Brave

"I don't know just where I'm going and tomorrow's a little overwhelming...If this is the moment I stand here on my own, if this is my rite of passage that somehow leads me home, I might be afraid, but it's my turn to be brave." I love this song. It's so inspirational for me right now. I'm so happy that I have this opportunity, and yes, at times it is frightening, but a lot of times you have to work so hard and go through rough patches to get to the most memorable and rewarding experiences.

School in Europe is quite different from school in the U.S. Today I wrote down a list of some differences I noticed in school and in the culture itself:

1. They use the words "muchisimo, vale, and de acuerdo" all the time.
2. My English teacher is Irish and that just rocks.
3. I go to a Catholic private school, so there are kids from ages 5-18. The little kids wear what look like "candy-striper" hospital jackets during their recess. I have no idea why, but they look cute. Que monos!
4. Some teachers wear lab coats all the time. These teacher aren't science teachers...just sayin'
5. We have to stand at the beginning of class for some teachers until they give us permission to sit down.
6. Every single person is wearing a fabulous pair of shoes at all times. There are zapaterias all over the place. I'll have to get on that.
7. I noticed that a lot of people smoke here. Some students in my grade smoke during break.
8. We all have bread for our almuerzo during break time. Yum.
9. Clocks and trash cans are scarce. I cannot wait until my watch arrives in the mail. Thanks Mommy.
10. Some students here use rulers to underline important topics and most of them have the little white-out strips. I wish I was that neat. I draw squiggly lines and have big blobs of mistakes in my notes.
11. All students have pencil bags. So all of you who've made fun of me for my pencil case and my highlighter bag, well you can take it back now.
12. My locker is a tiny cube. It has a tiny lock and an even tinier key. Like miniscule. I hope I don't lose it.
13. Teachers generally switch rooms; not students.
14. You need a key to get into the library.
15. There are no window screens anywhere that I've seen so far. Hmm.

I finally had the chance to finish Eat Pray Love. What a great book. So now it is time for Harry Potter! I'm so excited. I'm going to start it tonight and fall asleep as I read about the Dursleys. My days go so incredibly fast here. Time flies. I haven't been bored yet (except during school). I always have a book to read, or a CD to burn, or a bracelet to make, or someone to Skype. Although I need to start Skyping a little less. Not that I want to, but I really should. My host family has no problem with it though. They are so sweet to me and they help me with anything I need. I was put in a great place, especially for my first four months. I'll move during Christmas break and then once more during Easter break.

Funny "Alex" story of the day: I was writing in my journal this morning at school between classes. One of the girls came over to my desk and asked how I was and if this was my diary. I told her that I wrote my thoughts in it, lyrics, poems, and I also taped in pictures and special papers. I was flipping through and it landed on the page that my Elton John picture was attached to. She asked me if I like him. And I thought, "like?!" I told her that I absolutely loved him (I mean I'm wearing my Elton John shirt to bed every night...right now actually). She said, "But he's gay! You know that?" I told her that of course I knew that. I told her I didn't want to marry him but I adored him. She that all of the older people in Spain like his music. I laughed and said, "yeah, that's how it is in America too. I'm just different." It made my day. So I'm nerdy. At least I'm consistent? I can't help what I love. B-B-B-Bennie and the Jetssss!