Antonia's Italian School Days

Stuff...

2010-03-06T12:06:00.002+01:00

I honestly couldn't think of a title as I want to write about everything we've been doing that involves Antonia!!

Christmas she went into ski school in Chamonix for the first time. Up until now she has had one-to-one lessons which have given her confidence. This time she went into a group. French ski school is tougher than Italian it turns out so she struggled at little at the level she was put into. According to the French she could only pass their first badge, not the second, which was where she should've been in Italy. So we learnt from that, disappointed as we were....We also learnt that 5 mornings is not enough and she needs to do the full day. Hopefully we are going again at the end of the season and she'll do better.

We also stopped ballet for this term. She might go back after Easter, but she is really bored in gioco danza or literally play dance (pretend, if you prefer!). This is her second year and it is really simple and very repetitive. So for now, she is doing Karate!! Here in Italy this is not that unusual but unusual enough that people take a breath when I tell them! There are alot of teenage girls doing it in the class above but not so many in Antonia's age group. She is doing it with a friend so they aren't the only girls at least. Not that Antonia cares about that anyway. She likes boys just as much as girls! If this were a more ancient era she would already be betrothed to several boys in her class at school!! I find it very amusing as her brother was nothing like this at all....

I think she is looking forward to elementare. She certainly seems to be and is getting bored with nursery now. In the UK she would have been in "school" a year already, so for there she is way behind. Her English reading and writing is coming along well though, probably because of the lack of learning at Materna! Already she can very slowly read some simple reading books, it is tough but I know she is thrilled at being able to do this!

Anyway, back with more soon...:)

Just to let you know.....

2010-01-20T21:30:00.002+01:00

I've already blogged about this on my main blog, but basically this is going to become a much more gentral blog about Antonia. I can't only do it about school or related activities. School at the moment most particularly is "played, drew, ate, played, watched a video", so until she starts elementare next September I'm just going to chat about her life in general and what makes Antonia, Antonia!

Watch this space! :D

Halloween!

2009-11-02T21:29:00.003+01:00

And the winner is!!!

I think the photos tell this story well enough! :) Btw, she's a fairy cat witch, if you were wondering....Which I'm sure you weren't!

The glasses were her prize! Unfortunately the string for the price had been left dangling as you can see! And, yes, she is still wearing her mask under them!!

Sunday School

2009-10-12T14:08:00.004+02:00

A new vicar started at St. James's Church in Florence this Sunday. So the Sunday school and choir sang for him!

Year 3 - Final year in Materna!

2009-09-17T12:56:00.002+02:00

School started again on Monday. New trainers but same everything else! Started well, half-day Monday while the comune got its act together re meals. Antonia bounced in to see her special friend Oliwa - prounounced Olivia but this is the Polish spelling as that is where she is from. Big hugs all around!

She came home with a lovely song all about the school rules! It was very well done and included one about how everyone is the same even if they speak two languages. I thought that was a good way to put it! Not you aren't Italian but you speak another language as well as Italian!

Ballet started again. I thought she would be in Grado 1 this year but it seems she has another year of Gioco danza. She seems fine with it but as there is only 1 other child there from last year and all the rest are new and much younger I think she will get bored repeating everything all over again. Or is this normal with ballet?? Em?!! Suppose you do have to keep practicing over and over but I thought she was ready for grade 1... We will see.

Anyway, this morning all went awry! As I was combing Antonia's hair I touched her forehead and realised she was burning up!! She seems fine but her temperature is around 38 so no school today! Consequently, I'm updating Facebook and my blog while watching "The Sound of Music" with Antonia! I wanted her to see the singing Nuns. Seems to be enjoying it so far!

Things We Can Do Now...

2009-07-20T18:48:00.002+02:00

Since my last post Antonia has learnt to ride her bike without training wheels. It's amazing how far a little bribery will go! She learnt and her reward was a Transformer named Bumblebee....yes, she has an older brother! Currently she is obsessed with his old Transformers, of which he has many!

