Back to School!

The boy is back in school. (Amen.) Today is his first day at a new school, a private local kindergarten called Little Windmill. He is in the Sun class, which is "international", and the class is taught in both Mandarin (60%) and English (40%). There are 18 students, 2 teachers, and 2 classroom ayis.

He has been out of school since May 27th. Not that I'm counting. And while I wasn't planning on having him start until after the October holiday week, it has been a long time since May 27th. A long, long time. And we all needed some structure. The school was ready to take him early, and he was ready to go, so today was the big day.

We moved him from his old school because of the cost, the distance, and our hope that he would learn more Mandarin in a local kindergarten. However, just getting him enrolled has been an adventure. I've had to go to the school to get information, rather than call, since no one in the front office speaks English. He had to get through a government-issued school physical before he could start classes today. And then there are the uniforms.

Check out these fashion-forward styles:





This morning we woke up early, had a big breakfast, and got ready for the walk to school. Can you tell that he was excited?


Since it was raining, Tommy and Betsy stayed home. John was so excited to walk to school that he insisted on walking the whole way. Which would be fine, except that he walks very, very slowly. Even in the rain.

And we had a lot of gear with us. In addition to his backpack and lunch box, we also had all of his bedding (each classroom has a "nap room", and each child has a bed with a full set of bedding), an extra set of clothes, the indoor shoes, his water bottle, raincoat, and umbrella.

As we crossed the only intersection between us and the school (I can see the school's roof from our apartment balcony!), I noticed another mom pushing an orange stroller and wearing a pink Decathalon rain coat. Clearly, another expat. :-) Sure enough, it was a family from Munich, and their little boy was in John's class. The little boy talked and talked to John the whole way to school. In English! So at least he'll have one friend to talk to until he learns some Chinese.

His teacher, Miss Julie, met us as soon as we walked in the door and helped John change his shoes and find his cubby. Then he hugged me goodbye and was off to play -- not a hint of hesitation.


Can't wait to pick him up this afternoon and hear about his big day!