Don't Worry, Be Happy

One of these days I will learn that the only thing worrying does is age me. This week I am guessing I have aged about 5 years in 5 days. Parenting is hard, though, and sometimes I can’t help but worry.

The children started school this week at Brent International School. It can facilitate up to 1500 students, I believe. The Elementary, Middle School, and High School (known here as lower, middle, and upper schools) are all housed on one campus. The facilities seem fabulous and I am just grateful the kids can be at one school.

Tuesday/Our second day in the Philippines/ Registration Day:

The children and I arrived at Brent at 9:15 and were told we would be there until about 1:00 (yeah, right).  Hannah Grace and Ellis both had to undergo some testing that started at 9:30.  Because they had Ellis’s MAP scores from the states, he only had to answer a short essay. A mere two hours later, Hannah Grace finished her testing. Eventually Tony joined us for the interviews. Between both children, we had five interviews. The questioning started one on one with each child, and then we would join in. Once the interviews were complete, we moved on to transportation to get the children set up with the shuttle service in our neighborhood. Just to give you an idea of the size of our neighborhood, or “village”, there are 13 buses that service us. So, we leave the transportation office and our first set of tears came from Hannah Grace. Off to the uniform shop, where our second set of tears was shed by Ellis. He looked up at me and said, “I just want to go home.” And there it was… all three of us crying.  Luckily, Tony kept it together. Boy, would that have been a sight!  At 3:00 (a few hours off), we loaded in the car back to the house.

Much to Ellis's delight they had a few extra options to go along with the regular school cafeteria selections. He may actually eat school lunch!

Pastries or latte, anyone?

 

Grabbing some lunch with the traditional cafeteria setting in the background. I am sure Michelle Obama wouldn't like the soda station, but Ellis was thrilled!

 

Brent has a 25 meter swimming pool, two gyms, 400 meter track, two soccer fields, tennis courts, and a baseball field.

Looking out to the Upper School Building

Tony and  Ellis checking out last years yearbook

 

Another view of the campus

Wednesday/First Day of School:

After getting the kids off to school, I spent the day in worry and tears. I worried about what I had done to them by moving them overseas. Were they happy at school? Would it be too hard? Would they make friends? Would they eat by themselves? Would they make it on the bus after school? If they made it on the bus, would they know where to get off? If they didn’t, how would they contact me? Then I worried about how the guidance counselor had mentioned that, by sending Hannah Grace back to the states for her senior year, her transcript for college would be a mess. Hey, buddy, I have enough on my plate for now. Thanks, anyway.

And then, the children came home…on the correct bus…at the correct time…with smiles on their faces. Good thing I worried.

Okay, so the bus missed our house by a few, but they made it! Hannah Grace did have to go back on the bus to grab Ellis. Apparently he was chatting it up with a new friend.

All smiles!

 

Bribery?

So, this not-so-great photo is a screen shot from a video that I took as Hannah Grace got off the bus on the second day of school (YES, I AM that mom). She stayed late on Thursday to practice with the varsity basketball team. MAN, was she excited! Because it is late in the season, she may only get to practice with them. She isn't sure if she will be able to travel with them for their game in Vietnam. Wait. WHAT?!!!