Well, we all survived, and in better shape than expected. The boys enjoyed their first week of school. Tom says his highlights include "the 1.5-2 hour lunches, short Wednesdays, making some new friends, French classes and science classes". Liam says his highlights include "the 1.5-2 hour lunches, short Wednesdays, making some new friends, the bigger play ground, and English class". Liam told me, the other day, that a few classes were a "bit boring" as the teacher talked to all the children quickly and in French for a "long time" though he picked out "a few words" here and there (courtesy of the Rosetta Stone CD they have been using this summer). I think the strategy is that the teachers always make the children feel like it is sink or swim so they have a reason to learn French, and quickly. I've heard that they have a good "adaptation" system in the school, so hopefully the boys will be treading water or swimming slowly this coming year.
I'll attach a few pics of the pick-up period outside the school on Friday afternoon, and the cafe outside the school where the students hang out. There are a variety of cafes and bars near the school, and many of the 15 & 16 year old students hang out in them after school drinking coffee, wine and beer (the minimum drinking age is 16 here), while often smoking, and becoming good Europeans. We took off on the Metro and headed to Le Bon Marché as it has (according to children at school) the best supply of the new Bionicle Mahris in Paris (a Mahri reward for trying so hard all week!).
