... because my Third Graders got game!
Enter: Raffael. Cutest kid
EVER! Speaks French, German and English fluently and has a larger vocabulary than George Bush. (Ok, not a hard one to beat, I know. But the kid is only 7!) He was waiting patiently behind another kid I was helping, and a little girl came up, cut in front of him, and waited. I wanted to see how he handled it, so I let it go. Was he going to stand up for himself? Was he going to let it go? How does Raffael think? I wanted to know. Smaller than most in size and bigger than most in heart, that's how! He proceeded to say (in his French-German accent version of fluent English), "please...ladies first." He actually meant it! So I pulled him aside later to tell him how cool I thought that was, and he said with a coy smile, "Oh no, Miss K. I must tell you the rest of the phrase... it's 'ladies first, but men before!'" This kid's got digs! haha
The next day, on the field trip bus, the kid in front of me was jolting his seat back and forth, and when I leaned in to tell him to stop, it hit me, square in the forehead. Of course, I was sitting with Raffael (who wouldn't?), and he proudly calms me down with, "you're ok, Miss K. I have a trick for that... here... just let me lick my hand (he does), put it on your forehead (he does), and now run really fast and it will get cold to feel better!" I'll let you picture that one.
Things here are going well. The kids and I are settling in to a friendly beat, and we are getting to know eachother really well. 3rd Graders hold no boundaries... they are needy, smelly (from the pile of cream-based German food... windows are always open after lunch!), pick their nose, help their friends, aim to please, fly paper airplanes during handwriting (like you wouldn't!), and hug me everyday (and need me to... the au pairs just arent' cuttin' it for most!). They're adorable (before lunch).
After school is filled with hanging out with other expats and finding new things to do around this fabulous city, which is never farther than 20 minutes. I have been invited out by a few parents in my classroom, for a few glasses of vino and or coffee. They are warm and welcoming, and seem to appreciate all that we do for their children. As a teacher, I can't ask for more, b/c we all know it's not the money I'm after in the biz.
I hope things are going well for you. I must say it, I miss Rex. Of all people/things, I miss him most. I see German Shepards here and either smile huge or feel like crying, depending on how the day is going, really. My runs just aren't the same w/o my left side getting tugged the whole way!
Take good care, email soon, and next time you toast, think of me and I'll do same.
lots of love,
kate.
xo
