Day 3 So Far

Well..
today I visited my school. It is 400 students, 3 classes of each grade, but 42 students in a class. I met with the principal and an administrator who acted as a translator. They asked me some questions about my marks, what sports I play, and other things like that. I answered in spanish whenever I could, and tried not to make the administrator translate everything. I amazed myself with what I understood, but I can´t wait until I can understand everything being said. There are certain words that I pick up, so I can get the gist of sentences. Back to the school....I have to be put in grade 11 because if I was in grade 12 then I would only be able to go to school until december. But, no big deal, because I likely will have learned most of what is going on. I´am pretty sure that grade 11´´s don´t do much calculus, and even if they do..i will know the concepts!! They were impressed to learn that I was the president of West Hill...and I saw a picture of the council at the school. There is a computer room that can be used during breaks )which are 15 min every 2 hours...there is a ping pong table, foosball, and a stereo (the music is loud during the breaks..pretty sweet!!) There is a little cafe, (i have met and given the ladies who run it a kiss on the cheek..i have actually given almost every teacher in the school a kiss on the cheek!! haha) very different from home..can u imagine?? I have the school uniform.....grey socks, blue skirt, grey sweater, blue blazer, white button up shirt, there is a wind jacket, wind pants, grey t-shirt, and blue gym shorts. My host mother said that my sister Karen (in the States) didn´t like the uniform. As we were driving around town today, I saw lots of kids walking in their uniforms....i have seen like 4 different ones.
School starts at 8 am....i have not been ready at that hour for a long time, but i´ll get used to it! Then we go home for lunch, and back to school at 2:50 til 6:30. Attendance at school is very important, because the government gives money based on the attendance of the student.
I carry my dictionary (diccionario) with me everywhere, and tell people that it is my mejor amigo (best friend..) that usually gets some laughs. That´s all I got for now..
miss ya!
jode