for me Tuesday, because I couldn't have had a much better first day of school. I didn't sleep a wink the night before, some things never change. Surprisingly, I wasn't nervous though, just really excited. Maybe it's because I've already been through the process, but then again, maybe it's because all the kids in my class are 15 or 16. lol I feel like they all think they're really intimidating, giving me these looks like I'm the weird kid that doesn't belong. One girl actually asked me today if i was afraid of her and her group of friends. It makes me laugh. : )

Day 1
So...I got to school Tuesday morning and realized I'm a head and shoulders taller than everyone--which doesn't help to hide the fact that I'm the American exchange student and explains all the staring! I now know how people in wheelchairs must feel, only instead of people looking down to see me, they're looking up. And let's just say that the uniform here was not made to look attractive on the tall. To add to my overall appearance of oddness, my mom decided to hold my hand and walk me to where my class was gathering (even though it was clearly marked). I looked like such a dork, but it was sweet of her : ) As soon as she left, a group of about 6 girls came up to me and asked if I wanted to be a part of their group. I was very much blown away by how inclusive and inviting they were. All through orientation, they were asking me questions and trying to get to know me. It was pretty great. We had a few classes the first day, and the teachers all made me introduce myself first and say why I chose "sociales" (social studies) as my focus. And I had to explain that I didn't choose anything--in spanish. It was tough. There was lots of laughter. That's one of the differences in the highschools here, that at 16 years old, you have to decide what you want to specialize in. It's like a major--for highschool. And I've heard that if later you want to change your career path, you have to go back to highschool! So my specialization is in sociales. Another difference is that instead of the students changing classrooms, the teachers change and the students stay put. My butt goes numb after about the 2nd class.
I met a girl named Michelle who understands English and speaks a 'lil who's helping me quite a bit. She ate lunch with me and even paid for my food! Plus, she's already invited me over for dinner sometime. So I'm doing ok in the friend department : )
All my teachers seem really cool and are apparently really funny. My classes are really interesting subjects, giving me incentive to learn Spanish quickly. Most of them are things I want to study in college...so I'm sure as soon as I can understand what they're talking about, school will be a lot less boring.
(List of my classes: Literatura, Ingles, Economia, Filosofia, Historia, Educacion Fisica, Sociologia, Computacion, Geografia, Religion, Economia, Matematicas, Dirigencia)
Today in geography, there was a serious debate about the new constitution they're trying to pass here. It was crazy! People were up out of their chairs and in people's faces arguing their point. I really wish i could understand and throw in my opinion. I love that kind of "class participation." lol
But back to day 1, I met the only other exchange student at my school. He was pretty easy to pick out, being a tall, blue eyed, and blonde amongst a bunch of short, dark, and handsomes. He was standing with a group of students when I introduced myself, and then they all went silent. They were saying things like "Shhh!! Listen! Let them talk!" as though we were some show on t.v. and something really important was happening. I really wish that we had had some foreign exchange students at TSAS, because then I would know what it's like to be on the other side of all this, and if what I'm experiencing is normal. Oh and get this...my school bus, is a mercedes-benz!

The Students
You know those "popular" people who pretend to be your friend so other people will think they're nice but they really dont give a crap about you? Well, they exist in Ecuador, too.
The students here are extremely "clickish," and I've found Ecuador has a very touchy culture. Everyone plays with each others' hair in class, and a greeting is a kiss on the cheek. I love it though. Physical affection happens to be one of my love languages.

Dress Code
The dress code is ridiculous. Not only do we all wear the same thing everyday, but your backpacks, purses, and even hair ties have to be black or blue. We're also not aloud to wear makeup or Jewelry and our hair can't be distracting. What Ayn Rand hater decided we should rid ourselves of every hint of individualism?

Homework (meh heh)
The past few days, I've been trying to decide whether I'm going to do the homework or not, because I've already been assigned two books and two papers. None of this counts for credit because I'm already graduated--so the only point in doing the work portion is to maintain good enough grades to stay in extracurriculars; however, my lovely mother informed me at lunch today that she talked to the monjas (nuns) and they said my grades don't matter for the first trimester. YEEUH. Second tri, I hear there are a lot of vacations, and hardly any homework, and third tri doesn't matter because grades don't come out until it's all over! I'm set.

Funny/Interesting Moments
There was a great moment yesterday where I was sitting at my desk, day-dreaming, when I realized everyone had turned to look at me and was laughing. Good friend behind me taps me on the shoulder and lifts my hand for me. The teacher had asked if there were any new people and I totally missed it. So when everyone turned to look at me, I was staring off into space. ha.

Today, my English teacher was trying to describe the word "host" to the class. lol The context was, "I bind myself to God's host to secure me against the snares of demons." So it's talking about angels, right? Well the teacher told the class that it meant "a person who visits us." I'm thinking ..."you mean a guest?... as in the opposite of host?...and in the wrong context completely?" It was pretty funny. He also said the definition of lust is "great enthusiasm for someone or something." Well...let's see here. I have great enthusiasm for dance? and Jesus? Does that mean I'm lusting after dance and Jesus? English class is fun. I understand things : )

Thoughts
In the States, I have total and complete freedom. And a car. So i can go wherever I want, whenever I want, and I don't have worrying parents back home, because they trust me. Aqui? Not the situation. My mom here is convinced that I will get robbed if I ride the bus or take a taxi alone. I can't even go walking alone! In broad daylight! In my neighborhood! Seriously, I understand taking precautions and knowing your surroundings, but it's not that dangerous here. Sure I could get robbed on the bus, but I understand the concept of holding your purse with two hands in front of your body, keeping things zipped, and not pulling out anything expensive in front of people. Seems like common sense to me? ...and I'm 18. Come on. Let me out of the dang house. But anyways, I tend to trust and respect people when I first meet them, but I'm learning that with most people, trust and respect--and therefore freedom--come very much, if not totally, from your actions. It is a gained thing. My family here does not know who I am, and I haven't had enough time to show them who I am with my actions, and definitely not with my words. So I understand the situation....it's just difficult. I think God is teaching me how to be submissive and how to better be under authority. It's all those dang submission prayers in DNA last year lol.

I keep expecting that one day Spanish is going to sound like English, but I have a feeling it will always sound different : )

I realized today why it takes forever to go anywhere. There are no highways!

If you look like you're doing something interesting, people will come talk to you. It worked twice today!

Currently Missing:
My freedom, running, driving, yoga, Jessica, sleepovers.

Sidenotes
Would've been nice if someone had told me I was supposed to bring my own toilet paper to school.

I love Proverbs. It's like opening a bunch of fortune cookies.
Proverbs 14:12
"There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death."