Her counting and adding abilities are really good considering she has only really done stuff at home with me. School, such as it is here at this age, has just started teaching her a few common words to write, like Mamma, Babbo, Sole etc. which she really enjoys doing. My task is to get her reading in English. We are finding her remembering the patterns that go with the names of the alphabet the biggest challenge - it is coming but slowly!

She got roller blades for her birthday, although not fast she can now get up without help and is slowly moving further and faster. Next I would like her swimming but that is more of a challenge without transport here - I was going to get a seat for my bike but when I looked at it it is way too low and she is too big!! My excuse anyway.

On Saturday she had a nasty fall in the Cascine. She looks like she has been in a car accident. She fell and nearly righted herself twice before completely going onto her face! Her nose took most of the impact, luckily it isn't broken, but then I think it is almost impossible to break at this age, but she did take a chunk out of the bridge and severely scrape the rest and below her lip, as well as biting her top lip - no pictures of this one! I have taken some but mainly so I can see how she is improving! We doused her in water thoroughly and disinfectant from one of the snack stands and then got in a taxi home. There we put here in a bath with the shower running - now I am applying Streptosil to try to reduce the scarring. There was no skin to stitch and we got all the grit out, so as she was hysterical at the thought of going to the hospital we didn't. Having gone through a few of these falls with Alex I know that all the hospital does is keep you sitting around for too long and then sends you off with instructions to do exactly what we did, so I have no concerns about not going, I have to be honest! Anyway, hopefully all will be well and she will be okay!

Ski photos

2009-04-21T13:42:00.002+02:00

Epiphany

2009-03-02T20:56:00.003+01:00

I realise this is a little late, but how cool is this! Dancing before the traditional parade in Piazza Pitti. Antonia is the one in the bright pink, stripey, peru-type hat and the dark green coat!!

Compleanno Italiano!

2009-02-08T21:43:00.003+01:00

Now Antonia is making good friends with the children in her class at school I am finding a side effect of this is that we are getting invited to their birthday parties. Antonia is the only totally English child in her class. Everyone else is either Italian or has one parent that is Italian. Consequently parties are, shall we say, Italian style! Culturally they follow a similar pattern to British ones - games, entertainer, food, birthday cake. Where they differ, unfortunately, are not, to me, in ways that are better or even just different.

The main difference is that many parties start at 4.00 p.m. In the UK this would be fine, as it would also have a finish time, normally no later than 6.00 p.m. Here some guests, quite literally, are only just turning up then!! Also it isn't that unusual for the party to be on a Sunday, with school the next day. There is no way I can let Antonia stay at a party until gone 8.00 p.m. on a Sunday and expect her to get up for school with a smile on her face the following morning!! How everyone else's children do I have no idea. Why this is acceptable, I honestly cannot fathom. Answers on a postcard. Remember these are for 5 year olds not teens!

The other difference is that here children are given their presents and then open them straight away. In the UK normally presents are opened at home when all the guests have left and then "thank you" notes are written. I prefer this. It's what I am used to but also it means stuff doesn't get lost or broken, little friends don't abscond with things ( it happens!) and if you have bought the party child the wrong thing, you don't know about it! One party we attended the little boy was given some lovely clothes by one friend, he looked at them, then just ran off, with the friend's mother calling after him for his opinion! She looked pretty gutted by his reaction!

I am really happy Antonia is being included and I am getting to know other parents this way but I am also starting to realise I can't go to all of them and when we do, I have to be firm about when we leave!

As to Antonia having one this year......30 odd kids in the garden....really not sure. I just know they would all turn up too!

Christmas Pictures.

2009-01-04T18:00:00.004+01:00

Not all of these relate to school, but they do give you an idea of what we got up to before and during the school holiday!

