PREGÓN

2o Bachillerato(grade 12) is kind of a big deal here. As it is everywhere being the final year and everything but the systems are very different and it seems that in this year, here, there's something really special. In my school there are a few things this class does every year and I've really enjoyed being a part of it. Thursday and Friday we put on this years "pregón". I've been trying to find a word to describe it because the translator gives me "cry"; it's like a variety show kind of, but instead of being about individual talent it's a bunch of videos and skits different groups of students in 2o Bchiller that have something to do with the school. The preparation process started before Christmas when people planned ideas for videos and dances and skits. I participated in the opening video with everyone which was fun but making that video took forever. There's this guy named Aguas who pretty much took charge of everything, but the students don't really respect him so that was frustrating. The average personality here is one with kind of a know it all character that easily characterizes other people or labels them (based on race, physical appearance or intelligence) yet it's so normal you can't be made out to be a bad person for doing it, and in general everyone is really nice but I feel there is a lack of compassion or the concept of "putting yourself in someone else's shoes". Don't get me wrong I love the spanish people but when twenty different people are trying to take control and think their way is best without listening to other ideas, well, a video that's basically just a minute of us pretending to be in an army and then a minute of us running took three hours to make. But it turned out well.

I was in another video too. Where I acted as an explorer type person and we made a documentary type video where I spoke english and then they did the voice over spanish thing like all the documentaries that are on tv here. That was fun. I also acted in a skit, as a gangster type person (dressed up as a boy) where I pretended to beat up my friend then drooled over some dancing girls and had the last line in the skit! Unfortunately this meant everyone would make fun of my accent for the next few days which is starting to get to me (my having an accent = another reason to feel like an outsider). Then I was in the girls dance - the funky style. The styles were funky, which is the sexy style I guess, the mezcla (mix), which ended up being salsa ish and hip hop, where I learned there are some really talented girls in my school. I also played the guitar and sang, in the hallway, and was going to perform for the baby photo video but then Aguas put a song on the video so that didn't work out but it's nice to know my classmates now realize I have talents.

I actually loved being on the stage again and my super hyper performing personality came out. I got a little crazy finally being able to dance and sing and was not nervous or embarrassed at all - it was awesome. Usually I get a million butterflies in my stomach and my face goes beat red whenever I have to say anything in class, but the stage is different - I've been there before. This was, for the majority of my classmates, the first and only time they get to do a big performance and because every year growing up they watch the graduating class put on this show it's kind of a big deal. Having done a bunch of musicals and plays and organizing shows similar to this I found the organization part frustrating and the teachers super annoying. None of them are drama teachers but about five of them kept interrupting every skit and song to change it to how they felt it would be better. Even though it's supposed to be the students who put it on. For those who are reading this and participated in one of the previous two musicals put on by horton high school, imagine: that director, but five of him, and not putting on an already written performance but something you and your friends created yourselves………… yeah.

Some of the things where really creative, there was a black light dance thing where three guys had fake legs so they could fly and stuff (really have no idea how to explain that one) some of the videos where hilarious and the whole thing was enjoyable and the students from the other grades say it's the best one they've seen! One of the parts that is done every year is a boys strip tease. When I first heard about this I was confused - I go to a catholic school and this is a show for all ages?? Turns out the strip tease is only for the Friday show which is the higher grade levels and my religion teacher was organizing a final pose for the eight hotties in their underwear. (videos on my facebook wall)

Oh Spain…