Our first day of school started on Tuesday, September 11 at 9:30am. It was like an orientation day, but instead the school got blessed by a Greek Orthodox Priest, it was a long blessing about 45 minutes the kids and the parents were getting a little ansy in the warm school room. Nik was super good and sat military straight during the whole blessing, I was across the room with Arthur and Katerina. After the priest blessed the room he went around with a bunch of basil and you could kiss the cross and he would bang the oil dripped basil on your head (still thankful I am not fully blessed by the church). This activity happens at all of the schools and this is why they start at different times, but all on the same day.
In typical procrastinated Greek mindset, the school never contacted us about when school was going to start, instead Arthur had to go to the school to find out the time and date, this was the Wednesday before school started so unfortunately I didn't do what I planned by starting waking the kids early for at least 2 weeks before school started, oh well, I think they are better at waking up than me. When Arthur went to the school they only told him the date, we found out on Monday what time school would start the next day.
After the blessing the head teacher told us what would be going on at the school, the drop off time is at 8:30 and pick up is at 12:15.
There are 4 teachers and about 40 students, this is just pre-school and kindergarten. On this first day Nik's teacher wore a Marilyn Monroe halter dress that ended at mid-thigh (THIGH), and 5 inch heels. I'm guessing she is single and was hoping some father's would come, but there was only Arthur and one other father and a grandfather there, all of the other adults where women. Nik's school has 4 rooms, 3 classroms filled with lots of toys and activities and 1 room to eat in. Arthur's father went to this school when he was young at that time it was all of the grade levels in one school. After the introduction we went home.
On the next day we dropped Nik off at school and then Katerina and I walked over to her school, it's about a 15 minute walk and she loved it. Her school is really cute with 2 rooms, one with a plastic slide and 2 cars and the other room a table and puppet stadium, plus a small room to take their snacks in. I stayed with her for about 30 minutes then I tried to exit the room, I only lasted 5 minutes outside because I could hear her crying, I went in again and hung out another 30 minutes then took her home. We waited at home untill it was time to pick Nik up, but then the school called us at 11:45 and asked us to come get him. I was like uh-oh he did poopoo in his underwear (one of my worries) but no - the school had ended early at 11 and he was the last kid there (oh my I'm one of those parents). While I was there they told me I needed to pack a lunch for him (only 2 kids had no snack that day) and that I needed to pick him up at 11 on the next day. I came home and railed at Arthur because obviously they must have said something about the pick up time and about fixing a lunch for Nik, but he says he didn't hear anything about the school day ending early and he was under the impression that they were going to provide the snacks. UGH!
Thursday, we pack a lunch, sandwich, apple and a few chips, Take Nik to school and then Katerina (we drove today because I wanted to buy her a back pack before her school started). I stayed with her for 5 minutes and then left her there for an 1 1/2, she cried for a little bit but was pretty good. Then I picked Nik up at 11, I was the only parent there and he was the first kid being picked up (what in the world is going on?) The teachers said that he was a very, very good boy (at least something is going right). But then they inform me that chips aren't allowed in the lunch along with chocolate and a few other things (at least I think they allow peanut butter here in Greece). We go home and Nik has a little poopoo in his underwear but not to bad.
The next day same routine but this time Arthur goes to pick up Nik, he arrives at 11 (the time they told me in the morning when I dropped him off) to find out that the kids can stay till 11:30, so of course Nik doesn't want to go. So Arthur goes to a friends house that is right across the street from the school. I get a call from Katerina (GiaGia) stating that Nik had run to Koka Roka away from his teacher's at school. (once again OMG) I called Arthur not knowing why he didn't pick Nik up, this is when I was told that he was at his friends waiting for it to be 11:30. So Nik was kind of freaked out because when he ran away 2 of the teacher's chased him and he ran the majority of the way when he ran into his god-father, the god-father talked to the teacher's and then carried Nik the rest of the way (just down a hill) to Koka Roka.
Well that was the first week, I hope next week, when we go to the normal times and schedules that everything will work out better. Wish us luck in understanding the f%$*$# Greek system and their inability to be up-front (the reason you don't want to do business with Greeks).
P.S. 7 in the morning is to early, I hear the roosters crowing!
In typical procrastinated Greek mindset, the school never contacted us about when school was going to start, instead Arthur had to go to the school to find out the time and date, this was the Wednesday before school started so unfortunately I didn't do what I planned by starting waking the kids early for at least 2 weeks before school started, oh well, I think they are better at waking up than me. When Arthur went to the school they only told him the date, we found out on Monday what time school would start the next day.
After the blessing the head teacher told us what would be going on at the school, the drop off time is at 8:30 and pick up is at 12:15.
There are 4 teachers and about 40 students, this is just pre-school and kindergarten. On this first day Nik's teacher wore a Marilyn Monroe halter dress that ended at mid-thigh (THIGH), and 5 inch heels. I'm guessing she is single and was hoping some father's would come, but there was only Arthur and one other father and a grandfather there, all of the other adults where women. Nik's school has 4 rooms, 3 classroms filled with lots of toys and activities and 1 room to eat in. Arthur's father went to this school when he was young at that time it was all of the grade levels in one school. After the introduction we went home.
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| So happy to be starting school |
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| Too cute Kat at her school |
The next day same routine but this time Arthur goes to pick up Nik, he arrives at 11 (the time they told me in the morning when I dropped him off) to find out that the kids can stay till 11:30, so of course Nik doesn't want to go. So Arthur goes to a friends house that is right across the street from the school. I get a call from Katerina (GiaGia) stating that Nik had run to Koka Roka away from his teacher's at school. (once again OMG) I called Arthur not knowing why he didn't pick Nik up, this is when I was told that he was at his friends waiting for it to be 11:30. So Nik was kind of freaked out because when he ran away 2 of the teacher's chased him and he ran the majority of the way when he ran into his god-father, the god-father talked to the teacher's and then carried Nik the rest of the way (just down a hill) to Koka Roka.
Well that was the first week, I hope next week, when we go to the normal times and schedules that everything will work out better. Wish us luck in understanding the f%$*$# Greek system and their inability to be up-front (the reason you don't want to do business with Greeks).
P.S. 7 in the morning is to early, I hear the roosters crowing!
2 comments:
Wow, what an exciting week. Hope it gets better.
It will get better and you will now get some much deserved time to yourself with both kids in school!
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