Sep
06
Filed Under (Family and Friends) by Rob on 06-09-2008

Have a look at these two photos and spot the differences:

2008, Bedfordshire, UK
september-08-003.jpg
2007, Cotonou, Benin
2007.jpg

Quite a few to be seen, I should say (not least of all that Micah does not have bare feet in the first!) Yes, this week our three kids started school in the UK; for Micah it was the first time ever that he’d attended school in this country and the experience was just a tad overwhelming to start with. The girls are at middle school, which is new for them, but there are some children they remember from 4 years ago.

The main differences for them at school here will be:

* Larger classes
* A wider range of teachers
* French lessons will be a doddle
* No outdoor swimming
* Having to wear a tie
* The subjects PSHE, RS and DT, none of which they did in Cotonou.

I was trawling through old photos, and here’s their first ever day at school in Benin (2004):

2004.JPG

Don’t they look cute?! And here’s start of school 2005,
just after Ruth’s ceiling fan accident:

2005.jpg

If you’ve just started a new school or are about to go to university, I wish you the very best – may you settle in quickly and begin enjoying the new adventure!

Other News…

* Rob’s on an ethnomusicology course with SIL, studying Analysis of non-Western music, a very useful skill to have on the field.
* Lois is planning some French study in the coming months, hopefully in France.
* The kids are looking forward to a trip to Woburn Safari Park today (Sat) to celebrate Grandma Pauline’s birthday.
* Rob heads back to Togo in October to teach a two-week ethnomusicology course.

Thanks for reading!



Comments:
4 Comments posted on "Back to School (with a few differences!)"
David Ker on September 6th, 2008 at 1:48 pm #

Adorable. My kids just got tennis shoes last night and they’re all complaining about cramped feet.


Alan on September 6th, 2008 at 7:28 pm #

Great pics Rob, you should be very proud parents. Keep them safe so you can enjoy years of embarrassing them when they are grown up!

I think it’s the climatic rather than cultural differences that explain the differences in uniform. I’m pretty sure they can wear just shirts (no tie) in the ‘summer’.

PS Don’t forget to tell the girls that they will be very welcome at Christian Club on Monday lunchtime.


Henk & Inge on September 7th, 2008 at 6:13 pm #

Dear Rob & Lois and kids,

Great pictures!! I will show them to our kids tomorrow. I’m sure they will enjoy them. Not the least because they get a chance to see their friends.


Ben G on September 13th, 2008 at 3:52 am #

The Bakerinis are PRECIOUS! Bonnes études à tous. Do they miss shorts and flip-flops?