First Day of School

When we told folks back in the U.S. that we would be taking our kids to the Czech Republic and putting them in public school in a language they didn't understand, most everyone said to us something like, "That is an experience they will remember all their lives." When we got here and told people that, they decoded the message for us. They have all said something like, "I would have been terrified if my parents had done that to me."

So, at 7:30 this morning we strolled down the street, across the Malše River, and down Matice Školské to the school. We met with Mrs. Director for a bit. When Kristine explained that we want them to learn Czech and are not concerned about their grades, she raised her eyebrows (grades are very important here), but kept working with us.

We went to Lucy's room first. Mrs. Teacher speaks english, but that did not alleviate the utter horror on Lucy's face. I've seen happier looking deer in the headlights. Mrs. Teacher had all of the children line up and shake Lucy's hand and say hi. We left her there, sitting in the front row, slouched and on the verge of tears.

Prior to arriving at school, I was more concerned for Caleb. He had only spent one year at school in the States. Yet, as he was being dropped off, he looked cool as a cucumber. It didn't hurt his confidence any that a gaggle of girls was standing outside the door shooting him looks, asking each other if that is him, giggling, jumping up and down(!), and otherwise carrying on. Caleb's teacher took a deep breath and brought him to the center of the room where she introduced him ("he doesn't speak much Czech, but he speaks English very well").

We left, my stomach in knots.

Fortunately, the first day of school only lasts about 1.5 hours. They get their schedules, books, etc. and then go. We picked up Lucy first. I can't say she was smiling, but she was certainly looking very okay. Phew. Caleb was still looking very calm. He reported that he did not understand a thing, but as we walked down the hall and one of the girls from his class said "Chau," he responded in a confident "Chau" back at her.

Thus, we survived the first day of what will no doubt be the source of many tears and great learning. We rewarded ourselves with a stroll downtown for ice cream cones.

From Aug 2009

-Peter