Have you ever wondered if there was a connection between Rome, Hilary Clinton and bagels? I hadn’t until today. A very nice friend shared the name and contact information for the “New York Bagels in Rome” , a small business run by one woman. Of course, I quickly put in an order, which she kindly let me know could be picked up at FAO on Friday at the front entrance.
So, Friday comes along, and the whole family is looking forward to a weekend filled with bagels. In fact, we’ve promised the kids bagels and eggs for dinner. While my Friday morning had become hectic, I didn’t loose sight of the 10:30am time to pick up our bagels. At 10:15 I was in my car, on the way to FAO to pick up the bagels. Parking was difficult, strange on a Friday, and as the helicopters flew overhead, a fleeting thought crossed my mind……what the heck is going on? Another strike? Someone important must be traveling around these parts today….
My mind focuses on the task at hand, finding parking. Finally, I find a legal spot, not to far from FAO. I run down the hill, into the building (another fleeting thought as I ran through the empty parking lot…..where is everyone today?), get some cash to pay for the bagels, and straight into the line of FAO security – blocking me from going out the front entrance, where I was supposed to meet the bagel lady in one minute. Naïve soul......you would think having been here over a year would teach me to be worried about time!
I slink away from the FAO security, again wondering who might be in the building as that entrance is closed periodically for ministers and other VIPs. I run out the same entrance I came in….and staring at Carbineri and snipers on the building in front of FAO I realize my fleeting thoughts should not have fleeted so fast! Oh dear…..I walk up the sidewalk amongst heavily armed Polizia Nazionale, Carbineri and plain clothes cops….as I hadn’t been turned away, I didn’t turn around. I kept walking, noting the traffic being diverted, the helicopters above, and was finally turned away by someone wearing a secret service pin. That should have been a hint….but, no….not for me (even after being through RSO training, and living in DC for 8 years….). I turn around, walk back towards the entrance I had just came out….thinking….now what? I want bagels! I probably looked like I was stalking the place, as I soon snapped out of my thoughts to two Carbineri asking me for identification…..eeek!
I hand them my FAO badge, and my Italian residency card…they review it and ask me where I was going, and why I was walking past more than once….I had no idea how to explain in Italian that I was looking for the bagel lady! I was laughing so hard at how ridiculous I must’ve seen, they took pitty on me, and let me go.
So, by this point I decide to go into my office, and get the woman’s number. I storm into my office, surprising my office mate, asking who was visiting…..with a big smile she says “Hilary Clinton”! So, I guess I wouldn’t be getting bagels?
I get the woman’s name and number and give her a call. She tells me she is running late (really?) and would be there in 20 minutes (really?). I try to explain that she wouldn’t make it to the entrance, and suggest another….though she seems flustered, and therefore doesn’t quite get it….even after I say “Hilary Clinton is at FAO”! Instead, she said she’ll call when closer….about 20 minutes later I get a call….Sarah, I can’t get to the front entrance, so can we meet on the side? The best part about her, though, is she’s laughing at herself, saying “I now understand what you were saying!”….I like her already.
I walk down to meet her….and out of the back of her car (which is full of hundreds of bagels in buckets!) I buy 12 plain and 12 cinnamon raisin! I give her a big tip, and we laugh about the delivery…and in true Italian fashion, I get a hug and kiss as if we are old friends!!!
On the way home, the 10 minute trip turns into a one hour ordeal….but, for the first time since being in Rome, I don’t care! I have a full tank of gas, good music, 4 hours until I have to pick up the kids….and the best of all 24 bagels to eat!!!!
5/06/2011
1/03/2011
New Years
In light of our new location, and exciting new life (read with a bit of sarcasm) Richard and I decided to break our tradition of sleeping through new year's eve. Instead, we took some new friends up on their invitation to join them and others at their house for dinner and drinks. Luckily, all of the couples have kids, all of whom our kids know from school. Alex, who has proclaimed her love and devotion for Ethan, decided at 4 they should be married. She described in detail the wedding, which included Izzy as the "girl with rose petals". Jonah, an almost 3 year old younger brother not attending school quite yet, followed Ethan around all night, learning new tricks of being a boy to annoy mom (sorry Cory!).
