First Day of School - Josie

 Josie started her first day of fifth grade at the John F. Kennedy School in Berlin today.  There were a few nerves last night when trying to sleep a bit more this morning but she embraced today like a champ.  I can't remember the last time I had to be brand new at something.  Especially something as important as a new school and especially at such an impressionable age.  She is amazing!!  We are all SO so proud of her.

Requisite first day of school in front of the door pic

We all hopped on our bikes and headed to school - a short (less than 5 minute) bike ride.
SO many bikes.  It is so cool to be in a city where biking and walking and public transportation is the vast majority.

Benjamin, as usual, was following in big sis's footsteps.  We are HOPING he gets into JFK as well and can start sometime this week.  For now, he was quite thrilled to just be dropping Josie off and not having to attend himself. 

There is a piece of the Berlin Wall in front of her school. Every corner of this city is drenched in history. 

Truth be told, I was probably as nervous or more nervous than Josie.  Thankfully, for the first time in several years, Marty was able to be there for the first day of school activities.  

Josie asked me to walk her up to help her with her large bag of school supplies.  I was thrilled 😉

The school is a maze to the likes of which I have never seen.  I'm sure she will get used to it quickly but I've been in the building now 4 times and never have a clue where I am or how to get to where I'm going.  Apparently the school is in the building of a former mental hospital.  I'm sure patients who lived here were made even more crazy but not being able to find their way!

There are numbered hooks outside of their room for coats.  No lockers in the elementary school but a large hook off the side of each table desk to hang your back pack and then a cubby with your number on it so you can store your things there as well.

 She found her desk, hung her backpack on the hook by her desk, pulled out a pencil and started working quietly on the questionnaire.

We heard so much American English and it was kind of a shock to the system after 3 weeks of mostly just hearing German spoken around us. All students who attend have to speak English at a high enough academic level to perform at grade level.  All subjects are taught in English but each day she will have German language instruction.

Marty and Benjamin went to the store from JFK and I'm back at the house and it feels so strangely quiet.  I know I will get used to her being gone all day but it feels weird since we have all been together 24/7 for over 3 weeks.  

I cannot wait to hear how her day was when she returns home from school.  She has instructed us that she wants to ride herself home from school "by myself!" She has been saying this exact phrase since she was less than 2 years old. I really shouldn't be surprised that it is the same here.