The Last Day of School

Friday was the kids' last day of school until September 17.

It was a strange and emotional day.

It actually began late the night before when Pete was in Germany.  His brother, Jon, is touring in with Christina Perri as a band member, and they were playing at a venue in Cologne, so Pete made the trip out to the concert.

(Jon icing his wrists in the tour bus, in case you're wondering what's up with the pose)

Completely spur of the moment, Jon decided to come back to Luxembourg with Pete for a visit.  They got in around 2am.

In the morning Pete and I both walked the kids to school for the last day.

This summer this building will be leveled and a new building started.  James will be in a "container" across the street for the next 2 years.  

Daphne moves to the primary school next door in the fall.

we always wave to James through the window after we drop him off

Next I headed to a coffee meet-up with the following group I found out about via the American Women's Club of Luxembourg:

I met with 3 other (European but English-speaking) friendly and very down-to-earth ladies from this group at a restaurant in the city center, and it was really encouraging to talk to other moms of kids in the local schools.  I'm looking very much looking forward to spending more time with these ladies and meeting their children.

I then fetched the kids from school and Jon from our apartment, and we headed into the city center on the bus to meet Pete for lunch.  Unfortunately, Daphne was feeling quite ill, but she toughed it out and we made it to lunch.

After lunch I could tell Daphne was taking a turn for the worse, so we headed straight home instead of going to the afternoon session of school.  It was pouring rain so we would have been stuck inside for the afternoon no matter what.  She perked up enough for a coloring session with Uncle Jon...

...but soon collapsed into bed with a fever.  While Jon stayed with the kids, I popped over to the school to pick up all their belongings and say goodbye to the teachers.

It was hard for me to watch the other kids say goodbye to their teachers and classmates and know that James and Daphne were missing out.  It was quite emotional for me to leave as well.  I didn't realize how, despite its challenges, school has been our safety net and our connection to the Luxembourgish community over these past 6 weeks.  The kids and I are now "loose in Luxembourg" for the next 2 months.  It's up to us to keep up the connections we've made so far and continue to form new ones over the summer, and I have to find ways to keep up their language skills.  I frantically tried to get a couple more phone numbers from the parents of classmates who Daphne and James have mentioned by name and not in a negative light, and who I suspected I could communicate with in English.  It's difficult for me to be this forward with strangers, but I'm doing my best to be proactive for the sake of the kids.  We'll see if I'm brave enough to act on these connections over break.  Complicating matters, many families will be gone for a large portion of the summer on holiday (and I've completely lost track of who's going to be gone when).

Anyway, Jon had to leave for the train back to Germany before Pete got home from work.  Such a short visit, but it was so great to see him, even for just a few hours.

Daphne woke up later but was sick for the rest of the evening.  Next morning - completely fine.  This has now happened to her 3 times since we arrived here.  Luxembourgish germs must be prevalent but not potent.

Oh, and the the kids each got a couple gifts from their teachers, including these "First Thousand Words in Luxembourgish" picture books...

already studying' up

There really aren't a ton of books and other resources available in Luxembourgish (as it seems to be largely a spoken and not written language), so we're thankful to have something.  There are English translations in the back.

Well, the kids have now completed 6 weeks of Luxembourgish school.

We are so proud of them!!

How the Party Went.

So, here were my main thoughts and questions upon receiving the party flyer featured in my previous post:

1. There is a parent organization for the school? Great! In all my research I never found any info about that, nor was I told it exists.  Too bad it will all be in French, for sure.
2. Is this the first everyone is hearing about this performance and party, two days before, or just me?
3. Diablo? So, Devil? Perhaps a demon? Ok then.
4.  In what way/shape/form will Scooby Doo be incorporated into the party?
5. Grilled bread on a wood fire?  That certainly sounds yummy.
6. What happens if it's raining for the courtyard stuff?

During the kids' first week or so of school, we heard them talk about practicing a dance, but then they didn't mention it again for several weeks.  We didn't know if/when/where it would be performed.  I assumed we just got our answer.

At the bottom of the flyer was a contact name and email, so I set a message asking if I could help with set up.  I received an immediate response (in English) saying, yes, meet in the courtyard at 2pm.