After running around the house screaming, finding the bucket of balls that had been hidden, riding the contraband tricycle around the crowded apartment, the 10 kids (all under 6) sat down for chicken nuggets, carrots and popcorn for a new years eve dinner:) And how many parents does it take to feed these kids? Oh...all ten! Unfortunately, I forgot my camera for this circus, but needless to say, it was a miracle that any kid ate anything....After the dust had settled and the kids were again "playing" in the other room, adults ate a scrumptious meal of pasta....Richard did not take part in the "Eric's love sauce", a spicy meat/cream sauce that our host had made. All of the events should be put into the context of there being at least 7-8 bottles of wine and/or prosecco being opened and drained at any given moment until the lemoncello and grappa entered. As I wanted to be a good guest, I had been partaking in the wine before dinner and lemoncello after dinner....which led to my public moment of "weak parenting". All moms had set limits with their kids throughout the night....Izzy's being "one cookie only". After shot number two of lemoncello, Izzy asked for another cookie. Looking at her, and looking at the plate, I decided another shot of chocolate wouldn't change the spastic, over-tired (it was 2 hours past bedtime), horrible behavior, so said "which one?". At that moment, I realized, all of the moms and dads were listening and laughing! I heard both "way to stay strong Sarah" as I saw Izzy take the chocolate cookie with a huge grin on her face:)
Shortly after, we decided the evening should be finished at our house instead of having full breakdowns at a new friends. With much reluctance, we said goodbye, wished everyone a happy new year and went out into the world of Rome's NYE. The sound of fireworks was overwhelming....I should have known when the number of places one could purchase fireworks was more than places to purchase Ben10 and Hello Kitty toys that Romans love their fireworks. As we entered the car, Ethan declared "I am not tired", and promptly joined his sister fast asleep, while Richard and I marveled over the sounds (and lack of the firework glow in the sky!). We got home with an hour to spare before midnight, put the kids to bed (Ethan declaring he still wasn't tired), and watched one of our pathetic, yet entertaining, tv shows. The sounds of firecrackers got louder and louder, to the point where we had to turn the tv up! At the height, we could finally see fireworks surrounding our house in the skyline (not from one show, but many private ones in gardens, alleys and piazzas), with kids screaming and laughing in the cacophony of noise! Midnight was upon us, and we hadn't fallen asleep!
To a happy, healthy and peaceful 2011!
After running around the house screaming, finding the bucket of balls that had been hidden, riding the contraband tricycle around the crowded apartment, the 10 kids (all under 6) sat down for chicken nuggets, carrots and popcorn for a new years eve dinner:) And how many parents does it take to feed these kids? Oh...all ten! Unfortunately, I forgot my camera for this circus, but needless to say, it was a miracle that any kid ate anything....After the dust had settled and the kids were again "playing" in the other room, adults ate a scrumptious meal of pasta....Richard did not take part in the "Eric's love sauce", a spicy meat/cream sauce that our host had made. All of the events should be put into the context of there being at least 7-8 bottles of wine and/or prosecco being opened and drained at any given moment until the lemoncello and grappa entered. As I wanted to be a good guest, I had been partaking in the wine before dinner and lemoncello after dinner....which led to my public moment of "weak parenting". All moms had set limits with their kids throughout the night....Izzy's being "one cookie only". After shot number two of lemoncello, Izzy asked for another cookie. Looking at her, and looking at the plate, I decided another shot of chocolate wouldn't change the spastic, over-tired (it was 2 hours past bedtime), horrible behavior, so said "which one?". At that moment, I realized, all of the moms and dads were listening and laughing! I heard both "way to stay strong Sarah" as I saw Izzy take the chocolate cookie with a huge grin on her face:)
Shortly after, we decided the evening should be finished at our house instead of having full breakdowns at a new friends. With much reluctance, we said goodbye, wished everyone a happy new year and went out into the world of Rome's NYE. The sound of fireworks was overwhelming....I should have known when the number of places one could purchase fireworks was more than places to purchase Ben10 and Hello Kitty toys that Romans love their fireworks. As we entered the car, Ethan declared "I am not tired", and promptly joined his sister fast asleep, while Richard and I marveled over the sounds (and lack of the firework glow in the sky!). We got home with an hour to spare before midnight, put the kids to bed (Ethan declaring he still wasn't tired), and watched one of our pathetic, yet entertaining, tv shows. The sounds of firecrackers got louder and louder, to the point where we had to turn the tv up! At the height, we could finally see fireworks surrounding our house in the skyline (not from one show, but many private ones in gardens, alleys and piazzas), with kids screaming and laughing in the cacophony of noise! Midnight was upon us, and we hadn't fallen asleep!
