April 24, 2006

The kids made it through the first day at Cheltenham College Junior School. Ryan bounded out of school first with a big smile on his face saying good-bye to all his new mates. He told me all about the wonderful lunch and desserts, right off. Very Ryan.

Then Siobhan appeared and was happy with how organised (please note the British spelling!) the school and teachers were. Very Siobhan.

After two attempts to find Michael, he finally emerged looking completely stressed out. Somehow he had managed to find himself in the cricket team try-outs. Very Michael.

Further discussions with them gave us (and any psychologist who might have been listening) quite a look into each of their little souls. Ryan loved his new friends and gym. He could have talked forever about all the food and snacks. He was so happy. He looked even cuter at the end of the day when his tie, shirt and socks were comletely disheveled!

Siobhan liked her classmates, but was so happiest with the organization, challenging work loads, and switching classes. She couldn't wait to start her prep (homework). Its all about the academics with her. She loved the French teacher she and Micheal share. Michael thought the teacher was so mean. Hard to believe they are in the same class.

Michael's comments were all about the disipline. His keen sense of justice was challenged over and over as he saw kids receive demerits for wearing the wrong shoes, being smart alecks, etc. He felt the teachers were too hard on everyone and didn't allow the boys to explain WHY they did whatever it was they did.

Ahh, yes, we're not in Prairie Crossing Charter School anymore, are we? In fact, he fell at recess and got his pants all muddy and was given a warning by a teacher passing in he hall. Mud on pants? If you didn't come home muddy from the Charter School, you were probably sick! Mud was a badge of honor at PCCS. BIG eye opener and cultural difference. Time will help this. He'll get demerits, he will try to defend himself, I am sure, and learn the hard way that at a British prep school, no one is interested in sharing feelings! How he ended up at cricket try-outs I still do not know. My guess is that didn't go well.

So this morning went much better. The ties were loosened and slipped over their heads. They were ready to go ahead of time so the only person who was rushed was little Aidan who wasn't all that interested in walking the big kids to school. Jim has his US collegues in this week. It's a beautiful thing. They had meetings all day and he went to dinner with them in the evening and simply walked home. He'll do the same tonight. Those moments are why we moved here. Now he can miss a dinner or two with us instead of a whole week. Or two.

I'm off to the grocer and to run errands. Putting together meals that don't involve mutton and cans of pre- mushed peas (who is so lazy or rushed that they can't mush their OWN peas) is proving to be a bit difficult. We're eating a lot of chicken. Last week we had wonderful pasties. They look like an Italian calzone, but they are stuffed with beef (I hope) and potatoes. There was alot of shaking of pretend "pasties" on the kids' chests at dinner that night. The following day, I was told these delectable pasties are pronounced "past. ies" NOT "Paste. ies".

It amazes me that we, in fact, share a language with the British. Honestly, we have been driven to gesturing our needs in hopes that the other person can understand! Usually, people find humor in it. I did notice alot of smirks when I kept referring to "pants" at the uniform shop. "Pants" are underpants. Oops. You think you'll catch yourself every time, but its impossible!