When I arrived there was no one in the courtyard, but James' teacher showed me to the Cultural Center, which is next door to the school and which apparently they had rented for the evening.  Fortunately, I immediately ran into a Luxembourgish mom I'd spoken to before in the school playground (it seems most educated Luxembourgish natives speak excellent English), and she introduced me to the woman who'd I'd exchanged emails with, the head of the parent organization.  I apologized for only speaking English, to which she replied something to the effect of, "Well, you don't need any languages to set up chairs!"  Nice, I can do this.

We set up the chairs as the children filed in to rehearse.  Then we moved outside toward the courtyard of the school to set up for the party.

As more moms showed up, much animated discussion ensued (some in Luxembourgish, mostly French - the way people here move in and out of languages never ceases to amaze and shame me).  Carole (the mom I already knew) eventually filled me in.  Typically, the whole performance and after party takes place in the courtyard.  But here was the courtyard on this this particular July afternoon...

Finally, after several false starts, the decision was made to set up the food tables, lottery items, and games outside and hope for the best.  There was simply not enough room in the back of the auditorium.

setting up under the bit of shelter

Eventually, as we continued to set up, one of the moms spoke a couple words of English to me, and I quickly grabbed this lifeline and introduced myself.  She is from Iran (but of course speaks English, French, and who knows what else).  She was very nice and friendly.

Side note: Pete and I talked about an aspect of the Luxembourgish culture the other night - Luxembourgish people (and non-Anglified, non-expat-ish people living in Luxembourg) will pretty much respect your right to be left alone.  That is our interpretation, anyway.  It's up to you to introduce yourself or your existence may be almost totally ignored.  But if you put yourself out there, most people are quite friendly and kind.

Anyway, after that I found my courage and introduced myself to a couple more ladies over moving benches and cutting table cloths (again, probably most of them speak some English, but the default common language is typically French).

When I felt like the "helping" I could do with my language handicap had dwindled, I headed back to the auditorium to save a seat for Pete.  He arrived JUST in time for the pre-primary kids' performance.

Here's a clip of their song.  You'll see James up top and Daphne down below.

African zebras

James and his "best friend" from school (parents from Peru, born in France)

This was the only number that an entire class or age group performed.  The rest of the show...basically imagine a school talent show and you'll get the idea.  Dance routines (presumably choreographed by the students), singing groups, keyboard solos, etc.  There were explanations in French/Luxembourgish throughout, but of course we have no idea what they said.  The surreal part was most of the actual songs except for the pre-preprimary performance were popular American or British songs -  Maroon 5, Adele, Beyonce, etc.  I'd like to say we we perked up and were proud to be American at that point.  But I won't.  We weren't.

Oh, and Diablo?  I think we figured that one out.  A little girl did a solo interpretive dance to Michael Jackson's "Thriller"...

Dressed as...a zom...no, wait...the Hunchback of Notre Dame with fangs.

Then we were released to the after party.  Mercifully, the rain had quit by then.  We socialized in our limited-language fashion as much as we could, but we were getting hungry and everything cost money, even the kids games and activites - I suppose it was all a school fundraiser.  It looked like some sausages were being cooked but that it could take hours to feed everyone with the tiny grills.  And speaking of grills, we didn't see any wood fire or grilled bread.  Maybe canceled due to rain?  Maybe mis-translated.  Who knows.

No sign of Scooby Doo either.  Pete said he saw a Scooby Doo sign at one of the tables, but it just looked like kids making bracelets. 

It's probably for the best.

An Invitation to a Party

Got this in the kids' backpacks today:

Allow me (erm..Google Translate) to translate:

The APEH

(Association of Parents of preschool and primary schools of Luxembourg-Hollerich) together with teachers of the basic school and home school Hollerich invite you to the traditional

Year-end party for students in schools of Hollerich from 16h to 20h30

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 in the Cultural Center and in the courtyard of the school

program:

4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. children show presentation at the Cultural Center.

Preschool Dance, Karate, Ballet, Diablo, Dance, Piano ... etc.

5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. party in the courtyard of the school

Games, Football, Basketball, makeup, Scooby Doo, Jewelry, Painting etc ... with grilled bread cooked on wood fire, desserts, drinks, music and good atmosphere

Come see your children and help us (cakes, gifts, time .. etc) to make this feast for all and for the district Hollerich. We are few, and we need your help!!