To a happy, healthy and peaceful 2011!
12/25/2010
Colossal food failures
So, after last night's stuffing failure, I feel obliged to write a brief account of the other food failures I have made my family and new friends endure since moving to Rome. Wednesday before Christmas, I find a turkey at the supermarket....after we had given up on the turkey for Christmas. While I am somewhat ashamed to admit I didn't have the energy or time to go to a butcher and order a proper turkey, I was very excited to find the Perfect Christmas Dinner Turkey (ok...so, it was only 2.6 kilos, but it was a turkey!). After the excitement subsides, and I realize the bird has mysteriously ended up in our cart....and my pragmatic side thinks through what we need to make a full turkey dinner. Stuffing, cranberry sauce....hmm...definitely challenging. I buy a quarter loaf of day old bread, celery, onion and chicken stock with the hopes of figuring out the stuffing, and know that cranberry sauce is too much to hope for. It is not until I get home that I read the "best before Dec. 24th" sticker prominently displayed on the front that I again have a sinking moment of realization....this will not be the Christmas meal! Christmas eve it was then....
Stuffing starts off well...how hard could this be, right? Its just stale bread that is moistened and then cooked, right? Ha, ha, ha....cutting the bread into squares, mixing them with fresh herbs, spices and olive oil went fine. After I put them in the oven for a "toasting" things started to go down hill fast. The kids needed something (times 2), the dogs needed something, and Richard was telling me about his next ultra adventure....and then, all of a sudden I smelt something burning! Black charcoal bricks met me in the oven.....after sifting through the coals, a few squares seemed edible, so I cut up the onions, celery and apples to add. I remembered the old adage "everything is better with butter" and added extra butter to the liquid, and through the concoction into the oven. Wow.....I didn't really know that stuffing could be so bad. The result, squishy charcoal with buttery/greasy liquid. YUM!
Before this adventure into the "kitchen nightmares", we had guests over for Thanksgiving. Both the husband and wife are trained chefs, and while he has moved into hotel management and she is a professional mom, they both still have a refined palette for good food. Luckily, Richard was in charge of the Butterball turkey, and Stovetop was my new friend, and I had found "the one market in all of Rome" that sold cranberries and cranberry-orange sauce was so easy, I even did a decent job. We had watched Alton Browne make a cranberry-pear pie, that he claimed was easy and delicious. Famous last words. I read the recipe, watched the show and thought....I can do this with a couple of substitutes....like don't make my own pastry (use the store bought!) and use regular flour instead of tapioca flour. No problem....well, it wasn't edible...more like glue in a pot with "extra" lumps...the crust was particularly poor, as the outside was burnt to a charcoal crisp, and the insides were limp and wet-noodly, with the unnatural gleam of poorly cooked pastery! And, the worst part.....knowing it was bad as my husband served it to our friends....they tried...oh did they try to eat it with a smile! But, it was AWFUL! A legendary horror that has now become a kitchen nightmare of my own:)
Stuffing starts off well...how hard could this be, right? Its just stale bread that is moistened and then cooked, right? Ha, ha, ha....cutting the bread into squares, mixing them with fresh herbs, spices and olive oil went fine. After I put them in the oven for a "toasting" things started to go down hill fast. The kids needed something (times 2), the dogs needed something, and Richard was telling me about his next ultra adventure....and then, all of a sudden I smelt something burning! Black charcoal bricks met me in the oven.....after sifting through the coals, a few squares seemed edible, so I cut up the onions, celery and apples to add. I remembered the old adage "everything is better with butter" and added extra butter to the liquid, and through the concoction into the oven. Wow.....I didn't really know that stuffing could be so bad. The result, squishy charcoal with buttery/greasy liquid. YUM!
