First Day of School

August 2, 2010

The kids had their first day at the International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL) and liked it! They really really liked it!

First, they had orientation for new students where we met their teachers, saw the class and met the specialists, like the P.E. teacher above, hugging Griffin and Alice. Like many of the teachers, even the PE teacher was so interesting -- from Brazil, got her BA in the US, and has kids at ISKL too. She's lived all over the world.

Alice's teacher was ebullient and warm. Her art teacher gave her a hug -- all Alice needs to feel comfortable. And, Alice's return hugs are the most loving you'll ever get. Griffin's teacher was calm, not bubbly enthusiastic, but Griffin described her as "Strict but nice, like you Mom!" At least I'm nice, I guess.

Abraham's teacher for his 3 year olds class was new, and you could tell. I was reminded that even though you've trained at great universities (She has a master's from London School of Economics and UCLA in education), it doesn't make you a great teacher. And, we're still not sure if she likes kids yet -- see photo above of her sitting surrounded by adorable angelic 3 year olds eating ice cream. She manages to look glum.

But, she doesn't seem to slow down Boom. He jumped on the plethora of toys, bikes, soccer field, like he'd just been released from a depriving orphanage. He played his heart out and seemed to connect a bit with the warmer assistant teacher (see scarved teacher shot with Boom above). Turns out all the head teachers are Caucasian and Western, but the assistant teachers are local Malays; let me tell you, there's a clear hierarchy. But, watching Boom in action in his class, Thriving was the word that came to mind.

This morning Boom got up for his first bus ride to school, with Alice and Griffin. He jumped out of bed, into his uniform, and strapped on his backpack and snack container before he even sat down for breakfast. He insisted on wearing his backpack and snack bag throughout breakfast. He even had time to torture Griffin. Then he got onto the bus (first time ever!), smiling and waving at me from the window like he was the luckiest kid in the world. As he pulled away, I turned and almost sobbed in the arms of some Indian parents I'd met moments earlier.

Griffin has always claimed he hates school. From the beginning. And, I'm sure that's mostly true for him. School has stressed him out at times, especially with the kids who were acting out in his class last year. So, I was prepared to hear the typical Griffin litany of why he hates school yet again. But, he came home from his first day of school yesterday saying he liked it. Let me tell you, that's a ringing endorsement from Griffin. He liked it even more since he scored the only soccer goal of their recess game. He's achieved his goal of establishing himself as a successful soccer player, all on the first day. This is such a soccer school! How perfect for Griffin?

And, Griffin's made two friends already - he usually takes months to find the perfect and only best friend. One's from the US and the other from Singapore. His other bus friend is an Indian girl who's spent her life in Holland. These kids and families are fascinating to me!

When we meet any families or teachers at this school, their first question is usually "What was your previous posting?" Everyone's lived in other countries, working for international corporations or embassies. One US embassy family was 3rd generation state department. When we asked where the father was from in the US, he said nowhere. He doesn't have a US base at all. Never did. There are a few families who are Malaysian, usually Chinese Malay. And, others are from Spain, Portugal, Australia, China, Korea, and more. Word is that ISKL tries to limit groups from each country to about 10% or so, and there was a brouhaha over there being almost 18% Korean kids.

Most postings are for at least two years, usually 5 or more. When we left NYC, everyone would say, "You're gone for a whole year!?!" Here, people say "You're only here for a year?"