So, Hannah started school with hardly a hitch. Her school is up the hill towards the uni, set in its own grounds with a good-sized, well-equipped playground.
Day One: a highly organised operation by the staff at her nursery school saw children whisked away from their parents, a lot of crying but real cold-turkey stuff. Hannah howled. At hometime she was happy and said she'd enjoyed herself and was happy to go back tomorrow.
Day Two: Hannah decided she didn't want to go, but we explained that she had to. Hannah a little melancholy on the journey. Hannah cried a little, but in a resigned sort of way and was fine when I collected her, introduced me to one of her teachers, Vaso, whom she hugged as we left.
Day Three: H was happy to go, but still cried on parting with Jonathan - no howling, just sad. Much better than the first two days though.
Days Four and Five: She still cried, but was happily talking about friends she'd made when we collected her.
Monday, Week Two, Day Six: NO CRYING! She happily had her photo taken with Stella, another of her teachers (see pic!) and has been happy to go since then!
We have no idea how her language will develop, and are resisting asking her questions about Greek.
Joel's school is the ground floor of an apartment block. It's a little closer to our house and is only for those who will start 'big school' (which you do the calendar year you turn six) in the next two years - so currently has children born in 2002 and 2003. Yesterday we registered him without an problem and were told to return for 0930 tomorrow. We left assuming that today was Day One, which was sort of true...
Day One(ish):
So, Joel and I arrived and were ushered into the playground at the back of the building where one of the classroom tables was laid with a tablecloth, icon, bowl of water, a hand-sized crucifix and bunch of basil. The priest was standing nearby and many of the parents were nodding greetings or kissing him or each other.
When we were all gathered the priest encouraged the children to come closer (Joel wasn't interested at all and asked some interesting questions about why he was there!). He began his prayer, singing and speaking and whenever he crossed himself almost all of the adults and most of the kids joined in. It was clear that some were very familiar with Orthodox practice and some not so much. There were 3 boys completely ignoring the whole ceremony, playing quite loudly without intervention from their mothers. Joel and I prayed together quietly during part of this ceremony. At the end, he took the bunch of basil, dipped it in the water and held it, with the crucifix, sprinkling the kids heads and holding the crucifix for them to kiss.
Not ACTUALLY the priest who performed the ceremony! Ours was younger and not surrounded by country side, but you get the idea!
After the ceremony the Headteacher explained what would happen over the next few days (some of which I understood, but I stayed for clarification at the end anyway!) and today was just ceremony day. Having hyped Joel (and myself) up for today being Day One, it wasn't.
Day One (Two - Wed) starts tomorrow with a 2½ hour stint from 8am.
Day Two (Three - Thurs) is the same.
Day Three (Four - Fri) the school is closed for the national elections this weekend - see future post.
Day Three Take Two (Four - Mon) ditto.
Day Three Take Three (Four - Tues) when Joel will go in for the full 0800-1230 day.
Religious ceremonies will always be a part of the kids' schooling. This will be a good way to engage with spiritual issues with the kids, their friends and the parents, as well as a chance to talk more with our Greek Christian friends about their approaches and thoughts. Pray for us, that we'll be wise in these conversations.
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