Before this adventure into the "kitchen nightmares", we had guests over for Thanksgiving. Both the husband and wife are trained chefs, and while he has moved into hotel management and she is a professional mom, they both still have a refined palette for good food. Luckily, Richard was in charge of the Butterball turkey, and Stovetop was my new friend, and I had found "the one market in all of Rome" that sold cranberries and cranberry-orange sauce was so easy, I even did a decent job. We had watched Alton Browne make a cranberry-pear pie, that he claimed was easy and delicious. Famous last words. I read the recipe, watched the show and thought....I can do this with a couple of substitutes....like don't make my own pastry (use the store bought!) and use regular flour instead of tapioca flour. No problem....well, it wasn't edible...more like glue in a pot with "extra" lumps...the crust was particularly poor, as the outside was burnt to a charcoal crisp, and the insides were limp and wet-noodly, with the unnatural gleam of poorly cooked pastery! And, the worst part.....knowing it was bad as my husband served it to our friends....they tried...oh did they try to eat it with a smile! But, it was AWFUL! A legendary horror that has now become a kitchen nightmare of my own:)
12/12/2010
Christmas Letter
For those of you who I missed, here is the Holiday Letter we sent out!
Dear Family and Friends,
Grampa Jake used to say the best time of year was Christmas, as everyone would write to update each other on what they had been up to for the past year. In these times of Facebook, Twitter, and email, holiday letters seem a bit outdated, yet the charm remains and as parents trying to balance our kids technology exposure and old-school inter-personal skills, we opted for the co-authorship of a family holiday letter, which provides only a glimpse of the past year. Sarah started a blog of our adventures, which everyone is welcome to peruse (http://wondertwinsinrome.blogspot.com/).
We started the year relaxing in the Bahamas enjoying Aunt Sarah’s excellent company. We saw sharks and rays, ate great food, and Izzy swam with Gombay the Dolphin. Upon return, it seems like we didn’t sit down again for the rest of the year. Richard started his new job returning to the United Nations World Food Programme in Rome, Sarah started her professional sabbatical allowing for more time with the kids (limited by Roman traffic and the two paid and one volunteer jobs she has on the side), and the kids started their first international educational experience and learned the rules of an Italian schoolyard.
As one would imagine, leaving Silver Spring and arriving in Rome took work. Richard rushed off to Rome, with two weeks to finalize arrival logistics on the Italian side, while Sarah rushed to clean, pack and get our house in Silver Spring ready to sell. Luckily, Richard located a wonderful house near the center of Rome in a national park on the old Appian Way. Right before departing Silver Spring, Snowmagedon hit the DC region, covering our street with 5 feet of snow, causing our front steps to crumble (greatly increasing curb appeal), and facilitating the loading of our container and easy access to the airport! Snow followed us to Rome, as it snowed for the first time in a quarter of a century during our first week! Since it seemed we hadn’t had enough snow, we drove to the Italian Alps to meet Richard’s brother’s family for a lovely week skiing.