Being a star, literally, in the school nativity play. This lasted 2 hours with an hour beforehand for them all to arrive and get ready! I've put the video of her bit on my Facebook page (Alyson Joy Long - I think I'm the only one!!) if you are interested.

End of term ballet recital. The hardest part for her was having to have a proper bun. As soon as she finished I had to remove all the pins holding it in place, it was hurting her that much! She was very enthusiastic though!

The AILO's Christmas Bazaar at the old stables near Porta Romana. Being an American event we ate burgers and hot dogs! They were very good though. There was also proper US crisps (chips) by Lays, which I've never had before. They were almost like Britain's Walkers, so they were good. I find most Italian crisps far too salty or highly flavoured! I tend to stick to Pringles or Kettle Chips because of this! It was a good bazaar and we came home with loads of bargains! The best was buying back a baby toy I had donated that nobody wanted, except Antonia of course who recognised it and hadn't realised I had given it away! As it had come from a fair in the first place I ended up paying more to buy it back than I paid for it in the first place!

We went to see an Italian musical production of Pippi Longstocking, hence the pigtails! Antonia thought it was great. It was just the right length at an hour long. Also, for once, it was in the afternoon rather than the evening so we were out before tea. We went and had a Chinese as a treat. Unfortunately it was the Sunday the heavens opened and we had an enormous hail storm! We eventually got home about 8.00 p.m. having had to stay in the restaurant until it all calmed down!

Finally, Christmas Day! Antonia has been having golf lessons with a friend on and off since September. She decided she wanted a set of clubs from Father Christmas. Here she is practising with them on Christmas day!

Christmas is a coming!

2008-12-07T11:57:00.002+01:00

One for Courtney - the Christmas play at school is looming large!!!

This year Antonia is a Star! Just how many seconds will she be on stage I wonder! We didn't make last years play as she was really sick on the day, but I got hear all about it from Courtney! This year she can have the pleasure of hearing about it from us!

We have to pay to have the costumes tailored - only in Italy! Then it is in a theatre about 30 mins or more bus ride from where we live, we also have to pay for the theatre! Last year it was about 3hours long, but we missed it, I can't wait! The summer play was 2 hours. This is only the Asilo kiddies, not the whole school! I dread to think how long the Media productions must be! Oh well, it's all in a good cause! My darling husband is managing to miss it by being in the UK, but Alex will be able to accompany us, tee, hee! I love watching my kids in their shows, but 3 hours for a nativity, please!

I also have Antonia's end of term Ballet Recital. This is less than an hour, much more like it! If nothing else expecting little ones to last for hours is unreasonable, but never mind. Looking forward to the ballet!

The Dinosaur Park and Golf....

2008-11-08T19:06:00.001+01:00

The first picture is of Antonia's first golf lesson, but it didn't seem to fit in anywhere else so I thought here was as good as anywhere!

The dino park is in Peccioli - I hope I have spelt that right! The name is somewhere in one of the pictures. The huge dino is one the biggest full scale models in the world and took 4 years for the brothers that own the park to make! It is dedicated to their dad. Not sure what the implication of that is, but hey ho! It is a great park for young kids. Not much for any above 8 I would say, unless they are obsessed dino fans that is! It was a lovely day, as you can see and the surrounding area was pure Tuscan countryside, really beautiful. A good day out.

Broken Record!

2008-10-23T11:08:00.003+02:00

Well, we almost got through a whole month without an absence, but it wasn't to be! So far this week Antonia hasn't been in school at all. Monday she woke up hot and tired. Her temperature was over 39c! I dosed her up and sent her back to bed. I don't have a regular doctor here - I have to go private because of all the weird and wonderful constraints the various Italian governments have put on EU immigrants trying to live in their wonderful country. They are aimed at stopping people who can't support themselves sponging off the state here, but it impinges on all of us who are trying to live here. Consequently I have to have expensive medical insurance in order to have a doctor. Or pay as I go. At the moment, because of the minefield involved in finding the right insurer etc. I pay as I go. Luckily, having had all this with my 13 year old it takes a lot for me to dash to the doctor anyway. If I'd called for an appointment in the UK they would have told me to do exactly what I did - give her fever reducing medicine and then check if that was taking the temperature down. Well it came down a little, so I dosed her back up and she slept most of the day. When she was awake I was checking her for rashes, making sure she could put her chin to her chest and touch her toes! She was the one going around turning lights on so I knew she didn't have light aversion!!

