School’s out!

School’s out for summer!  At least it is in Greece, where the kids get a cool 12 weeks off for their summer holidays.

On Friday evening we attended Lithakia Primary School’s end of year concert, which was held in the school yard as the sun set behind Megalo Vouni (the “big mountain” behind Lithakia). Our kids gamely sang songs and recited poems, in Greek, and as the evening ended, ran amok with their fellow classmates. Ralph and I sat in the audience with my parents and enjoyed the evening, mild and with barely a breeze.

We were also basking in the success of what, a few months ago, had seemed a daunting prospect – sending two Aussie kids with minimal Greek language skills to school in a Greek village.

On the day the boys had started school, they were nervous and apprehensive about fitting in.  They were welcomed by the whole school, however, with an introduction from the headmaster and a round of applause from the assembly of kids and teachers, and we left them hoping for the best.  I spent that first day wondering how they were getting along, and anxious to find out their impressions.  Thankfully they both returned with smiles on their faces and told us that their teachers were nice and that they’d already made some friends. I was relieved that they’d fit in so quickly until I learnt why: they had both found bilingual kids in their classes, and so had spent all the breaks talking and playing in English.  I quickly realised that my dreams of them achieving fluency in Greek weren’t going to eventuate.

Despite all that their Greek has improved, and towards the end Alexander was playing with kids who only spoke Greek.  If school had lasted a bit longer I think they would have improved dramatically. As it is they spent a happy eight weeks in a village school happily playing with the local kids.

Dear Eoin,
As this year finishes you will begin a new journey…
On this journey I’d like you to take these items from me:
– a colouring-in pencil, so that you can write your own story
– an eraser, so that you will remember that it doesn’t matter if you make mistakes, most of the time they can be corrected
– a piece of a puzzle, so that you will remember that you are a unique part of this amazing world
– a little gold dust, for the moments that you need a little magic in your life
– a shining star, so that you will remember to shine always
– and finally, sweets, to help you to always see the sweet side of life.

With much love
Your teacher Nopi.