Similarities and Differences

By popular demand, or maybe just one person demanding over and over (love ya mom) I am updating my blog.  I feel like I am settling into life here in Spain pretty well, things are starting to feel normal.  So, I don't really know what to write about, nothing really special has happened.  I guess I will write about some of the similarities and differences between my two homes that I have discovered in my first month here.

Differences

1. SCHOOL.  School here is way different than school in the States.  First, my school here is very small, maybe the size of one of the buildings in Boulder Creek, maybe.  Also, the teachers switch classrooms instead of the students.  This has some downsides, such as you are in the same chair almost all day and you sit with basically the same people the whole time.  Also, because the same classroom is used for all classes and teachers, they are very boring and uniform.  Mine happens to be two of the ugliest shades of green, nicely accented by pencil graffiti.  But there is nothing on the walls, no decorations, nothing (however, out the window of my classroom is the coolest view of the main park in Caceres).  The perks of being in the same class all day are first, the class gets pretty close.  Mine has a group message set up and we are all pretty good friends.  Also, I sit next to some really smart people who take good notes and share them with me!

Second, the whole attitude about learning is different here.  Grades are heavily exam-based, and although we have homework almost every day, it often doesn't count.  The word for homework here is deberes, which literally translates to "should-do's".  They are not a requirement in most classes but simply a way to assist your studying.  That being said, students here take their education a lot more seriously than in the States.  I think that having to have the self discipline to study on your own and do the homework because it will help you, not because it is worth a grade, give these kids pride in their work.  Overall I really like the system here.


2. Weekends:  I think a phrase that would describe the Spanish mindset perfectly is "work hard, play hard".  From what I have seen, Spaniards are a lot more social than Americans and a lazy saturday night spent in your pajamas watching netflix would never fly.  Fridays are usually more relaxed.  Many people hang around the house, go shopping, or meet up with friends.  Saturday nights you always always go out.  It is really fun to get a little dressed up, do your hair and makeup, and hit the streets of Caceres.  No matter what we have planned for the night, the starting place is the Plaza.  The Plaza is one of my favorite places because you can see anyone and everyone.  Literally EVERYONE approximately my age meets up in the Plaza.  From there we either go to a discoteca, a bar, or hang out around town.  Very social and very fun!

3.  Style:  I absolutely love the style here.  The girls dress pretty much the same during the week, and a little nicer than Americans on the weekend.  BUT THE BOYS have the best style here.  I don't know if it runs in their blood or what but now that I have witnessed this level of class I never want to see basketball shorts again.  Also, when you go out, you dress nice.  It reminds me of when we saw the Harvard students clubbing in Boston!


Similarities 

There are many more similarities than differences, and when people ask me what it is like in America i actually have a hard time answering because really its not all that special.

1.  obviously, Language:  I consider myself pretty outgoing, but it is pretty hard to be outgoing when you have the vocabulary of a drunk 4 year old (just imagine).  It has been pretty hard to break out of my shell and not be scared to make mistakes, but it is getting there!

2. Media: this is very heavily Americanized here.  Everyone uses Twitter, Instagram, Facebook etc.  Also, many of the TV shows and movies are American, and dubbed over in Spanish.  Even the commercials are for the same products.  It is the funniest thing to hear the Spanish voice pronounce the name of the American products!  However there are some Spanish TV shows that I think i will lim when my Spanish skills allow me to understand them, and we went to a Spanish movie on monday that was fantastic! In a couple months y'all should look up La Isla Minima when it comes out on DVD.

3. Church:  Its true what everyone says, that church is exactly the same everywhere you go!  My branch has about 30 members, me included we have 3 young women and its all in Spanish, but other than that it is like I was home! Everyone was super welcoming and it was the coolest thing ever to hear the sacrament prayers, hymns, YW theme, and more in Spanish.  It was so peaceful and had a great spirit.  I am very grateful I got placed in a city with church presence!

Thats all I can think of for now, if any of you have questions or anything like that you can feel free to Facebook message me, Twitter, email, etc and I would love to get post cards! I will send some out as soon as i find them (Caceres doesn't have many tourists, and therefore not many tourist shops)

Besitos!
Bailey