After the snow adventures, settling to Rome was much harder than we thought it was going to be. It took quite a while to get the kids into school, and a bit longer for everyone to adjust. The principle reason: a constant state of terror generated by the Roman traffic! Let’s just say that SMART Car is an oxymoron. Some good old friends and some great new friend have made the transition a bit easier.
Soon, Ethan discovered Ben 10, a young boy who stumbles across an alien watch that can transform him into different alien superheroes. We haven’t seen Ethan since, and are now living with someone called Jetray, who occasionally transforms into Stinkfly or Ripjaws. His twin sister, on the other hand, pronounced “I’m an artist” to her teachers upon entering her new classroom. Each morning she wakes with a request for paper and crayons, where she creates fantastical princesses, presents and letters in her magical land. Like many of her classmates she practices becoming a princess, and while some actually are real princesses, Izzy is content with imagining.
The twins also formed a support team for their running parents, who decided moving to a new country with kids and dogs was not enough of a challenge. Sarah decided to take on her second marathon this year, winning a place in the Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco, while Richard decided it was a clever idea to enter an ultra-trail 56 km (35 mile) mountain race. Let’s just say that one of us is sane, while the other has questionable judgment. Each weekend the Wonder Twins would stage Gatorade and treats at various points along the Appia Antica to make sure that their parents were well hydrated and energized for their training during the hot summer months. In between, they would play Hannibal vs. Scipio Africanus - you know that classic childhood game where Hannibal’s elephants square off against the Roman Legions. Thanks to the Wonder Twin’s Support Team both parents finished their races, although climbing Mt. Nutcracker at 50km into the race almost finished Richard (fortunately crawling was an option). Sarah persevered through freezing rain over the San Francisco hills and finished strong.
Who knows what the New Year will bring for the Wonder Twin family, but we are thankful for all of the support and love we get from family, old and new friends. We wish everyone a happy and fruitful holiday season and an adventurous New Year!
Lots of Love,
The Roman Clan
Richard (aka himself), Sarah (aka Brubaker), Ethan (aka Bubbie) and Izzy (aka Wizard)
11/28/2010
Thanksgiving in Rome
This story and entry will not compare to the New Yorker article about finding ingredients and cooking in a small village somewhere in Rome....but, like that story and the other stories of Americans re-creating what is a quintessential American holiday abroad, it has both sad, funny and happy moments. It all began with seeing a pumpkin on the side of the road for sale at the crazy fresh veggie market that I pass (and normally curse) every morning on the way to school. Nuns, large men, fancily dressed women and their cars/motorinos/trucks and other items block the road during morning and evening rush hour, at a point where, for once, Roman drivers must stick to one lane. Imagine the frustration of not being able to create multiple lanes....but, I digress. I saw that pumpkin and decided it didn't matter how ridiculously priced it was, I wanted to get it. So, after dropping the kids off, instead of fighting to get around the entrance, I parked....and others had to fight to get around me! I read the sign (to know what I would mis-pronounce and ask about inside) and saw that "zucca di halloween" were E 6.50 a kilo! The nice man who didn't speak much more Italian than I do (maybe it would have been easier in Urdu? Bangali?) weighed this overpriced pumpkin and out I walked with it....Two happy kids met the pumpkin later that day, and luckily Grandpa had already carved pumpkins with them in California a couple of days before. So, there sat the pumpkin on our front steps. I didn't dare carve it, as I was secretly investigating how to make a pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread with fresh pumpkin. To my dismay, I found out that one needs a "sweet pumpkin" not a fresh pumpkin to make both. And, I needed allspice....which, it turns out is NOT a mixture of spices! So....alas, the pumpkin became a mere reminder of the season that was passing....
