Lasting Impressions

      Today was my last day at RMSI and I am so sad to leave my students.  The girls in my homeroom all made me cards with sweet messages and the school gave me a canvas bag with the words "Descubre el tesoro que llevas dentro" which, according to my host mom, means "Discover the treasure that is inside."  The school also gave all the student teachers a portable charger, a RMSI pen, a RMSI sticker, a RMSI button, and a medallion made out of paper and ribbon.  My cooperating teacher was very sweet, told me I will be a wonderful teacher, and asked me to keep in touch.  The girls asked if I would come visit them soon and it broke my heart telling them I don't know when I will be able to come to Barcelona again.
       The most enjoyable activity I did with my homeroom was video chatting with my first student teaching placement class in Kentucky.  As an optional homework assignment for the weekend, I asked the girls to come up with questions to ask the American students and an introduction about RMSI.  Five girls participated so they were the ones who got to speak to the class the most.  I chose five questions and an introduction speech and decided who would say what.  The students at both schools answered the questions and had time at the end to ask extra questions.  They were very interested in the different ways they get to school (Kentucky students mostly by bus or car and the Barcelona students mostly by walking or public transportation), what they do for fun, the time zone difference, and the difference in lunch times (an hour and 15 minutes in Barcelona and 25 minutes in Kentucky).  It was very entertaining to see the two classes communicate with one another and it was the perfect way to connect the beginning of my student teaching to the end. 
      The schools in Kentucky and RMSI have a lot in common, but they also have quite a few differences.  RMSI, overall, needs improvement in classroom management because the students (especially the all-boy classes) are often disrespectful and too much of the class time is devoted to telling them to stop talking, to sit down, etc.  However, schools in the US could learn a great deal from RMSI.  At RMSI, the students are given more free time to be energetic, socialize, and just be kids.  The teachers and students are more affectionate.  For example, I have seen teachers kiss primary students on the cheeks.  This would never happen in the US, but it is simply a difference in culture.  Neither way is wrong.  However, they are much more open about their emotions, which is something the US can improve upon.  Almost all of my notes from the girls said "I love you", which is not heard from American students as often.  The culture in Barcelona is more loving and open and this is reflected in the relationships between the teachers and the students.
       This love is also exhibited by my host family.  The children and parents really value time with one another.  For example, they always sit down to dinner together and talk about their days.  Although my actual family at home does this, it is not a common occurrence in the US.  They celebrate one another.  I have helped the youngest boy study a couple of times.  He told me and his family that he answered several questions correctly in science class last week after we had studied the material.  His teachers and family were so proud because he is normally quiet in class.  The family has been so welcoming to me, sharing their delicious food, picking my friends and I up from the airport when we came back late at night from a weekend in Paris, giving me advice about Barcelona, and helping me with my Spanish. 
       This time last year, I did not want to do International Student Teaching.  I thought it would be too stressful and was worried I would be too overwhelmed with teaching to truly experience the culture and what the country had to offer.  After speaking to previous International Student Teachers and reading blogs on WKU's website, I changed my mind.  I am so glad I gave it a chance and I recommend it to anyone who is interested.  I believe student teaching was one of the best ways to experience the culture firsthand and I would do it over again if I could.
       I took pictures with my class with the red towel but they have to be approved by the school before I can post them online.  Once they are approved, I will post them on my blog.  Adios! It's been a pleasure!