The younger kids started summer day camp this week. This is their first full-immersion activity since we've been here, making it one heckuva week!
On Monday we brought them to the elementary school where the camp is being held. We brought each child to their group (by age) and discovered that they didn't realize that they wouldn't be with each other! WE, the parents, knew this yet we failed to mention it to the kids...oops. Most of the kids were OK I think simply because they didn't really know what they were in for.
Eva will be the primary focus of this illustration. Day 1, she barely flinches as this new endeavour and joins her group without a second thought. Day 2, still not quite realizing that NO, they don't speak English here, Eva is still OK with going. Day 3, meltdown at drop-off, she doesn't want to go "Everyone is speaking Spanish!!!" Day 4, meltdown at drop-off, like I have never seen. Those of you that know Eva, know that she doesn't cry willy-nilly, though she is trying REALLY hard to learn from Jolie to cry more. But really, on her own, she was in hysterics. My mama gut was aching to take her home, but knowing this would backfire, I let her know that this was the option for today, period. It turned out to be a better day than the day before, but still a ways to go.
Today, at drop off she was crying again, but not as hard as yesterday and today I didn't take her to her room. The day before I had bought her a drawstring backpack with Winnie the Pooh on it to use for day camp. As she is lining up with her group to go inside, crying mind you, all of a sudden the tears come to a screeching halt and she says, "my teacher has the same backpack." And sure enough, she did. I latched onto that and made a huge deal out of it. Eva forgot about the crying and got a big smile on her face and went to show her counselor. She happily trotted into her classroom holding her counselor's hand waving and blowing kisses to us. Thanks for caring about the details, God!
The other thing that happened today was that we found out that Kerline got into the school that we wanted her in. The bonus detail that God threw in for us is that they have an after school English program two days a week that goes all year and prepares kids for ESOL diploma. YAHOO! What an answer to prayer that all these months that we've been wondering what the heck we were going to do about the language issues with her...do we put her in an English or American school? Do we put her in a Spanish school? Or do we bag both and put her in a French school? I think the right answer was "thrown" into our laps. Small, semi-private, all-girls, Catholic school, 10 minute walk from our house. AND it has French as an elective and English as an after school program. I am constantly amazed at the amount of attention that God pays to these details. Awesome!
BTW, I promise to post some pictures soon!
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6 comments:
That is awesome about Kerline. How are the other kids fairing in the crazy Spanish school system?
Love ya,
LeAnne
Yay, God does care about all these little things like backpacks and big things like education! Ready to see some photos......
Hi Aim,
Who'dve thought Winnie would be "The Great Equalizer?" Sounds like the teacher went above and beyond the call of duty. That is a great story! Thanks for all the details, it makes me feel like I am going along for the ride. I have been in a school where everyone speaks a different language and you think they are all talking about you because you don't know what they are saying. So glad all the kids have such empathetic parents. Do you speak English at home or are you doing the immersion thing there too? Sometimes you just have to give your brain a break. As you know, Bob and I travel all over, but the language barrier really taxes the brain and the nerves after a while. We do try our best wherever we are, but sometimes you just need the comfort of familiarity.
Keep me posted...
Franca
Please give Kerline my love. Tell her the kids are doing great, they are having loads of fun with teams that have been coming down, they are dancing with Nikki, and they have finished the library on the second floor.
Bizou!
Amy,
That is really so awesome. I'm really happy for how well things are going for your family! Kerline's extensions are just beautiful in the photo. I'll have to see if Stephanie would be interested in them. Thanks too for the resent hair tips. I'm sure they'll come in handy as I'm cluesless about what to do when they get home. :)
Joyfully,Angela
You MUST check out my blog to see pictures of one of your most favorite babies ever.....NADIA.
I kissed her cheeky's and she pinched my arm a couple of times...I think at least one of those was for you!
Love ya,
LeAmme
thehaitilady.blogspot.com
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