Real School Days

 A little rundown of our day with an attempt at actual description rather than simply iteration.

Today was a bit more of a "normal" day for the kids at least. I walked Maggie to school where she was about to start her first full day! We set her up with her new uniform yesterday (pictures to come), books, supplies, locker, and a lunch box.* As I said, the schools don't offer lunches at all, so it's up to you. At about 8:10 I walked her to school (its about 15 minutes one way).

I love being able to walk everywhere, but, as my feet can attest, it is difficult to have to walk everywhere, although I can feel my hips, feet and legs getting into better walking shape. It is interesting to move your body for some purpose other than to get in shape. I've always preferred games and sports to the gym, but never really had to use my own power to get myself places when it is not my choice, that is to say when I have no other choice (other than choosing to commute to work on my bike for example).

We are encouraging Maggie to learn how to walk home on her own, but I'm not sure I'm willing to give up the walk there. It is a great time to talk and another one of those things we wanted that we weren't getting at home. That's one of my themes here -- reminding myself of our initial reasons for wanting to take this time with our family -- particularly when it is hard. A few of the goals that this walk accomplishes is to slow down, to move our bodies, and to spend time together.

We got Johnny a bike yesterday because his walk to school is right along this path through a park that is right behind our house. It's only about an 8 minute walk but I think you can see where I'm going here... 15 min to Maggie's school (each way, twice per day so far), 8 minutes to his school (each way twice per day) and to get to UCD we walk to the bus (which can be grabbed in the village or at Maggie's school (5-10 min) and then walking around campus. I will get used to it but a bike will be really handy.

Here are a few pictures, firstly the shortcut from our street to the street behind it which leads to the park, then the little bridge over the creek to the park.

I forgot to take pictures of the path, but we always pass a group of boys practicing rugby (rain or shine). Here is Johnny on his bike in the parking lot of his school, and then his classroom below:

Sheila and I had a quick coffee in the "fancy" part of Blackrock:

and headed to UCD to get a feel for the place, pick up a used bike for me (a success that is being worked on as I write this!), and grab uniforms for Johnny.

The story of UCD (at least what I've been told just in preparation... not even what I have experienced yet) deserves its own post, and another day.

Johnny's day is from 8:50 to 2:30 while Maggie's, depending on the day, goes from 8:30 to either 3 or 3:40. They both did awesome today, but we are all really really exhausted. Johnny laughed on the way home about how "snack" is called "nibble time" and how he still didn't "know his 'best friend's' name." (If you don't know Johnny, he is a really funny kid. I don't mean funny funny. I mean how Sheila thinks she's funny (ha!). . . Johnny actually IS funny. So he GETS the joke he is making -- that the kid who said "wanna be my best friend" yesterday is his "best friend" (not really) and that he doesn't even know his name... ha!).

Maggie is tired and a bit overwhelmed. She actually has homework, but as far as I can tell it is not nearly as intense as homework at Annunciation. As I said before she will have to keep up with the algebra curriculum from 7th grade math at Annunciation while simultaneously moving forward with the geometry they are doing here, but I don't think that'll be too bad once we all are better rested. She seems to have made a friend (Aisling) despite not being able to trade cell numbers yet.


*Some Irish treat in the mail to the first person who guesses what went wrong/was left behind/lost/forgotten on the first day. Send me an email if you know with your guess and your address. GO!