All the sleep in the day then threw out her night time, so she was waking at midnight expecting me to get drinks and food! Cool, huh! By Tuesday her temperature had gone down to about 37c, so still borderline, and then the cough started!! That night was the worse, as soon as she lay down, cough, cough, cough. But rarely heard during the day. So another bad night Tuesday! Wednesday we managed a little trip out to a new bakery and the weather was warm, but when we came back she started coughing again. That night I was making warm milk and honey at midnight and stacking up the cushions (why I didn't do this earlier, I don't know!). Finally, peace! But then I woke at 5.00 a.m. with my head full of stuff, so when I finally got back to sleep at 7.00 a.m. it meant another school day had bitten the dust!!

So, of all the things that are definitely wrong with Italy is easy access to its healthcare programme. I can just take her to the A&E and if I had thought meningitis had been a serious risk I would have done, no question. But how many out there are seriously endangering their kids by not even considering this?

Happy School Days!

2008-09-25T16:59:00.002+02:00

Antonia finally returned to school with a smile on her face and a spring in her step! From the tears and hysteria of last year this was such a relief! She has had one cold already, but when she realised it would mean staying in bed and no school or ballet, she soon decided she was well enough to go!

This year she is being taught by one of the nuns at the convent where the school is based. Sister Virginia. She is new to the school, but not to teaching. I think she lives at the convent, but I may be wrong. Antonia likes her and that is what matters.

The most interesting thing that happened in the first few days was that she made friends with the boy she hated last year! Luckily this has petered out by the second week, as she was still complaining about him even though she was playing with him. One of her little friends goes to the same ballet class, so they have now become firm friends! I was hoping to fit in a few other activities this year, but with ballet and the fact I want to start teaching her to read English a bit more formally this year, I'm not sure I will fit it in!

One thing I am letting her do is pick her home time. She can come out after lunch or at 4.00 p.m. Most of the time she picks 4.00 p.m. but I've noticed that mid-week she picks after lunch. All that learning, walking and ballet taking its toll!

One thing she did at home this week was copy her name when I wrote it down for her! I was thrilled. They don't start this until next year I think here, but in the UK she would be starting to practice, so I was relieved when she did it. Plus she wants to write and read and pretends to when she can. She is also counting and grouping things really well in English and seems to enjoy it. I'm hopeful for the reading!!

Intervallo

2008-08-09T19:31:00.001+02:00

Hope that's spelt correctly! See you all again in September!

The Summer Play!!

2008-05-28T16:41:00.002+02:00

Well, we made this one! No sickness or other obstacles to stop us getting there.

The theme was the 4 seasons. Antonia was in the summer part. She wore a pretty summer frock and danced to limbo music and other latin-american tunes and pretended she was at the beach! Very cute! The older children in her season were girls dressed in swimwear who danced the macarena with boys dressed as Mexicans!! I just can't imagine it being allowed, never mind thought of, in the UK!

Other memorable moments were children dancing to Singin' in the Rain, complete with brollies, swifts and butterflies, mushrooms and snow queens!

It was all really well done but tooo long, 2 hours in all! It didn't start until 6.00 p.m. so everyone was hungry and tired by the finish. There was no interval or refreshments which would have made a difference and not enough seats for everyone. Plus the Nonna's who were seated kept standing up anyway, so we couldn't see all the time! Just for once I know it would have been better organised in the UK or more to the point the parents would have been better organised by the teachers and there would have been drinks and biscuits at least!

Birthday Girl!

