From their approach to academics and freedoms, to afterschool activities, exchange students from the area talked about those differences. You have to join a club. I did karate in Germany. Actually, I did judo for 6 years, stopped and did karate for 4 years. But with those rules come more freedoms, says Spain's Juan Borrero, such as the ability for many American students to drive.
People drive everywhere here.
In Spain, you have to be 18 to drive, so I have to take the bus. Another part of that freedom is the ability to play different sports through the school. Juan, who hails from Madrid, was able to play soccer, basketball and spring track at Merrimack, something he would have been unable to do back home. In Spain, you can choose a sport, but you have to play for a whole year. And if you are serious, you go to a club and play.