#ufcjconline

How Do You Celebrate Your Wins - Big or Small? #supportsmallbusiness

So Aaron came over today after school so I could tutor him in math. He saw this picture of me and my dad. In my scramble to clean the house and get rid of all of my "weirdness" I forgot to put this photograph away.

I saw him looking at it and immediately felt my stomach drop. "That's it," I thought. "He's going to run for the hills and tell everyone at school that I'm a reptilian."

But he didn't do any of that! In fact he asked me all about the snake my dad was holding and what kind of species it was! He told me the picture was "epic!" Wow.

Did I mention I think I'm beginning to like Aaro- I mean North Shore High School?

Janice made me this map after I went over and started talking to "the plastics." All I did was compliment this girl named Gretchen's gold hoop earrings. Apparently that's not allowed? Look, she even wrote the word BEWARE under "the plastics" table.

Janice told me that I'm not allowed to sit at any of these tables. Nor am I allowed to be friends with anyone because friendships don't exist. Cliques exist and if you're not in one, you're basically a loser.

I keep thinking about South Africa. The animals didn't have cliques. Sure they walked with their own kind but they shared the watering hold. They shared shelter and resources.

I asked Janice is all of America is like this and she said she didn't know.

I finally met two people who are just as "alien-ish" as me! (Even though I don't think I'm an alien nor do I actually think they are either).

That's Janice on the left and Damian on the right. For the first time since I've been at this school I didn't feel like a wild egret without my wings.

In history class I heard someone call North Shore a very "clicky" school. I don't exactly know what that means or if I'm spelling it correctly. Is it even a word?

EDIT: my mom told me tonight that it's spelled "clique" and it means to stay within your own herd.

I guess I just don't understand. I grew up in a place where all of the animals coexisted and respected one another. (Well, unless you were around a lioness and her cubs - but that's different).

Why do people have "cliques?" Who cares? Can't you just be friends with whoever you want?

My family and I moved to America after living in South Africa. My parents enrolled me in a "traditional" school and I've never felt so out of place. I ate my lunch in the bathroom today. (See above). It's never been difficult for me to adapt to new surroundings because we move a lot. But this time is different. Everyone thinks I'm some strange alien. Oh and my math teacher was surprised that I was white? Who cares what color I am?