Following this disappointment (yet beautiful decoration for our front porch), Richard and I discussed having two Thanksgiving meals, one with friends and one with our landlords. IN preparation, I started asking around about turkeys and cranberries.....two things I have found are hard to find. Richard and I had found that one of the "gastronomias" near our house could order a thanksgiving turkey. So, I went there to inquire about ordering it...but, somewhere during the conversation I got the feeling that what I was ordering was the full turkey, i.e. including guts and feathers and head and feet....and since my ability to negotiate the removal appropriately was almost non-existent, I thought better of this. Instead, Richard brought us our first Butterball from the FAO commissary....those additives do make a yummy bird! Next came the fresh cranberries or better yet cranberry sauce in a can! Alas, the commissary didn't seem to have that or the pumpkin pie filling...so, off I went to find the fresh cranberries. I found dried cranberries in the natural food store, and the German discount store, but no fresh cranberries. So when Granny came to visit last week, we used the few minutes of sunshine to walk around the Campo di Fuori, having coffee and croissants, and admiring the various items for sale (very expensive, but beautiful!). Upon walking out, there was a stand that had fresh ginger…another item that is difficult to find, so we decided to buy some. On the off chance that the guy had some, I asked about the cranberries, and to all of our surprise, he had some fresh ones! Happily I started planning the Thanksgiving dinner!
Needless to say, the dinner itself was a success, with friends coming over, a fabulous turkey made by Richard (an hour late as per tradition…with 5 starving kids waiting!), some fairly good stuffing, potatoes, broccoli, carrots and salad….unfortunately, I tried to make dinner rolls (yuck) and was inspired by Alton on the cooking channel’s thanksgiving dessert show. My “Perfect Pear Cranberry Pie” wasn’t even close to perfect….thankfully, our friends had brought a Swiss chocolate cake to save the dessert, and the kids and I had made “kid chocolate turkey truffles”….the evening ended with one scorched pan, 5 bottles of empty wine, kids fighting, and a rousing rendition of John Denver’s Country Roads, sung in full by our Swiss friend and American friend who has been out of the country for most of his life (though was raised in Sacramento!). While I sit here writing, the kids are calmly enjoying the Sunday after, and Richard is on a plane to Cancun! I am considering my next meal….turkey will be involved!
Following this disappointment (yet beautiful decoration for our front porch), Richard and I discussed having two Thanksgiving meals, one with friends and one with our landlords. IN preparation, I started asking around about turkeys and cranberries.....two things I have found are hard to find. Richard and I had found that one of the "gastronomias" near our house could order a thanksgiving turkey. So, I went there to inquire about ordering it...but, somewhere during the conversation I got the feeling that what I was ordering was the full turkey, i.e. including guts and feathers and head and feet....and since my ability to negotiate the removal appropriately was almost non-existent, I thought better of this. Instead, Richard brought us our first Butterball from the FAO commissary....those additives do make a yummy bird! Next came the fresh cranberries or better yet cranberry sauce in a can! Alas, the commissary didn't seem to have that or the pumpkin pie filling...so, off I went to find the fresh cranberries. I found dried cranberries in the natural food store, and the German discount store, but no fresh cranberries. So when Granny came to visit last week, we used the few minutes of sunshine to walk around the Campo di Fuori, having coffee and croissants, and admiring the various items for sale (very expensive, but beautiful!). Upon walking out, there was a stand that had fresh ginger…another item that is difficult to find, so we decided to buy some. On the off chance that the guy had some, I asked about the cranberries, and to all of our surprise, he had some fresh ones! Happily I started planning the Thanksgiving dinner!
Needless to say, the dinner itself was a success, with friends coming over, a fabulous turkey made by Richard (an hour late as per tradition…with 5 starving kids waiting!), some fairly good stuffing, potatoes, broccoli, carrots and salad….unfortunately, I tried to make dinner rolls (yuck) and was inspired by Alton on the cooking channel’s thanksgiving dessert show. My “Perfect Pear Cranberry Pie” wasn’t even close to perfect….thankfully, our friends had brought a Swiss chocolate cake to save the dessert, and the kids and I had made “kid chocolate turkey truffles”….the evening ended with one scorched pan, 5 bottles of empty wine, kids fighting, and a rousing rendition of John Denver’s Country Roads, sung in full by our Swiss friend and American friend who has been out of the country for most of his life (though was raised in Sacramento!). While I sit here writing, the kids are calmly enjoying the Sunday after, and Richard is on a plane to Cancun! I am considering my next meal….turkey will be involved!
