Orientation at School

Today was the new student orientation day at school. Tomorrow is the first day of school.

The whole family started the day by missing the bus provided by the school from the train station. Nobody panicked and a cab was waiting. Went to the orientation and everyone was very nice.

I stopped by the Parent Teacher Org. (PTO) desk to ask where Julia and I should go and found out the president of the PTO moved from Chatham last year from the Rolling Hill area. Her husband worked for Siemens. She immediately said she needed to sit with Daph. She went out of her way to encourage Daph to go to coffees and find out about book clubs, tennis, etc....

Later, I was waiting to confirm the bus information and met the woman in line who said she was moving back to Munich from 4 years in Cleveland. She said the people of Ohio were so nice and she wished the Germans were as welcoming. She then insisted she take all 5 of us on a driving tour of the possible towns to live in while here. While on tour - she stopped to show us her favorite beer garden with a playground for the kids and bought them an ice cream. She spent 2 hours trying to get to know us and make us feel comfortable. Unbelievable.

Upon our return to the Italian restaurant, soon to be renamed "McNicholas' Place", the kids announced the following learning from today:
- Julia: nice teacher, 5 new girls in the class, classmate named Meagan Murphy, all the boys in her class are "dorky" (from a veteran MIS); got her gym clothes
- David: best part of the day was how nice his teacher was, really likes kit-kat ice cream
- Brian: Nice teacher (but can't remember her name), pirate shirt was a big hit today; can't wait for the bus

After reviewing the day, Daph decided this Germany experiment really isn't for her. She would like to go back to Chatham. I reminded her that there is a nice family from Hoboken in her house. She is thinking of the appropriate return comment.

Her 'interesting' difference of the day was that all - and I mean all - pencils come pre-sharpened. She thinks that's strange.

Tomorrow should be the big day. Let's see....
TMc