Thank you for your text message last week. I’m glad to hear that you’ve had a wet cold weekend- I know how much you have all been praying for rain. Last week, the low grey clouds here in Strasbourg were unbearably omnipresent; even my smart-phone’s camera was rejecting the notion of taking nice photos; there simply was not enough natural light anywhere. Happily, the skies cleared for break-up day, and Alex had the opportunity to dress up in her Elsa dress for Carnavale celebrations, before the start of the holidays. Sadly, that lasted just one day, and Saturday was wet and very cold again. That being said, we managed to head to the park yesterday for fresh air. I took my SLR camera and managed to take some lovely photos of the girls. What a pleasure to take photos without having my fingers freeze off.
Thanks for the update on Mum. As difficult as it is not being able to phone, I understand the waiting game. In the mean time, Mum and I can message each-other, while she’s trying to watch Isidingo, and I am putting the girls in the bath. (Time zones kill me. They’re so disorientating. I cant wait until the end of March when we’re back on even times.) Anyway, she will have her last chemo session next week- how long do we have to wait until we know what the next step will be?
So yes, the girls are on holiday again. It feels like holidays swing around so much more often than in South Africa. Realistically, they have a fortnight off school every 8 weeks, and that is very standard. This year Easter falls outside the end-of-April holiday, so our kids will have a loooong weekend for Easter half way through the term. Two weeks after Easter Alex heads off on a class trip for a week, and the class returns on break-up day for the next holiday. Of course, the last term is a shambles of public holidays, since we still recognise all of those Christian holidays (Ascension and the Pentecost,) and of course the symbolic war dates feature too. After that, it’s really not long until the summer holiday. We are planning to travel through Italy this summer. Anton and I are looking forward to it. Alex says she wants to go to Pisa. I think if we can spend a little time near the beach, both kids will be as happy as Larry.
I don’t make any plans with the girls in the holidays. There are various centres around town that provide activities- art and craft school, climbing, other sports, but they all come at a cost, often over 120eu per child for 5 days. If I was working, this would be a necessity, but if you consider the cost of child care in general, it just doesn’t seem to be feasible. But we have a few friends who find themselves in a similar position, so we have play dates, and trips to the park. Traditionally though, this holiday is the skiing holiday, and a large group of our friends are heading to various parts of Europe to hit the slopes. Rather them than me!
Yes, I keep forgetting to tell you all about Alex’s class trip. It is an annual event for the French Elementaire schools to take the classes away for 5 days. Here in Alsace, all the groups seem to go to the same place near Colmar. Colmar is a city 80 kilometres away, so the kids are not close enough that we can pop out to fetch them if they are uncomfortable. The trip is called Classe Verte, and the focus is on the environment. This is not to say it’s about conservation, but more about plants, animals, the solar system. The kids sleep in dormitories, and Alex seems most excited that she will be able to see her teacher in her pyjamas. As you can imagine, Alex is not worried at all about being away from us for 4 nights, and vice-versa. Should I be? As you can imagine, our experience at boarding school a the same age means I am quite sure Alex will cope, but the general feedback from so many friends is that their kids are too young to be away from home. It’s been an interesting discussion amongst us. There will be 3 classes going at the same time as Alex, each group 2 years apart age. As scary as it is to HAVE to integrate with children older than you, the teachers are all positive it’s a healthy experience.
Obviously it is a French class through and through. All of her classes are conducted in French, and I am in awe of how she (and Beth) have adapted in this manner. Just how fluent they really are, I don’t know. At home, when I read to them, and attempt to translate a favourite, much read book into French, they reject the notion completely. They reject it if I translate into Afrikaans too, so it has nothing to do with bad translation or accent. I can’t even the story in a different accent- as if I was an Australian perhaps!
But to get back to Alex’s education, it really is inspirational how she does it. I’ve had a few questions asked about what the International school is. There is a perception to people not here that it’s an English medium school, and that my girls are being taught in English and learning French simultaneously. This is not the case. Essentially, they are in a French school. But unlike a regular French school at this level, they are being taught a language class from the earliest age possible- from the age of 3. And English is not the only option. There is German, Polish, Italian, Spanish and probably Russian, among others. Nevertheless, something I have come to realise, is that her English class is not of the highest level, and while she could very well sail into a recognised university, based on the recognition internationally of the International system, if I don’t work on her English simultaneously, providing extra challenges, she could fall behind her South African peers. Happily though, her English reading has picked up nicely, and Beth almost lets her read the bedtime story!
You were asking in your message about school sports. No, extramural sports at school level doesn’t exist. Granted, the school day used to end after 4pm, and somewhere in the mix would be a lesson dedicated to gym or PT. There is also supposed to be a swimming lesson included, and while we are grateful for these few aspects, none of it is competitive. Schools push academic geniuses. Parents are expected to push sports stars in a club environment in their personal time. Granted, by the time the kids are 14, and finishing at college level, they can choose to continue with an academic baccalaureate diploma, or further their education in a practical manner.
The 2014/2015 school year saw changes, and the Elementaire group have been given the opportunity to do an activity at school on one day of the week. Each term has given them an opportunity to try something different. The options available ranged from an introduction to sport, drama, choir, arts and crafts, judo, and some other rather random selections. They are expected to be at school until 17h15 on the day of their activity. Granted, they have made an effort. This was most unusual of the French to organise.
Goodness- look at the time! Best I finish off and sort out lunch. We are heading to meet up with friends this afternoon. The sun has come out again- it will almost be able to stretch its rays into my lounge!
Please give Mum a big hug and kiss from me. And the cats too.
Love you and miss you so very much. Maybe you can e-mail me a reply? 😉 Mwah, <3, xxx
Pinot, Bretzels, and Cathedrals 