School

I have been absent.  I have been busy, but I have also been a bit lazy.  It seems I used up all of my free-of-charge space on Blogger to post pictures, so although it took a grand total of 10 minutes to upgrade my account, that step was enough to keep me from posting for more than a month.  Slightly shameful, I know.  However it seems when you upgrade your Google/Blogger account they also speed up the download process.  If I had known that, I would have upgraded years ago.

 

Back in September AB started attending a brand new local preschool. Many schools are not allowed to accept foreigners, but thankfully AB's school welcomed her.  We felt AB needed to attend preschool so she could begin to really develop her language abilities and needed to learn how to make friends.  She has greatly enjoyed her time at school and has impressed me with her new local language abilities. 

 



Usually there is a security guard to open the gate for students each morning.  However on the first day of school the Head Mistress greeted each student herself.  It was not a big undertaking since it was considered a "soft opening" and only 5 students were slotted to attend that day. 

On the left is our Zhou Mei, but the lady in the dress is the Head Mistress. 

These are AB's teachers. They dress alike every single day. 

 

Halloween has become a new hip holiday here in East Asia, so AB's school hosted a Halloween party to keep up with the times.  Costumes are not in abundance here, and what we do have is usually what has been sent from the US.  AB has fancy princess dresses (of course) and this cheerleading uniform.  Before anyone gets nasty about what AB's uniform says, I will say I did not buy this uniform. It was given to AB.  If it was up to me she would be wearing a UMHB purple and gold uniform - so BAAA to any of you who say nasty things about her wearing a Texas University uniform...

 



 

With that said, I still continue my stance of not actually buying either of these clearly University of Texas costumes.  They did not even come from the same person and neither of the people who gifted them with the costumes attended UT.  They just thought they were cute.  You would think I was obsessed with UT with what my kids are wearing.  

 

Even you Aggies have to admit they look cute no matter what.  

 

 

At the Halloween party they played games, including musical chairs.  The girl in the white wedding dress is named "Girl Girl" and she is AB's best friend at school.  I like this little girl.  She does not get scared by AB's foreign mom and dad.  Some of the other kids run away when they see us. 

 



 

This was AB's first experience with musical chairs and she did not quite grasp the concept.  She was quickly eliminated in the first couple rounds.  This is why I love AB so much - I told her she could not play anymore because she did not sit in a chair fast enough, they took her chair away  and now there are not enough chairs.  AB must have thought this was silly problem for which had an easy solution because she ran into her classroom, brought out a chair and tried to reinsert herself into the game.  Her innocence is precious.  I, and a couple other parents of the younger kids, helped our kids out during the second game.  Although she did not win, she made it until there were 4 chairs left. 

This what DB did during the party.  He played with toys and sounded off his car alarm scream whenever the old grandmas tried to pick him up.  I really do not have to worry about strangers messing with my DB.  They back away as soon as he gets going.