A Long Life, A Small World

Look at these kids.  All Argentines, all Spanish speakers, all adorable.

AnnMarie & Carlie started school two weeks ago at La Escuela de Los Padres, a private Roman Catholic school outside of town.  For the most part, we were happy with last year’s school, but we also had a few concerns.  Mainly, the English resources – they became extremely limited.  Our girls needed more assistance than was available at the previous school. 

(Also, the lack of sinks was a problem.  Measles & mumps broke out towards the end of last year in AnnMarie’s class…still feeling grateful for immunizations.)

La Escuela de Los Padres is indoors, has smaller classroom sizes overall, & has a separate English teacher in each of the three primary classes (3, 4, & 5).  Carlie is in the 3 year old class, & AnnMarie is in the 4 year old class.  The primary classes have recess at the same time, so AnnMarie & Carlie are able to play with each other twice each afternoon which is great.  School is every day, M-F from 1:15 – 4:45 PM.

The first day consisted of a welcome ceremony along with an assembly for the students.  FYI, the Argentine National Anthem is long.  Everyone was singing with pride.  I just stood there & smiled with my hand over my heart while everyone stared at me.  (Apparently, they don’t put their hands over their hearts here; I realized that half way into the song.  I think I managed to recover by scratching my neck.  Oh, those moments can be painful.)

I am grateful for this long life we all have.  Most often, it seems as though life is short, & I suppose it is – a short book of long chapters I imagine.   I think those never ending pages are to be relished.  This long chapter I’m in will pass – & before too long, I’ll turn the page to another, looking back on all I’ve learned.

And I love that we’re all in it together – taking it day by day.  It somehow makes the world feel so small to me.

The Calm Before the Storm

Back to School (with a bang)

Summer break has officially come to an end.  The crispness of fall is beginning to set in.  It’s refreshing.  Since last year, little Carlie has been insisting on going to school with her big sis’, so we took a big leap of faith and enrolled her, too.  In Argentina, your child is expected to start school the year your child turns 3, so alas, she’s there. (More to come on school.)

Less than one week ago, she had a bad fall in our apartment.  She tripped while running & smacked her head right onto a dense flower pot.  That would explain her third eye in the picture.  It’s hard to tell, but she also has two black eyes. :(  

Carlie’s sweet teacher kindly asked us how we disciplin our children.  We got a good laugh out of that one.  Still laughing…

Good thing Carlie has Vidal Sassoon hair to distract from her bruises.