Dan and I arrived at school thirty minutes early.  We waited in a small, dark, entry on the first level in front of the stairs that lead up to the classrooms.    After about 15 minutes, we heard a bunch of big kids talking, laughing, and yelling from the second level.  The next thing we knew, a beautiful, young girl (13ish)  came running down the stairs yelling at her boyfriend who was chasing after her saying "I don't give a flying f***".   "Lovely", I thought.  

Four o'clock finally came and our children were nowhere to be found.  We were told that we should wait outside.  We walked outside and found little clusters of Mom's from every country here and there.  I finally spotted the kids walking in from the street.  They must have just gotten back from swimming.  (They were bused to the local indoor swimming pool.)  I spotted Sophie at the end of the line, she had wet hair, and no coat.  (Mind you, it is in the high 30's in Paris right now).  She looked so little and cold.  They were wisked into the school and within five minutes, came walking out again.  They looked so happy to see us. 

I gave them a big hug and zipped their coats up tight and stuck their hats on even tighter.  Dan took Sophies hand and I grabbed Maxwells.  I asked him how his first day was and he said "great!".  He told me that he made a couple of friends but couldn't remember their names.  He said in Art Class, the teacher spoke french and he couldn't understand her.  He just asked his friend what to do and he was fine.  He also said that someone called him and "idiot".  He said "I just laughed at him".  Ha. 

All in all, Max loved his first day of school.  When I asked if it was a thumb up, thumb down, or thumb sideways kind of day, he gave me a "thumbs up!"  He loved swimming and told me that they had to take swimming lessons.  I thought that was pretty cool, even though they are great swimmers.  I liked the fact that the school offered the classes.   Max happily held my hand the whole way home, still full of energy with a big smile plastered to his face. 

When we got home, I had a pain chocolat for them and all of us crammed into our tiny kitchen and had our treat and talked about their day.  Sophie was clearly exhausted.  She said it was a thumb sideways kind of day.  She met some friends but then they said "don't be friends with that girl".  Sophie hates stuff like that.  Her motto is "can't we all just get along".  She said Art Class was frustrating because she couldn't understand french.  She wants to learn french NOW.  So impatient, just like her mother. 

After our snack, the kids went into their room to play.  I finished up the laundry (which is a story in and of itself), then I started dinner.  Sophie helped me with dinner and set the table and was back to her energetic self.  After dinner, we began helping the kids with their homework.  Normally, their homework is to read one book that they bring home from school.  Ha, those days are long gone.  The kids had two books each to read, approximately 8 spelling words to write three times and work on all week for a spelling test on Friday, some math homework and a poem they need to memorize by the end of the week.  Thank goodness Dan was home because he took Sophie and I grabbed Max.  After 40 minutes or so, we were finished.  This should be interesting when Dan goes back to work or is out of town and I am on my own.  

The reason why "the jury is still out" for me, is that I am struggling with the disconnect with the parental involvement at this school.  We have not met their teacher yet.  We are not allowed upstairs where the classrooms are.  I want to say "what are you hiding?"  I don't mind the homework, I think it is good for the kids.  To be real honest, it is just sooooo different.  The aesthetics of the school are so cold and dreary.  I am having a hard time putting my finger on it, I need to give it time.  I guess my first impression was not so great.  This school was so hard to get into, has a great reputation, costs a fortune and I don't get it at the moment.  I will keep an open mind and see what this semester brings.