First day of school

Kids had there first day of school in France today.  Penelope and Jasper both went to the international school and Hannah started her correspondence work with me.  They all did really well and had a great day - although Jasper told me tonight that he thinks that the French school day is too long for him (8.40am-4pm) as he doesn't have enough time for play!

Normally the children line up outside the school and their teacher takes them to the classroom but today and tomorrow we are allowed to take them to the classroom.  Jasper wasn't bothered so just waved goodbye at the gate and ran off.  Penelope was very nervous and I took her to her room and found her a spot at a desk with five other little girls.  The children and Mums were all lovely and as they have all moved here from other countries all appreciate what we are going through.

We said goodbye and then went and had a look at the house we are going to rent in Tournefieulle.  It is lovely and big and I'm sure we will be very happy there.  The family we are renting it from are moving from Toulouse to Lyon. The house will come fully furnished which will be much easier for us and for them.

James then dropped Hannah and I home and went to work.  Hannah and I got stuck into her correspondence and she did so well.  She understood exactly what to do and sat and concentrated for about an hour and a half.  My thanks go out to Lisa and Sally her wonderful teacher aides back in NZ who have got her working at such a great level.

By this time it was 2pm and 30oC so Hannah went for a swim and I watched by the side and got splashed!

We collected the others from school and walked home in the heat.  Both Penelope and Jasper enjoyed the first day and started to make some friends.

Tomorrow Hannah and I are going to catch a bus to Pibrac, a nearby village, and post some parcels home so that should be fun!

By the way if anyone knows of  anyone who would like 15-20 hours a week work in sunny Toulouse with a gorgeous girl called Hannah let me know as we are on the hunt for a teacher aide!!

Jasper's birthday

Jasper woke up nice and early at 6.30 as birthday boys do, but had to wait till 7am to open his presents, when Penelope woke up.  He was very spoilt especially  since he has already opened lots of his presents back home plus has some more to come.  James and I gave him a new bmx bike which we will hopefully get this weekend.

Jasper opening up his presents

A  New Zealand cap from Auntie Susan, Uncle Dean and Mackenzie and Henry.

                                         What Jasper chose with his birthday money from Nana.

 After breakfast we walked down to the school to have our induction day.  This was really just a chance for all the new parents and children to meet the teachers and look around the school.  Jasper made friends with twin boys from England straight away and was off out onto the field playing!  The other new children in Penelope's class were both boys from Spain, who seem nice but were also quite nervous and couldn't speak English.  Her teacher is very nice though and assured her she will make friends quickly.  Hannah's not starting tomorrow as they haven't got the aide set up yet.  I have NZ correspondence work for her which we will start tomorrow.  Hopefully she can transition to school next week as she is desperate to go and it will be hard for her watching Penelope and Jasper go off to school and to not join them.

We came home for lunch then had to go back to the school to fill in paperwork for the canteen about the kids coeliac disease.  It had got very hot by this stage so we got icecreams on the way home then had a swim in the pool at the apartment.

We decided to go out for dinner for Jasper's birthday and had seem a nice mexican cafe just around the corner.  When we got there we found it closed and not opening for dinner until 8pm - which is apparently when the french eat their dinner.  We went to another resturant at a groovy bowling alley and found that closed too.  We decided that was enough walking in 30oC so went to MacDonalds!  It ended up being perfect as we ate outside and there was a cool playground - plus James could have a beer with his meal(can you spot it in the photo).  The building behind us is the playground which was airconditioned.

                                               Jasper and Hannah in the Macdonalds playground.

At the end of the day jasper told us that it was his best birthday ever so that was lovely to hear with being so far from home.

A visit to the new School

Have discovered that taking three children shopping in France is stressful when everything is new and exciting and I can't find anything I want and no one speaks English plus nothing is written in English.  Took the kids to the local newsagent to buy some birthday cards and wrapping paper.  Firstly there was no wrapping paper, then the card selection was fairly poor (am wondering if perhaps the French do not give each other cards?).  I manged to find some that were okay and just hope that they say Happy Birthday inside and not Deepest Sympathies!  By this time my nerves were frayed but as I'm not one to give up, I proceeded to the organic shop in search of gluten free crackers.  Luckily it is quite a small shop so Hannah was easy to find when she wandered off.  The gluten free selection was okay and managed to get some nice things - have not been able to find rice crackers here though, they really are a coeliacs staple!

Then went to the bakery for a much deserved coffee and pastry - they sold meringues which are gf - hooray.  The coffee was pretty average, I think I will have to develop a taste for long blacks as lattes, flat whites and cappucinos don't exist.  Am missing my trim flat whites.

This afternoon we had an appointment with the principal of the International School.  She showed us around the school and the children met there teachers.  The school is lovely and modern and well resourced.  It was a very positive meeting with the Principal and Hannah will probably transition slowly into the school starting next week.  We need to apply for funding through the ministry of Health and then we will employ the teacher aide using that funding.  Our first step is to go and see a doctor and she will guide us through the process.  A doctor has been recommended to us and we are meeting her tomorrow.  Hannah is very excited about starting school so I hope she is able to do some schooling soon as I think it will be hard for her to watch Jasper and Penelope go and not be able to go herself.

Tomorrow we have the formal induction day where we meet all the staff and the other new pupils then Jasper and Penelope will start on Thursday.