My brain hurts.

Oh man. It is only Thursday, but I feel as if it should be at least the middle of October. Time drips by slowly, almost painfully. Being lonely sucks. Not being able to speak Spanish sucks. My negative attitude sucks. But, yesterday I had a lot of fun. I didn't have school, and spent the night in Chiclana, a neighboring city, with Nazaret, (my host sister), and her exchange student, Michael. Michael is a super fun, super gay black man who is one year older than me and is from San Diego. We walked around Chiclana for many, many hours. Getting lost, stepping in poop, and buying candy at little corner store shops. We left Nazaret's apartment at 3:30, and she warned us that everything was going to be closed because it is the afternoon and nothing is open until 6:00. We didn't believe her, but, everything was closed. We returned to the apartment at 6:00 and left for San Fernando at 8:30. As we walked to the bus, Michael and I were taken aback. There were TONS of people about. It was cool, the sun was setting, and everything was open. The Spaniards are funny people. They wake at around 9:00 am, break for lunch at 2:30, go home, sleep, and eat, then open the stores/return to work at around 6:00 pm and stay open until around 1:00 am. Its a nice way of life, but its takes times getting used to. 

In reference to the title: P.E. in Spain. I have come upon the conclusion that no matter where one is, all P.E. teachers are the same. When I first met my teacher, all I could do was laugh. He looks just like all of my physical education teachers combined. He is older, kind fat, and baulding, with a very deep voice. He wears sweatpants pulled up to his waist and a whistle. I forgot how much I dislike P.E. No one likes, but still countless students are forced to suffer through it. The teacher (I forgot his name....Fernandez, maybe.....) jokes around with the students, making fun of them, and other such things. The other P.E. teacher is a small woman, who is, once again, just like all the other female P.E. teachers I have ever had. I don't know if these thoughts have a point.  Oh yes, P.E. is the same no matter where you are, but the main difference between Mr. Oefinger and Mr. Fernandez is this: I am 95% sure that Mr. Fernandez is sexually harassing the girls in my class......

I can't even explain how hard school is. I don't understand anything, no one understand me, and the teachers aren't quite sure how to grade my work. I am taking: Biology, Geology, P.E., Philosophy, History, Chemistry, Math, Project Planning, English, French, Spanish Literature, and Physical Science.  The worksheets they give me are so beyond my level that it takes the whole class period to translate one paragraph. Then I feel like an asshole for not being able to understand. And it is very boring. I have no idea what is going on. at all. When 2:30 rolls around, and I am free to leave, my head hurts so much, my jaw hurts (from grinding), and my eyes hurt from looking through the tiny print of my dictionary. 

I can't stop complaining, but I think as time goes on, I will just stop thinking at all. I am trying to upload photos, but it doesn't seem to working. Hopefully the next post will be more positive. It is just hard. Oh well, time will pass and this will be an amazing experience. And thank you everyone for the positive thoughts and well wishes. They mean a lot to me. 

Check out my flickr account for the photos.

flickr.com/photos/violetmae 

much love.....

Violeta :)