Today is Caroline and Luke’s 19th day of school and it’s time to write about “Nido Welcome.” After checking out several schools, we found one 5 minutes from our home where they could both attend. Their day begins around 8:45 and ends at 1:15 – at least it will eventually. The school is gradually building up to this ending time. This week, they are picked up at 12:30 (we’ve done 11, 11:30 and noon prior to!). Miss Elizabeth, who is the director of the school and also one of Caroline’s teachers, is fluent in English and studied at Rice University. She keeps me in the loop! Luke’s teacher, Miss Maribel, knows enough English that she can “assist” Luke. With her English and my Spanish, we are able to “talk” to each other.
Choosing a school for the kids was something that we were anxious about when moving to Peru, but the first day the kids and I stepped foot in the school, I knew it was the right place. Caroline is in the “kinder class” and is already singing in Spanish and bringing home new words every day. Her class has only 7 children and a teacher’s aid whom she adores. She is comfortable and happy. Luke is with the 3 year olds and appears to have made some friends. Miss Maribel says las ninas (the girls) like him a lot! When I pick him up, I often find him doing a new puzzle. Yesterday, he was working on a fruit puzzle. When he finished, he told me the names of the fruits in Spanish! They are learning and it is amazing!
Early childhood education in Peru is quite different from that in the U.S. Here, the kids dress in uniforms and have textbooks (which need to be covered with a clear material called vinifan – ask Matt about this one!). It is a little more academic than the U.S., but they are having fun, enjoying time with peers and learning a new language. Music, karate and ballet (for the girls), which start in April, are also part of the curriculum.
Each morning as I kiss and hug them goodbye, I stand in awe of these two brave souls taking on school in a different language and a different culture. And each afternoon that I pick them up, I’m so pleased to find them smiling and happy… and smelling good (“kid cologne” is applied after recess - another difference J)!
6 comments:
Caroline & Luke are awesome kiddos -- of course they were going to thrive at their new school. Congrats to you and Matt for raising such resilient kids. Love hearing about the school and the kid cologne -- that made me giggle.
Miss you guys!! xoxo Kim
The kid cologne remark made us
smile too...... We say ditto to Kim's remarks.
Miss you all. Keep the posts coming - We love seeing them.
We especially love the picture of the kids in their uniforms heading off to school! They look so happy and confident! God bless all of you. Miss you and love you bunches and bunches! Mom and Dad
Enjoying all. Uniforms are such a great idea! No planning involved. Everyone knows just what they are wearing. Glad all is going well. Keep up the good work. Love being in this loop!
XXXXOOOO
Auntie Annette
Loved hearing about the adventures of Caroline and Luke. I can almost picture the preschool and the two of them going about their day all the while soaking in the language. So glad to hear they are comfortable and happy..that's all a mother can ask for. Missing my friend but looking forward to our future conversations in espanol! Tu estas siempre en mis pensamientos. Besos, Jennifer
Totally sounds like the experience I had with the kids school I nanny'ed in France. I wish we could get this going here! Glad to hear that the kids are doing well though and look forward to hearing more updates!
I love it!!! You should bottle some of that cologne and bring it back to the States. We need it here!!!
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