2008-04-16T18:27:00.003+02:00

Antonia finally turned 4 on the 29th of March. We had a few friends over for the afternoon. As the weather was good we were all able to stay out in the garden and let the kids run riot!

I had her cake made at a local Patisserie - I only ordered it the night before! It was really good. Sometimes cakes here look great and don't taste it. This one was as good as it looked!

Learning Italian...Fast!

2008-03-08T17:27:00.003+01:00

Finally, Antonia is starting to attend school consistently - fingers crossed and all that!

The upshot of this is that her Italian is coming on leaps and bounds. To say she is streets ahead of me would be an understatement! Luckily, so far, I can still understand what she is saying, as, yes, she does switch from one language to the other and doesn't seem to be aware that she is doing it. Her accent also sounds spot on to me. People in shops talk to her in Italian and aren't initially aware she is English. In the TIM shop today, where they must get 100's of tourists and students who speak English and badly accented Italian (myself included!) they chatted away to her in Italian. It was only when I opened my mouth that they looked surprised! In fact the first question wasn't "Oh, you are English" but "Oh, do you speak English" in Italian, to Antonia!! It also throws people because she just happens to have an Italian name, which is pure coincidence as she was born 2 years before we thought of moving here.

The joke is always, and I do mean "always", that she is going to be "insegnante della mama". Unfortunately it probably isn't such a joke!

Blog Comments!!

2008-03-03T22:07:00.003+01:00

Apologies for not replying to comments left on the blog!! My settings were such I didn't know there were any!! I'm really sorry - if you have left a message I'll get back to you pronto! I've also been getting spam without realising it! Grr! I just assumed both blogs would have the same settings.

And changing my settings has now deleted all the previous comments......

Paola, Courtney, Delina, Melissa - thanks for your comments! Melissa if you want to post your facebook details again.....

Ski-Girl

2008-02-19T20:50:00.003+01:00

I've already talked about ski-ing on my main blog, but I thought it would be nice to post here about it too! Antonia had her first lesson ever and all in Italian. The ski Instructor was unsure at first, with my Italian being so crap but when she returned Antonia, she said it wasn't a problem and she had understood everything.

Alex had a lesson too, this is just before they set off on their lessons.
The downside was that Antonia came home with a dose of 'flu. I say 'flu rather than a cold as she had a really high temperature and just wanted to sleep all the time. She also had a headache on two nights. She was really cold on Sunday before we came home. I was really worried at one point and put her in the car to warm her up. Considering getting cold isn't supposed to give you a cold or 'flu the coincidence seems a bit strange. She still isn't right now and goes to bed at least an hour or so earlier than normal. Next time I will be really layering her up.

Carnevale

2008-02-07T11:40:00.000+01:00

We missed the nativity due to sickness, but I think Carnevale turned out to be much more fun!
By the way, that really is a Nun with a witches mask on her head!!

Nativity Time

2007-12-12T14:12:00.000+01:00

On Saturday Antonia is going to be an Angel in her school Nativity Play. The school provided the costume and I provided the dance shoes ( a specific type and colour!), white tights and a bit of tinsel for her halo.

I haven't taken any photos yet but when I have I will post them on here.

It is going to be quite a production. The school hires a theatre some distance from the school to put the Nativity on. It means a trip in a taxi for us or 2 buses!! I think the school are also laying on a bus though so we may take that yet, but if we still have to get to school first a taxi will be easier.

With a start of 10 a.m. the other challenge we have is getting Alexander out of bed in time! He will have arrived home with his Dad the previous night on the last flight into Florence, which arrives around 11.30 p.m. if we are lucky. Ah, well, we all have to make sacrifices! I have promised him a lie-in on the Monday. His Dad is only here until Sunday morning so he has to get up to see his Dad!

Antonia finally managed a full week in school last week! Unfortunately we couldn't keep it up this week and she had a stomache upset Monday and Tuesday so I couldn't send her in. She has to go in the rest of the week though if she still wants to be an Angel!!

