This is very interesting sharing a blog space with your husband who is neither a writer nor a social media geek like me. But there is an advantage - he seems to keep us all updated with photos and I'm the one who provides the commentary. Perhaps there is a real partnership here after all :-)
Yesterday and today were Nicholas and Sadie's first days of school (respectively). Clearly there was a baby boom of second graders as they were able to fill an entire class with new kids. The cultural and ethnic diversity are fantastic. Sadie even says that there is a Dutch girl who needs a translator. The teacher (Fiona - Sadie loves the name alone) is from Scotland. The funny thing about Singapore is that there are plenty of people who speak English. In fact, English is the primary spoken language. But the irony is that with all of the accents, one still finds one's self not understand a lick of what was just said. Now I know why I am so tired at the end of the day. The brainpower required to get around is crazy.
Having been out of school for so long during this transition, both kids were so excited to get back. I confess that there is a definite and screaming need for more routine around here now that things are settling down a bit.
The school, Stamford American International School or SAIS, is unbelievably impressive. I can't quite tell whether it's the school itself or whether it's due to us experiencing private education for the first time. It's definitely different. The focus on the arts alone is enough to make you drool. The kids will learn how to play a myriad of instruments. They will have drama. The art class is out of this world. They learn to use Garage Band on Mac computers when it comes to music theory and writing their own music. I'm blown away and not just a little worried that we will be spoiled and I will find everything from here on out a complete disappointment. I'll become one of "those" parents at the PTO meetings. Somehow the public school systems (even the good ones) struggle to get top notch educators and to provide arts and sciences that are not considered "extras". (I'm waiting for my school teacher sister-in-law to chime in at any moment). And don't even get me started on my thoughts about teacher compensation in general. It clearly reflects an irony in the supposed value system on the importance of education. OK, off the soap box and on to work....(which, by the way, looks like a short walk to a bus station, a bus ride for two stops, a connection at the MRT or subway station and one stop). On we go!
Yesterday and today were Nicholas and Sadie's first days of school (respectively). Clearly there was a baby boom of second graders as they were able to fill an entire class with new kids. The cultural and ethnic diversity are fantastic. Sadie even says that there is a Dutch girl who needs a translator. The teacher (Fiona - Sadie loves the name alone) is from Scotland. The funny thing about Singapore is that there are plenty of people who speak English. In fact, English is the primary spoken language. But the irony is that with all of the accents, one still finds one's self not understand a lick of what was just said. Now I know why I am so tired at the end of the day. The brainpower required to get around is crazy.
Having been out of school for so long during this transition, both kids were so excited to get back. I confess that there is a definite and screaming need for more routine around here now that things are settling down a bit.
The school, Stamford American International School or SAIS, is unbelievably impressive. I can't quite tell whether it's the school itself or whether it's due to us experiencing private education for the first time. It's definitely different. The focus on the arts alone is enough to make you drool. The kids will learn how to play a myriad of instruments. They will have drama. The art class is out of this world. They learn to use Garage Band on Mac computers when it comes to music theory and writing their own music. I'm blown away and not just a little worried that we will be spoiled and I will find everything from here on out a complete disappointment. I'll become one of "those" parents at the PTO meetings. Somehow the public school systems (even the good ones) struggle to get top notch educators and to provide arts and sciences that are not considered "extras". (I'm waiting for my school teacher sister-in-law to chime in at any moment). And don't even get me started on my thoughts about teacher compensation in general. It clearly reflects an irony in the supposed value system on the importance of education. OK, off the soap box and on to work....(which, by the way, looks like a short walk to a bus station, a bus ride for two stops, a connection at the MRT or subway station and one stop). On we go!