First day of school at EA!

Today, Friday, August 20th, ends our first week of school at Escuela Americana for Cole. It is good for Cole to be getting into the routine of school, integrated more to the culture/language and with kids his own age in a structured learning environment. In the afternoon on Friday, we met up for a play date with one of the moms (and EA board member), Rebecca, and her son, Matteas, who is in Cole's class. She told me this morning that when she asked her son who he has made friends with at school besides Andres (Carolina's son who we met up with last Saturday and a former classmate of Matteas) he said "Cole" and that was nice to hear. The two boys ended up playing great together - and they liked the same kind of play: rough.

Cole started classes on Monday and was excited to be wearing his EA uniform, but also a bit hesitant about school and being with kids who "don't speak my language." The first picture I took was one I had to sneak in as I went around a corner on our way out of the complejo and it looks like he's about to grab me! (cheeky that fella) He was dressed in his P.E. uniform (3x/week) - cotton t-shirt and shorts with white athletic shoes. The formal uniform (2x/week) is a button down white shirt and blue pressed shorts with black athletic shoes. Personally, I really like uniforms - it makes the daily dress routine so easy, not to mention being an equalizer among the kids. In another picture, you can see he was immediately taken under the wings of the teachers and teacher assistants - with hands on him and his hair (Cole's blonde hair is quite the attraction here). The communications person, Gilberto, took some pictures that very first morning and sent on a couple to Rich (who forwarded) - a perk of being staff at EA. Cole has a beautiful smiling face! When I picked him up (the picture with him running towards me with open arms) and asked him about his day or when others asked, he replied: "good" - and he would tell you otherwise or not speak at all - so indeed it was a good day!

Cole's homeroom teacher is his Spanish Teacher, Mrs. Lucy (a lovely name the same as that of my smiling, beautiful grandmother Lucy), who is kindly and wonderful with the kids. Cole's other teacher is his English teacher, Mrs. Claudia, who along with Mrs. Lucy will be with him daily. Mrs. Claudia is great - good sense of humor, no nonsense and very good for Cole. During the week, Cole will also have library, P.E., music, and arts & crafts. EA follows the traditional American model of education.

I know it cannot be easy for Cole to be with kids who all speak another language. At this point in time, the kids don't know English and on the playground, etc...they will be speaking Spanish. There is the universal language of play along with Cole's pro-social, outgoing manner that will go a long way, but there are times when the words are needed and not there. Generally he seems to be getting along fine and his teachers report that he is doing well, but we have also seen signs of the difficulties he is facing (cultural adjustment and new environment) and try to leave open that conversation for him to talk about it. Cole is excited about learning Spanish and uses Spanish words mixed in with English. He will say bano, vamos, gato, perro, gracias, adios, buenos dias, por favor, manzana, "yo puedo" (I can) and other words. End of June, Cole attended a Spanish & Dance camp in Colorado and he likes to listen to those CDs in the car (one song is about going to the mar and playa). AND that (excitement about Spanish) is really wonderful - all that I could want for him at this point in time. The rest will come - quickly, I believe - and by December I will not be able to keep up with him; and his classmates will know some English too. In time, he will learn the language, find friends and settle in...and so will I!