What is it about this place? It's beautiful, it's sunny every day, there is something special about the way the way the light hits the ochre and gold-colored buildings, and yet, I am getting a headache. I feel trapped and isolated. I haven't driven the car yet (for lack of confidence) and further, the streets are a tangled web and I don't know my way around. I haven't exercised since we arrived. Life in Italy is just passing time between meals! Since Avery is only in school until noon this week, I feel like I have only a tiny window of time to get something accomplished (some sort of errand or project, not gazing at art in one of the many museums or walking the streets of the centro) and then it's time to be a mommy again. Headache! Life was so simple and easy in Chicago and now I have pangs of regret for choosing to complicate things by coming to Rome.
But, forget how I was feeling, it was so much worse to get that call from school. Josh picked Charlotte up early and when she came home she cried. Our hearts were broken to see her so upset with our choice for her life here.
She doesn't like the school. No one talks to her. She had French first period (not only is she to learn Italian this year but she needs to study a second language!) and the other kids were more advanced having taken French for years. The teacher gave Charlotte her cell number and wants us to call to arrange special tutoring. Yeah, right!
Charlotte said Devi, an Indonesian girl who started at RIS last year, told her that she didn't have any friends last year because she didn't speak Italian. Charlotte is afraid she won't have any friends either.
Further, there seem to be some scheduling issues. During the two hour Italian period today, surprisingly the teacher had been scheduled with another class during the second hour so she gave Charlotte's class a work sheet. Clearly, it's extremely disappointing to us that RIS does not have it's act together. This is hardly what one would expect from a private school in the States. But this is Italy. Everything is more relaxed. Even academics. Oh and by the way, the school book store won't have Charlotte's text books in stock for 15 business days from today (the day we went to buy them). Can they not know how many children are enrolled, and therefore have even a rough idea of how many books will be purchased, and have them in stock?
In speaking to the head of the MS (during the Charlotte is sick call), I expressed Charlotte's feelings about her first day. Hopefully, we can get some of the issues addressed easily (like being assigned a "buddy" by her home room teacher). Others, however, will take time. In my own mind, I'm giving it three weeks. If in three weeks from the start of school, things haven't turned around, we may need to consider a different course of action. Making the cultural, linguistic and social adjustment is very hard with any move. But of all the kids I know, I have a lot of confidence in Charlotte's ability to make the transition successfully. She just needs a little time. I am also hopeful that the start of swimming and being on a team will be helpful.
As for Olivia, she seems to be blossoming here in Rome. She loves sharing a room with Charlotte. She loves going to the same school as Charlotte. She even added a flourish when dressing for dinner tonight by wearing a scarf (just like Charlotte). Altogether, managing her seems to have become a little easier than at home. School-wise, she says she doesn't have any friends but she doesn't seem to mind. Academically, I am a bit concerned the curriculum may be too easy. The vocabulary words she came home with today were from two years ago, and I have the feeling they are still teaching English to many of her classmates. As with everything, we need to give her teacher and the curriculum the benefit of the doubt for now, but keeping a close eye.
Lastly, Avery has been a terror these past few days. The more time he spends alone with his mom and dad, the more attention he needs. I don't get it? He has a lot of energy; I can't wait to get him in to a soccer program so he can run around! Or maybe when he begins spending a full day at school next week, he will be more mellow at home. Again, time will tell.
Having been home all day dealing with various "issues" I was in the mood to get out (and to not cook) and convinced Josh to drive in to town to Campo di Fiori. We hadn't been to that part of Rome yet, and it was the perfect night for a pizza al forno al fresco! The kids had a great time and even began to practice the little Italian they'd learned. Charlotte started kissing everyone on each cheek, mimicking the behavior of her classmates. "Ciao bella!"
Walking the cobble-stoned streets and taking in the scene all around us, our headaches gone, we had no regrets.
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