I never would have thought that I was the type of person who would ever enroll her kids in a private international school. They conjure up images for me of little blue blazers, ties, and kids running around saying things like, "Pip pip cheerio!" and "Tally ho!" while enjoying tea and crumpets. Yes, everything I know about private international schools I learned from television and childrens books. So when we visited Zurich in November, I was a little nervous about visiting the kids potential schools. I knew throwing them into public school here would be too risky. They would either need therapy by the end of the school year, or they would pick up German really quickly and secure their position of power in our household. Actually, they secured that position about 18 months ago, but speaking the native language here might make them dangerous.
The school they are attending is so far beyond what I had ever dreamed of for my kids at this age, that it was one of the deciding factors in moving to Switzerland. The Early Childhood Center is located in an old Swiss house that sits on the shores of the lake. The building is charming in itself, but the resources available to the kids are amazing. They have an IT room filled with computers, a library to check out books, a smart board for the kids to use in every classroom, and a backyard play area right out of a storybook. So when I learned they would not have to wear a suit and tie to preschool, we happily agreed to send them.
But visiting the school without the kids is very different from taking them to school and driving away. Bryan went with us the first day, probably more to support me than to support the kids. We maneuvered our rental car through a maze of foreign cars and were greeted by two friendly teachers with British accents. From that point on, EVERYONE spoke with a British accent. I don't know what makes a British accent so charming, but I immediately adored all the teachers we met. We took Z to his classroom first, and I don't think he even grunted goodbye before he was elbow deep playing in a table full of dried beans, funnels, paper towel tubes, and shells. Who thinks this stuff up? Genius. He couldn't have cared less that we were leaving, but I felt the need to say, "Mommy will be here to pick you up REALLY soon, okay honey?" about 20 times before Bryan ushered me out of the room. C was surprisingly a little more apprehensive. I've always considered him a social butterfly, but when his eyes glassed over and he clung to my leg, I just about lost it. Fortunately, Miss Emma read C like a book and immediately showed him the computers and the smart board in their classroom. Much like his father, C is an aspiring techie geek and masters anything with a power switch and a couple of buttons. This was just what he needed and from that point on, he was fine.
There was a group of little girls whispering at a table nearby and Miss Emma introduced the girls to C. An adorable little girl named Matilda turned to her friends and said in the cutest little British accent, "Oh, his name is Chaaaaahlie!" I half expect him to come home soon with news that he's met a couple of nice Brits named Eloise and Madeleine.
So the first day of school seems to have been a success. I managed to get out of the building without shedding any tears and the boys seem to have made some new friends. Z refused to share what happened at school in any detail, but was looking forward to returning, so I took that as a good sign. C ran up to a boy in his class and gave him a big hug before leaving. He couldn't pronounce his name and will probably never set foot in whatever far away country this boy is from, but was proud to show me he had met a new friend. His new friend is apparently privy to the international friendship offering that extends beyond all borders. He shared his potato chips at snack time.
Now that the boys are settling in with some friends, I guess it's my turn. I wish it was as easy as it was when we were kids. Maybe I'll try that potato chip thing.....
There was a group of little girls whispering at a table nearby and Miss Emma introduced the girls to C. An adorable little girl named Matilda turned to her friends and said in the cutest little British accent, "Oh, his name is Chaaaaahlie!" I half expect him to come home soon with news that he's met a couple of nice Brits named Eloise and Madeleine.
So the first day of school seems to have been a success. I managed to get out of the building without shedding any tears and the boys seem to have made some new friends. Z refused to share what happened at school in any detail, but was looking forward to returning, so I took that as a good sign. C ran up to a boy in his class and gave him a big hug before leaving. He couldn't pronounce his name and will probably never set foot in whatever far away country this boy is from, but was proud to show me he had met a new friend. His new friend is apparently privy to the international friendship offering that extends beyond all borders. He shared his potato chips at snack time.
Now that the boys are settling in with some friends, I guess it's my turn. I wish it was as easy as it was when we were kids. Maybe I'll try that potato chip thing.....