I have various questions and comments about this, but instead of typing them, I'm going to bed.

And I'll ask instead, what are you most curious about?


Stay tuned for how this one goes.



Original text:


L'APEH


(Association des Parents d'Elèves des écoles préscolaire et primaire de Luxembourg-Hollerich) ensemble avec les enseignants de l'ecole fondamentale de Hollerich et le foyer scolaire vous invitent á la traditionnelle
Fête de fin d'année pour les élèves des ecoles de Hollerich de 16h à 20h30
le mercredi 11 juillet 2012 dans le Centre Culturel et dans la cour de l'ecole
Programme:
16h30 à 17h30 présentation spectacle enfans au Centre Culturel.
Danse du Préscolaire, Karaté, Ballet, Diablo, Danse, Piano...etc
17h30 à 20h30 fête dans la cour de l'ecole
Jeux, Football, Basket, Maquillage, Scoubidou, Bijoux, Peinture...etc avec grillades, pain cuit sur feu de bois, desserts, boissons, musique et bonne ambiance
Venez nombreux admirer vos enfants et aidez nous (gateaux, dons, temps..etc) afin de faire de cette fête pour tous et pour le quartier de Hollerich. Nous sommes peu nombreux et avons besoin de votre aide!!!!

Settling in

As you might imagine, we've spent the last several days unpacking and arranging our stuff.  We're basically done with the unpacking, and we have just a bit more arranging to do.  We're getting close on the pictures/decor and light fixtures also.  In Luxembourg (and maybe other European countries), when you move, you take your light fixtures with you, so we've had dangling wires since we moved in (and temporary lamps).  We couldn't do much about it until our tools arrived this week.

And of course there's no such thing as drywall in Luxembourg.  All walls are solid concrete.  We borrowed a special concrete drill from a super-nice couple at church, and the thing is a beast.  It's not easy (especially drilling for the light fixtures), but Pete's been doing an awesome job and he's saving us a lot of money by doing it all himself.  It feels like we'll never finish, but we're making progress, a little (or a lot) each evening when he gets home from work and this weekend.  Our neighbors must be thrilled.

insert light pun here, or biblical reference, a la "let there be light"

I've noticed that it's a running joke around here that everyone's house/flat is an Ikea showroom, and I'm afraid ours is no different.  Ikea is close by and it's inexpensive.  I wandered into a lighting store in Luxembourg city the other day and looked at the price on only two light fixtures.  One was 300 Euros and the other was 600.  That's when I bolted for the door.  Ours were all under 20 Euros each from Ikea.  I'm sure there's an in-between somewhere (probably in France or Germany), but it's much easier to run to Ikea, and you start to get a bit desperate if you wait too long to find other options.

the kids run and hide and plug their ears when the drill comes out

Along with light fixtures, we also needed a computer desk, bookshelves, wardrobes - all built-in furniture in our US house.  And lots of rugs so we've not living in an echo chamber.  At last count I think we have 13 Ikea rugs of various sizes.  And curtains to help with the echo as well.  Top that off with the fact that I already had 2 distinctly Ikea "Poang" chairs in our house before (the classic minimalist chair) and we will be doing our part to advertise for Ikea whenever anyone comes over.

I think I'm going to keep pictures of our "finished" apartment to a minimum on the blog.  Maybe it's silly, but I'd like to keep it a bit of a mystery.   If people come visit, I want things to seem fresh and not like they've seen everything.  Anyway, as I said, maybe it's silly, but it's my blog, so there.

But if you're really curious, just run to your local Ikea, look at all the cheapest rugs and light fixtures, know that my favorite color is red, and you'll get the gist.

Moving Day #3!

This is the most beautiful sight I've seen since landing in Europe 6 weeks ago.

One truck picking up our temporary furniture, and another truck dropping off our own furniture and all the rest of our belongings.

And it is beautiful because it is happening on the same day at the same time.

We had prepared ourselves for the worst...whatever that is, we're not sure...maybe our stuff gets stuck in customs forever, or they deliver the wrong sea container, or everything's broken, or they take away all our temporary things while our own stuff is delayed and we don't have a fork or plate or towel to our name, or they bring our stuff while our temporary stuff is still here and we're overwhelmed with stuff...

