The Zoo

Benjamin, Marty and I went to pick up Benjamin's friend Tesh on the way to the Berlin Zoo this morning.  We decided that we would go for an annual pass instead of just paying for the day.  So much more economical.  But to do this it says on the Zoo's website that everyone in your family needs to be present.  Well, Josie is in school (sore subject for Benjamin anyway, and if this keeps us from going to the zoo today it will be like salt in his wound) So, we decide to bring her passport and an extra passport photo and both of us give this a 20% chance of actually being able work without her being present.  Germans are all about protocol.
It couldn't have been easier.  We even were able to skip the mile long queue.  Worth it for that alone.  It was the perfect day, weather-wise, to be at the zoo.  And everyone else must have had the same idea.   Marty and I have been to this zoo many, many years ago.  We are both still a little traumatized by the polar bear we saw during our previous visit to this zoo. He was clearly suffering from some kind of past abuse and would just rock or pace back and forth.  I know you are probably thinking that is what all caged animals do but this was different, trust me.  There was some story behind this but I'm forgetting it now.  But this polar bear in addition to several trips to Kenya and Uganda and seeing large, wild, safari animals in their natural habitat have kind of ruined zoos for me.  But... Benjamin wanted to go so, I give.

Marty had to leave to head back home to work once we got our pass and the boys and I had fun exploring.  They both got maps and both were excited to lead our little group around.  They worked the maps well and we saw camels and rhinos and hippos.  Then they had an absolute ball at the petting zoo.  There were SO many animals, goats, mini horses, bunnies, sheep just wandering everywhere.
I had made plans to meet up with another woman who has recently moved to Berlin with her husband and three boys.  We planned to meet at the big playground and once Tesh and Benjamin saw the playground they were off and running.

I have said this before but playgrounds here are amazing.  They are not all safe and structured and are kind of wild but it allows kids to really test their own physical limitations in ways our Seattle ones do not.  The kids can totally feel this and they LOVE it.

There was another
woman with her two kids there and she asked where I was from since I was speaking English.  I said Seattle and turns out she was from Virginia.  She laughs and shakes her head and says "Wow!  None of this would be up to code in Virginia"  I agree that neither in Seattle.

 It really is a telling part of their culture that begins the independence process much, much earlier than we do.

They figure people are smart enough to play smart and not get hurt.  They likely are not as worried about being sued if someone were to get hurt.  There are NO parents helping kids anywhere on this playground.  At one point Benjamin asked me to help him up on this spinning disc thing.  It was tilted and most often spinning and so kids had to run and jump on while it was spinning.  It took everything in me to say that he could figure it out on his own...which he did!!

For almost 2 hours, the boys go wild here.  Just like all the other kids.  And it's awesome!!
We meet up with the aforementioned friend, Hollis, and her three boys.  More boys and Benjamin could not have been happier to have 4 new friends to run around with.  The 5 of them played tag and had a ball.

Hollis and her family previously lived in Seattle and had listened to Marty on the radio.  She saw one of his FB posts and sent him a message.  The rest is history.  Another fun family from the States.  It is amazing how being from USA just brings you together when you are this far from home.
Thumbs up from two hungry, tired but happy boys from the top, front seats of a double decker bus.  Success!!

On the way home Benjamin and I stop by JFK.  Before we go in I kind of think that this is just a waste of time.  They have been back from vacation for 8 work days now and we have been in to talk to the office staff at least 5 of those days.  We get there right at 3:15 (everything takes longer than you think with public transportation but its worth it) Anyway, we see the principal and he tells us that the secretary has left for the day.  Bummer. But then I walk down to see if the American Liaison woman is in her office. She apparently leaves at 3 too.  I happen to see the main secretary in a side office and try to ask as nicely as possible if there is any new news.  She says that she and her colleague have gone over the numbers and the attendance and that we should hear something on Monday (!?!?!) Feeling and probably looking defeated - both Benjamin and I.  I then ask if it would be Tuesday before he would potentially be able to attend school? She says yes.  Benjamin lets out a sad sigh.  I tell him I'm so sorry.  And I am!  This is just crazy.  The secretary then looks at me and smiles (first time for this) and says "don't give up"  This is by far the most encouragement we have gotten and I am hoping my renewed optimism is not misguided.  But seriously, how difficult is this process?  I'm sure that there are so many behind the scenes things that none of us know about and I'm sure we come off as very egocentric just worried about getting our kid in, but still.  This is anything but German efficiency at its finest!! So, maybe Benjamin and I will head out to Schlachtensee tomorrow.  Why not, he can't go to school and we won't even hear anything about school until Monday.  This, knowing we won't hear until Monday, actually helps me.  I felt like for the past two days we are just waiting around for a pot to boil.  Well we won't be again until Monday.  I plan to fully enjoy these next two days of just Benjamin time... and I really hope I can just let the school thing go.  I did today!  I can do it tomorrow, right?