Friday was Cohen and Chase's first day of school. The day before we visited the school because we were asked to bring Cohen in to do a 'test'. I wasn't sure what that would entail, but I was hoping it would be a conversation with a teacher to guage his French-language comprehension. It wasn't that. It was a serious paper and pencil test invigilated by monsieur le director. Cohen did fine. Actually, in math he did really well (le director was suprised). His french was also good but he has trouble conjugating verbs.
We also dropped into Chase's classroom and met his teacher, Eric. Eric has visited western Canada last winter to ski Lake Louise. He speaks good English and, we understand, Spanish. He was very nice and welcomed Chase. Chase, however, was not enthused.
Actually both boys lacked in the enthusiasm department. We think Cohen felt trepidation because of the whole new school / new kid in school thing. Chase is a different story. He didn't stop crying every time I dropped him off at playschool last year until Ms. Laurel suggested that he shouldn't cry everytime -- that was in April. Chase would be attending a French Immersion program at home so he would need to deal at some level with the language issue. The whole new school thing is a huge issue too not the least of which is how different the physical school actually is.
On Monday morning we crammed into the prison-like compound with all the other families. There are literally doors with bars and security guards outside with a chain-link fence surrounding everything. The school is three sets of long single story buildings surrounded by a sea of grey gravel punctuated periodically with tropical plants and flowers. Each building houses a number of classrooms and other ammenities like bathrooms. The classrooms have windows with louvered shutters (but no glass).
Carmen stayed with Chase for most the morning. Chase stayed away from almost everyone and everything for that period of time as well. Carmen saw Cohen at one of the breaks standing alone in the yard, looking very sad. She spoke to his teacher who confirmed that he comprehends very well.
By the end of the day, Cohen was quite positive about the whole thing and I think is looking forward to going back. Chase -- not so much. Carmen plans on staying for a bit with Chase tomorrow, but can't stay too long because we have some errands to run including looking for a place to live.
On that front we have two really good contenders so far. The first is a three-bedroom unit in a kind-of apartment complex. There is a swimming pool in the middle which is share by about six three-story blocks that have six units in each. It is about 200m from the main beach (not a great beach, but not the worst either). It has a nice open terrace on the front with a sitting and eating area. The second is a villa with a guest cottage and a small pool. It is a two story, three-bedroom place with a huge deck, fully equipped gym (who wants to exercise in the heat?), great kitchen, laundry room, outdoor living area, outdoor eating area, outdoor shower for the pool ... It is about 200m from a nicer beach (but still not a great beach).
Tomorrow we are going to look at a villa in a complex with a central pool. Tuesday we will be looking at a villa in a private gated community with a private beach (near where a really nice beach is located).
Update: I have a Dominican bank account. I needed a letter of reference from a Canadian bank and two letters of reference from local people -- which luckily the owners of the complex we are staying at and the husband, Jose, of the family who runs the local library both agreed to write letters. Jose has been a great help with both the banking and car-search. I hope in some way I can repay his generosity in some way. Tomorrow I am going to sling a paint brush to help prep the library for a new play-school program being offered by Jose's wife Annette (which Cadence will be starting with on Tuesday).
Another update: Playa Coson strikes again! This time it was Chase. He was coming into the shallow water when he placed his mask on his forehead -- then it was stripped off by the next big wave that knocked him over. Now both boys have learned a hard lesson to never put your mask on your forehead. We searched for the mask but the rough surf likely carried it out a way. I need to find some kind of strap-add-on that will make the masks and goggles float. When I am back in Canada I need to get masks for the boys again because we have so much fun just floating in the gentle water with snorkels looking at the fish and coral. Anyway, lesson learned -- again.
We also dropped into Chase's classroom and met his teacher, Eric. Eric has visited western Canada last winter to ski Lake Louise. He speaks good English and, we understand, Spanish. He was very nice and welcomed Chase. Chase, however, was not enthused.
Actually both boys lacked in the enthusiasm department. We think Cohen felt trepidation because of the whole new school / new kid in school thing. Chase is a different story. He didn't stop crying every time I dropped him off at playschool last year until Ms. Laurel suggested that he shouldn't cry everytime -- that was in April. Chase would be attending a French Immersion program at home so he would need to deal at some level with the language issue. The whole new school thing is a huge issue too not the least of which is how different the physical school actually is.
On Monday morning we crammed into the prison-like compound with all the other families. There are literally doors with bars and security guards outside with a chain-link fence surrounding everything. The school is three sets of long single story buildings surrounded by a sea of grey gravel punctuated periodically with tropical plants and flowers. Each building houses a number of classrooms and other ammenities like bathrooms. The classrooms have windows with louvered shutters (but no glass).
Carmen stayed with Chase for most the morning. Chase stayed away from almost everyone and everything for that period of time as well. Carmen saw Cohen at one of the breaks standing alone in the yard, looking very sad. She spoke to his teacher who confirmed that he comprehends very well.
By the end of the day, Cohen was quite positive about the whole thing and I think is looking forward to going back. Chase -- not so much. Carmen plans on staying for a bit with Chase tomorrow, but can't stay too long because we have some errands to run including looking for a place to live.
On that front we have two really good contenders so far. The first is a three-bedroom unit in a kind-of apartment complex. There is a swimming pool in the middle which is share by about six three-story blocks that have six units in each. It is about 200m from the main beach (not a great beach, but not the worst either). It has a nice open terrace on the front with a sitting and eating area. The second is a villa with a guest cottage and a small pool. It is a two story, three-bedroom place with a huge deck, fully equipped gym (who wants to exercise in the heat?), great kitchen, laundry room, outdoor living area, outdoor eating area, outdoor shower for the pool ... It is about 200m from a nicer beach (but still not a great beach).
Tomorrow we are going to look at a villa in a complex with a central pool. Tuesday we will be looking at a villa in a private gated community with a private beach (near where a really nice beach is located).
Update: I have a Dominican bank account. I needed a letter of reference from a Canadian bank and two letters of reference from local people -- which luckily the owners of the complex we are staying at and the husband, Jose, of the family who runs the local library both agreed to write letters. Jose has been a great help with both the banking and car-search. I hope in some way I can repay his generosity in some way. Tomorrow I am going to sling a paint brush to help prep the library for a new play-school program being offered by Jose's wife Annette (which Cadence will be starting with on Tuesday).
Another update: Playa Coson strikes again! This time it was Chase. He was coming into the shallow water when he placed his mask on his forehead -- then it was stripped off by the next big wave that knocked him over. Now both boys have learned a hard lesson to never put your mask on your forehead. We searched for the mask but the rough surf likely carried it out a way. I need to find some kind of strap-add-on that will make the masks and goggles float. When I am back in Canada I need to get masks for the boys again because we have so much fun just floating in the gentle water with snorkels looking at the fish and coral. Anyway, lesson learned -- again.
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