School Daze

Here is Katrina in her Jellaba and Moroccan shoes soon after she got them for the Christmas program.

Shortly before Christmas, Katrina started to cry at her Moroccan school which she attends three mornings a week. She said she missed her friends in Topeka. I think it was her version of culture shock. Until then it was like she barely noticed she was in a different country. But at school, she was surrounded constantly by two new languages and I think it just got to be to much.

The crying continued off and on for about a week, but with the help of prayer, talking . . . and bribery, she made it over the hump and got to the point where she did not cry.

But it still wasn't working - she was not responding to peers or teachers in school and was alone every recess. So the director had a good idea - put her into the 4-yr-old class. Here they do art and music, they have more introductory French, and there are two AUI kids who speak a little English (one of whom is Sarah, our neighbor). Apparently 5-yr-olds are too old for baby stuff like art and music. As he told us, "Kindergarten is serious," so they sit and write ALL day. The teacher in me growls!

Now Katrina attends the 4-yr-old class and not only is very happy there, but complains on the days when she doesn't go! A big difference has been having Sarah in the class. Apparently they spend the entire recess being chased by boys. That's better than yours truly who spent most of kindergarten chasing and kissing the boys . . . ANYWAY - since she is happy at play, she has been able to learn more in class. Life is much better with at least one good friend, isn't it?