Whiplash of the Mind

I've now read more books during our second year in Berlin in the first month than I did all of our entire first year.  Crazy!!  My first book was a quick read about an American family in Berlin titled Achtung, Baby  So much of this book I related to and parts I felt I could have written myself as it mirrored so much of our first experiences here.  The author had younger children, a baby who eventually went to Kita (preschool) and a slightly older child but a lot of it was more geared toward younger children.  There were a lot of facts and figures, all quite important but I skimmed the last bits.  The things that stood out, other than how much of her life here that I could relate to, were the play based learning that she raved about here in Germany, particularly in earlier years.  The US seems to have been pushing kids harder and harder and earlier and earlier.  Both of our kids attended Co-op preschool in West Seattle from when they were one year old until they went to Kindergarten.  That means we started as a family with Josie as a one year old in 2007 and ended with Benjamin just before he started kindergarten as a 5 year old in 2015.   Eight years we invested in this program and the program invested in us and our family.  Actually nine if you include the year I taught Spanish part time for one of the four year old classes.  Co-op preschools are based on a very similar philosophy that young children do most of their learning when they are playing and interacting with others.  There is very little (if none at all) direct instruction.  There were various projects and themes and a TON of amazing scaffolding but it wasn't taught in the traditional teacher directed way that a lot of US preschools and early elementary schools do it.  We have noticed that even at the kids' elementary school here, the academics are not nearly as rigorous, especially in math.  We've been told that at 7th grade (middle school for JFK) is when things really become more difficult and then in a very short amount of time - a year or two- the German system bypasses the American system and by high school the classes and demands are more difficult and rigorous than the American counterpart.  Our children have been learning SO so much living here and going to school here and not all or even a fraction of that has to do with academics.  And this co-op preschool experience not only laid the most amazing foundation for both kids but it brought to all of us some of our best friends.  So thankful for my co-op years.  OK, quite a tangent....
My second book that I read since returning to Berlin was Handmaid's Tale.  I really had no idea what this book was about.  I knew it was all the rage with the Netflix series that was based on it and other references to it in social media and current politics but really didn't know what to expect.  I read it quickly and was really blown away by the concept and the parallels to even the current treatment of women.
I'm just now finishing The Power and again I had absolutely NO idea what it was about.  I had seen it chosen as a book club book by both friends in Berlin and Seattle.  While in Seattle my friend, Athena said she was done and for me to take it.  So I did.  I so rarely have physical paper books. I normally read on my Kindle.  What a treat.  And what a complete mind trip as this book was nearly the opposite of Handmaid's Tale.   For every bit of power or equality that The Handmaid's Tale takes away from women The Power give it back and then some.  It was like going through a mental whiplash of sorts going from one book to the other.
My next book I do have an idea what it is about because I just watched the trailer for the upcoming movie with Steve Carrell and bawled - big, ugly tears! Wow.  Beautiful Boy will be up next.  Another gifted to me actual paper (hardback no less, just like The Power!) I'm thrilled to have the energy and time to read again.

Speaking of reading, Benjamin has been blowing us away with his reading.  I've never known anyone to read so fast or furiously.  He had finished all of his summer books with a week to spare of summer break.  The school was only checking in books for his first week back and then his library day wasn't until today (Friday) so on Monday we decided to download a book from Seattle public library.  He decided to give the first Harry Potter book a try.  Josie had re-read the first one over the summer and is now reading the 2nd one in German!!  So, he thought he'd give it a try.  He was extra motivated because Josie REALLY REALLY didn't want him to start reading the series for fear that he would pass her up. She is reading in German which takes much more brain power and time.  So, that only fueled his fire to read it, read it quickly and like it.  Which he did.  He finished the book less than 3 days from when he downloaded it!!  Crazy.  Thankfully his best buddy Clayton had the second one to loan him as we were on a long wait list at Seattle Public Library to download book #2.
Josie is really reading a ton too. She typically isn't as fast as Benjamin and especially not when it is German.  I remember reading my first few books in Spanish and it always felt like such an accomplishment.
Thankfully we will all have good books to take with us on our upcoming trip tonight.  Our first adventure for Berlin 2.0.  We are off for an early birthday gift for Josie.  She planned where we are going and our daily itinerary for the next few days.  She has always wanted to go to this country.  Hoping it meets or exceeds all of our expectations...