Diary of an Exchange Student : Politics, Prom in the Air as End of School Year Nears

As I near the end of my American year, there are three things most on my mind: school, politics and the prom.

Lately, I have been comparing my learning here with my Portuguese education. In many American classes, I have found freedom to exercise my creativity in a way I never had at home. I can see that without certain rules to follow, you can find out more about who you are. Here, in my creative writing class, I began to write poetry, and I haven’t stopped since.

Something else I have appreciated has been the opportunity to learn Spanish. Since Spain is so close to Portugal--and, in some regions, people are bilingual--Spanish is not offered in our schools. Although in Portuguese language classes we practice speaking aloud more, and thus pick up languages more quickly, I will still go home with a working knowledge of a language I wouldn’t otherwise have had.

I will also have a greater knowledge of politics. In Portugal, we discuss politics constantly with our friends and are aware of what’s going on in our country. Even here, I’ve been closely following the American presidential election because I know that whoever wins will affect Portugal.

American teen-agers are less conscious of politics. From what I see here, few people even know who all the candidates are. I saw a magazine survey that said more Americans know the names of the Seven Dwarfs than the presidential candidates!

People also seem more emotional here in their voting decisions. In one of my classes, a girl said she thought (Jesse) Jackson would be the Democratic candidate because he was appearing on so many magazine covers. I think this is sad. For me, it’s not handsomeness that counts but a candidate’s ideas.

In Portugal, we have the advantage of being a small country. Not only do we know almost every politician, but we also feel our vote counts. Since we have only 10 million people, we feel we really participate in the country’s decisions.

Another advantage, to me, is that we have five major parties with deep ideological differences. They range from a right-wing conservative party on one side to a strong Communist Party on the other, and there is a lot of richness that way.

I don’t see a big distinction between Democrats and Republicans. There may be some differences on issues--for example, the budget--but not in major ideology, such as the economic structuring of society.

This year, media election coverage and discussion in my first-semester government class helped me understand the American system better, an understanding that will serve me in my future law career.

Right now at school, though, the prom is the focus of conversation. This formal party, which will happen in a few days, amazes me. People spend ridiculous amounts of money--up to hundreds of dollars--for this single night. Prom tickets are $90 per couple. Then girls have to buy a new dress, boys a tuxedo and then there’s the limo.

I am going with my friend Goncalo, another exchange student, but we won’t spend much money. I’ll wear a simple, cheap dress ($15), and he’ll wear his host father’s tuxedo. We won’t rent a limo. In fact, we joke that we’ll go on the RTD with our bus passes.

Recently, I heard a girl call the prom “one of the most important moments of my life.” For me, it will be less complicated--a new experience, and one more American tradition.