9/04/2010
Kinder success
Following the last post, the kids have continued to enjoy school, and as stated by Ethan..."Alex and I are the best two kids in our class". Not sure how true that is, but at least Alex (our summer-time pool friend who is a girl and has decided she is going to marry Ethan) and Ethan agree. Izzy has told everyone she is an artist, including her PE teacher and classroom teacher. As she says "I am an artist, so I need new running shoes". Their separation into separate classrooms seems to have had minimal impact, luckily, and they both seem enamored by their teachers and "being in Kinder".
We received the list of afterschool classes, which for the first time in the history of their school, will be free. So the kids get to pick as many as they would like....ranging from Animal Arts and Crafts (guess who picked that one!) to Jr. Computers and Jr. Soccer. As of today, Ethan has decided he wants to do Jr. Soccer (so "I can play with the other boys!") and Yoga (because you like Yoga mommy!) while Izzy has decided on Jr. Cooking (so "I can teach you to cook mommy") and Animal Arts and Crafts. At the end of the month ballet, kung fu and potentially swimming will begin, so their lives of leisure will end:)
We received the list of afterschool classes, which for the first time in the history of their school, will be free. So the kids get to pick as many as they would like....ranging from Animal Arts and Crafts (guess who picked that one!) to Jr. Computers and Jr. Soccer. As of today, Ethan has decided he wants to do Jr. Soccer (so "I can play with the other boys!") and Yoga (because you like Yoga mommy!) while Izzy has decided on Jr. Cooking (so "I can teach you to cook mommy") and Animal Arts and Crafts. At the end of the month ballet, kung fu and potentially swimming will begin, so their lives of leisure will end:)
9/01/2010
The first day of Kinder
So, after much anticipation, anxiety and excitement, the kids went off to their first day of kindergarden at Ambrit. This past weekend we tried to prepare a reticent Ethan, and excited Izzy with a trip to the mall to buy new backpacks, notebooks, pencils, and some first day of school clothes. Much to mommy and daddy's surprise, we did not end up with Ben10 and Hello Kitty backpacks, but a Bakugan and pink Puma ones. Of course, the Ben10 and Hello Kitty "thank you for being so good this summer" gifts helped with this transition.....Ethan walking away with the much treasured Omnitrix (Ben 10's alien watch) and Izzy with a Hello Kitty sleepover party sleeping bag. Adding to the anxiety this morning was the 4 year old understanding that they would not be in the same classroom for the first time since starting school. While they both were aware, and have different friends, I'm not sure they fully grasped the idea of being separated.
Classic to Italian style, the first day was a bit chaotic, with little instruction, and a lot of socializing upon arrival between parents. I was grateful we hadn't waited until today for the first day, as most kids (including those who had been at the school for the full year before) looked petrified, and confusion abounded for non-Italian parents. With new teachers, a new classroom added, and many new kids, it was a challenge to figure out what the morning routine the website so proudly discusses was supposed to be. Izzy was a trooper and followed her teacher, Ms. Lucie (who was a nursery teacher last year) to see the Kinder L classroom, learn where her peg was, and what she was supposed to do every morning upon arrival. Ethan's teacher was new, so it took a bit of searching to figure out who she was, where his peg was, and to find the classroom. Yet, after all of the new bags were safely on their hooks, and each had their nametag on, they ran around in the outdoor garden, tentatively at first and then with more excitement. When it came time for mommy and daddy to leave, they both seemed sad, yet a friend who was dropping her daughter off when we were leaving texted me to say all was well when she saw them.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)