School

My sweet kiddos.
Ella-6.5 years old, segundo grado (2nd grade)
Thomas-5 years old, jardin 5 años (kindergarten)

The new school year began today.  The school system is one of the things that is the hardest for me to adjust to.  This will be the third time we have started school in Peru.  Although I know what to expect, I struggle with it!  If our kids attended a private school it would be a little more like school back home, but still very different.

The following will give you an idea of why I still struggle!

First of all, I figured out when school started by going to the kid's schools last week to ask.  There are no e-mail or regular mail notifications about school stuff.  It is all just by getting the information right from the school or teacher.  There are no school offices or secretaries.  Ella's school had information written on a huge chalkboard just inside the school gate. When I went to Thomas' school, the teachers were meeting and planning in one of the classrooms and we got information from them.  Ella had a 15 sole registration fee, Thomas' was 50.  In order to pay this fee, I had to get a bank account number from the school, take that to the bank, pay the fee and then take the receipt back to the school.  This process takes anywhere from 1-2 hours, depending on the line at the bank and the walk to and from the school.

Now, let me give you a little taste of the first day of school:

Thomas- We arrived at 9am.  The door greeter was there, and happy to see Thomas.  We found our way to the classroom, where two kids were waiting.  After a few minutes, his teacher arrived and told us that school would be from 9-11 this week, and that there will be no classes Thursday or Friday.  I asked about school supplies, and she told me that she would let me know this week, when they needed to be at the school.   Parents supply ALL the school supplies, generally we pay between 200-300 soles for each child's supplies (about $60-90).  Next week school will be normal hours, 9-1.  The classroom had tables and chairs set up and a few supplies left over from last year.  The classroom fills up and brightens up quickly with posters, charts and supplies, but it is always shocking to me to see how unprepared the room looks on the first day.

school supply lists

Ella- We got a list last year of her school supplies.  It said that ALL supplies needed to be ready on the first day of school, March 2.  School actually started today (the 5th).  I had Ella's backpack ready with her lunch, pencils and notebook with her vacation homework ready to go.  A friend called this morning and said that Ella didn't need to bring anything, because there were no classes today, just an assembly.  Ella was disappointed because she was looking forward to staying for class and I was disappointing because she wouldn't get to take her lunch which contained a special napkin love note I had put in it (she'll get THAT tomorrow!)  When we walked through the school gate at 9am, kids were running around.  Groups of ladies were sitting around knitting.  There were some table set up on the stage, and speakers.  A few  teachers were on the stage, others were standing together talking.  We found a wall to stand against and began waiting with everyone else.  After an hour of waiting the assembly began.  Once the children had lined up by classes in front of the stage, a priest blessed the school, children, teachers, etc.  He talked about how great God's love is for us and how powerful God is.  He sang a few church songs with the kids and they all said the Lord's prayer in unison.  The director explained some new programs for the year and announced where each class would be meeting.  We sang the anthem of Peru and Puno.  During all this children were leaving their lines and running around.  The first grade parents were hovering very close to their children as they stood in their lines.  Parents sat on the sidewalks at the edge of the patio or stood in shade, trying to get out of the intense sun.  The assembly lasted about an hour and a half.  After the assembly we went to the classroom.  The classroom consisted of 10 very old used double desks and about 10 chairs-that's it!  No posters, cute name tags, coat hooks, nothing.  The classroom walls be be filled with posters, charts and drawing soon, but today, it was bare and cold.  The teacher told us that the kids would start tomorrow at 8am and would need two notebooks.

Assembly

There is a lot of wasted time within the school system.  I have heard the same said about public schools in the states, but the level of organization and efficiency is totally different.  Today the platform was still being set up, a half hour after the assembly was suppose to start.  When it was time to sing, someone was running a CD player to the stage and it didn't even work, so everyone sang without music. . kind of in unison.  Planning ahead just doesn't happen very often.

The kids didn't wear their uniforms today.  At Ella's school, the uniform is optional, but every kid has one.  She'll wear it tomorrow.  I'll have to get another school picture of the kids with their uniforms on.

So- that's the first day of school.  SO DIFFERENT.

The kids will only complete half of the school year since our project is finished July 20.  This brings a whole other area of struggle for me.  Several people have said, "Oh, you should stay so the kids can finish the school year!"  They don't know our situation and I am not going to explains the ins and outs of it.  I know they mean well or they are just making conversation, but I still hate when they say that; As if I haven't thought about the implications for my kids already!  I know it will be hard for them, I know starting somewhere else will be an adjustment, I know they may be a bit behind, I KNOW!  I also know God knows, and He's go it.  He has a plan for them- wherever we end up next.

Although there are frustrations, there are things that I am grateful for.  I recognize that what we are experiencing is something unique and special.

I am thankful for the teachers Ella and Thomas have.  They both have the same teachers that they had last year and both teachers have made the school experience good for our children.

I am thankful that they get this opportunity, to be the only white children in their schools and to be learning in a 100% Spanish environment.  The perspective that this will give them is such a gift from God.

I am glad that they can attend public school and that we can avoid the cost of private school.

I am thankful that our kids have friends here and that they get to go to school with their friends.

I am thankful for friends who help me navigate this system, help me find school supplies and call me ahead of time when there are changes.  They make the struggles so much more bearable!