Shall I go on?

No, I'll just admire the beauty.

Since we packed on May 15, it's been just over 7 weeks.

our half-full half-sized sea container.  yes, it is always sunny and gorgeous in Luxembourg. heh.

"I don't remember owning anything that shape!" was my recurring thought as the packages poured in.

When I picked up the kids from school at lunchtime they were thrilled to see their toys and watch some of the proceedings.

stuff!

bunk bed assembly

When the movers were packing back in May, we accidentally left Daphne's most favorite thing, her special "blankie" that she sleeps with every night, on top of her bed, and it was packed up with the bedding and sent across the sea!  Fortunately, Grammy loaned her a spare that got her through.  Until today!!

Do you think blankie's in here?

Blankie, can you hear me?

Tonight, we sleep in our own beds!

someone else missed his most favorite thing.

I know it's the 4th of July but it sure feels like Christmas at the Ts!

Quick Forest Update

A few people were asking about how the forest field trip went (from last post).  I envisioned, as you may have also, a nature walk and maybe some time at a nature center.  From what the kids told me, what actually happened is they took brief walk to a playground, played for hours, ate lunch, and played some more.  I asked them if the playground was in a forest, to which they said, "not really."  I asked them if it was near a forest.  "Not really."  Huh.

It sounds like they basically played on a playground for 6 hours.

Daphne was exhausted and a bit grouchy when I picked them up, and she could barely walk home, but she did say she had fun.  The playground sounded cool, with "a super high zip line" and such.  They came away with only minor injuries - James with a scraped knee and Daphne said she fell off the zip line onto her bottom and head.

So that's "a day in the forest."

"A Day in the Forest"

Today both kids are going on a class field trip to the forest.

(Or, "Une Journeé dans la Foret," s'il vous plâit.  My French is getting très awesome.)

If you're expecting photos featuring the kids frollicking in the lovely Luxembourgish forest to follow, I'm afraid there are none.  All I have as evidence is this announcement note from last week:

how's your French?

After receiving this paper, I had to sign James' little book in his backpack saying I saw it.  In Daphne's class I didn't have to sign anything, but the teacher was kind enough to write out a basic translation for me (above).

Naturally, I still had many questions.  Namely, where exactly is this so-called "forest?" Does it have a name?  Will any parents be going?  How about Hansel and Gretel, will they be tagging along?

In an attempt to avoid being an overbearing American helicopter parent with too many questions, I decided to just let it all play out.   Maybe they told all the parents about it at the beginning of the year?  Maybe there was a sign up for parent chaperones that I missed?   Maybe they told everyone exactly where they were going?  Maybe they go the same place every year, and it is so well-known and obvious?

"Oh yeah, THE forest. Right, of course."

But the day of the trip came, and my curiosity got the better of me.  I broke down and asked James'  teacher a couple of my most pressing questions this morning.  At the very least, I wanted the name of the forest so I could Google-map it in case of an emergency.

Bambesch Woods, 10-15 minutes away, no parents are going, just the two classes, the two teachers, and three teacher assistants.

I thought about asking to follow along, maybe to offer to  take pictures for the class, or to just say I was curious about what a Luxembourgish field trip was like, etc.  But I refrained.  It wasn't easy.

You see, in James preschool class back in the states, all parents were required to attend the field trips.  In kindergarten back in the states, Daphne had one field trip and it was to the pumpkin patch (the other trip was at the very end of the school year so we missed it).  I couldn't go to the pumpkin patch because I had to drop off and pick up James from preschool right in the middle of when they'd be gone, but I figured it was no big deal.  I found out afterward that I was just about the only parent from the class that didn't go.  Daphne and one other little boy were assigned to the teacher's aide.  Many kids even had both their parents along, so the parents actually way outnumbered the children on the trip.  I had no idea this was the sort of thing that parents would actually take off work for.

Daphne told me she fell asleep on the teacher's aide's lap on the way home.  I admit, I felt pretty of guilty after that.  It should have been me.  For shame!--It should have been ME!!!!

Anyway, I'll let you know how it went when I hear back from the kids at the end of the day.  Meanwhile, I'll continue my deep breathing exercises.