First Impressions

Due to complications with the director of community service at my school, Kimberly and I have not yet started our service work at Arturo Soria. We are quite anxious to start, however, and just need to keep leaning on her to get her to come through for us. Arturo Soria is a state-run home for children whose parents have been deemed unfit to care for them. Usually the situation is quite serious, but occasionally the children are returned to their parents. Otherwise they find places in foster homes or are adopted.

In the meantime, I am researching the new Spanish Education Bill that was passed in the spring of 2005. The Spanish education system is quite different from the US. For instance, what we all experienced as middle school (wonderful time of awkwardness in my life) lasts 6 years here. Then they go to a separate school for 2 years (“high school”) and then off to the university. Education is required until age 16. But my research is focusing on the Educación Infantil, that is, infant education. The new education Hill changes the structure of Educación Infantil to include 3 years of preschool (non compulsatory, not free) for ages 0-3 and then infant education from ages 3-6 (compulsatory, free). I am investigating, from a child psychology perspective, whether or not making Educación Infantil free and compulsatory would reduce both inequalities in education as well as reduce dropout rates in later education.

It is amazing to have such great resources for investigation just a metro stop away. The National Library, the art libraries, the art galleries (I can go see Guernica by Picasso whenever I want), parks, and history history history everywhere. I love the city life, although sometimes I miss dorm life (believe it or not). All of us in the program are spread out all over the city, and it can be hard to stay in touch. I’ve made an effort to get to know the Spaniards, and so far all I’ve met are very nice. I am working with two madrileñas on our psychology project, and they’ve helped me become more comfortable in the classroom, speaking up, asking questions, not being afraid to use my Spanish in front of the others. The girls are quite intimidating because of their beauty and initial standoff-ishness, but it is merely a façade. They are very welcoming.

The only culturally frustrating things I have experienced here are: racism and sidewalk etiquette. Racism here is acceptable, though not always blatant. It is true that the majority of blacks who live in Madrid are from a lower socio-economic level. Furthermore, Spain has become a immigration destination in the last 20 years, placing the percentage of immigrants at approximately 9%. The majority come from Ecuador, followed by northern Africa, and Eastern Europe. It is not uncommon to hear my señora tell me that she has been “working like a black woman” or that I should not trust the Latin-Americans, although she herself came here from Ecuador! It is very frustrating, because she claims that she is not racist. In terms of sidewalk etiquette, there is none. No concept of staying to the right side or of not stopping and standing in huge groups, or of moving to allow someone to pass. But this is trivial.

I can’t believe I only have 8 weeks left here. Time really flies here, even though I spend lazy afternoons in cafes or parks (I am writing this right now from an artesian gelato café. Amazing.) Hopefully the service work will get sorted out pronto! I am eager to start, to say the least.

-Allie Theis, October 2006