Well, if anyone out there is wondering how the beginning of school was for the other three children, here is the update:Simeon and Matthias had a great day. As expected, Simeon loved the food, and he has at least 6 friends already. Matthias has one friend with whom he had burping contests on the playground. Both boys reported being very bored during class, where (according to their own internal time) they spent hours just looking at the same thing in a book and not understanding anything. This sort of puts academics in perspective though, because they were so happy coming home, it was a balm to my heart after poor Mimi's day (she went to sleep at 9:30 after telling me for an hour that she did not want to go to sool tomorrow).
Magdalene didn't get mentioned earlier because she started at 3 (I wrote the other entry before that). I went to pick her up at 5, and by 5:05, as soon as we had left the street where her 'college' is, she had dissolved into complete despair. Everybody thinks she's retarded because she doesn't speak french, she doesn't understand what the teacher says, but the teacher says it's urgent, she doesn't really understand the social norms, etc. It makes me heartsick to face tomorrow and the sending of my two girls to the emotional guillotine. It has to get better soon, but I'm so childish myself, it's just as hard for me to remember that as it is for them.
That's all, just the little update on the children.
Thank you so much for sharing your exploits with all those left behind. I'm laughing and very much enjoying living your experience vicariously! Hope Magdalene is getting along better. The experience will certainly be one to remember! Through your writing, I am beginning to understand why my cousin Hillary (who moved to Paris 20 years ago to teach English at the University of Paris) is soooo difficult to warm up to. Since she moved to France, she remains very judgemental and ultimately superior in her own eyes...she just recently had a child, perhaps she will soften up a bit. Your cat has made herself at home here. We have not let her out yet but she is holding her own against the teenaged Kalvin. She likes to sleep on my bed. Her embarassing hairdo is starting to grow out. Take care and enjoy your school days that provide some wonderful "me" time for you.
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