Parties!

2007-11-11T11:24:00.000+01:00

I should have taken a photo, but for some reason I didn't! Anyway, yesterday Antonia went to a friend's birthday party all dressed up in a skirt with a net underskirt and bunches in her hair! She had already decided what she wanted to wear that morning!

As it was a 4 year old's party all the parents stayed, also there didn't seem to be a leaving time, so it dispersed naturally. This is very different from the UK where the party starts at a set time and then finishes at a set time! We were at this party for 4 hours! Luckily everyone got on really well and there were very few arguments between the children even when they started to get really tired around 7.30 p.m. - can you imagine a kids party still going at this time in the UK?!

The cake was lovely, it was a big chocolate covered tray cake with rice paper flowers on it and Nutella in the centre. Really yummy!

Everyone went home with bubble stuff and very tired! We arrived home about 8.00 p.m.! Not surprisingly Antonia woke up about 8.30 a.m., which I was relieved about. Hopefully we will see a few friends this afternoon, but it really depends on the cold, miserable weather! Yep, even Italy has bad weather, as people keep telling me!

Bullying

2007-11-07T09:09:00.000+01:00

Yep, just as I thought things were settling down, this reared its ugly head.

Unfortunately the child committing the acts is to some degree protected as he is an adoptee from the Ukraine with all sorts of problems. One of those being that his idea of social interaction is to bite, hit, punch and generally be a complete nasty so and so to the other children.

Complaints are being made by many parents as every child in this group seems to have suffered at this childs hands at some point since September.

For me though the last straw came yesterday. Last week I found him attacking my daughter in the school toilets. I chased him back to the classroom and an Italian parent helped explain what had happened. Since then there has been a meeting about this child, but with what effect I don't yet know. Yesterday he blocked our way going back into the classroom then, in front of me, punched my daughter in the chest! Again I took him back to the teachers and tried to explain what had happened. I also spoke to a classroom assistant that speaks English as I was leaving.
When I picked Antonia up that evening I was told this child had been "tranquillo" that day. It obviously hadn't been picked up that he had hit Antonia in the morning! Now they know! What will happen I don't know, but I don't see why my child should be victimised during the rehabilitation of another!!

Halloween and other good things.

2007-10-28T19:26:00.000+01:00

We have all been really sick these last few weeks with coughs and colds that just seem to go on and on forever! I gave up trying to get Antonia into school every day until I felt we were both over it. Today is the first day I have felt nearly human, which is why I am finally updating this blog!!

School is going well and she seems to be settling in. Every morning we have the ritual of crying but too many people tell me they see her after I have gone and that she is happy and smiling, so I am not concerned about it!

Last week I was told by the teacher that I hadn't brought in all the required supplies. I thought I had, then I found out that all the tissues, kitchen roll and soap that I had been dutifully putting into Antonia's bag everyday was actually supposed to be brought in in bulk for the school's use! The fee's for a private school here are very low, I pay €120 a month and this is their only funding. Consequently the parents are expected to contribute supplies etc. to make up any short fall. I told my husband about this and we were both speculating what parents at my son's school would have to say if they were expected to do the same there! Fee's for a UK Prep school are £2000 a term!! I think I like the Italian way better ;))!

She has also started dance class at school, which she loves. I get a performance after every class at home, which is really cute!

This week is also Halloween. As far as I know there won't be anything done at school - there wouldn't be at a UK Catholic school so I am going to assume it will be the same here. However, the Children's Library at the US Church here in Florence had a Halloween party. Luckily I am aware that in the US dressing up for Halloween doesn't mean you have to look like something out of a horror movie - in the UK everyone tends to do Dracula, Witches, Ghosts, Mummies etc. - so Antonia was able to strut her stuff as Cinderella. Her costume had come over with our possessions from the UK so its timing was great!

Alex, my son, was over for half-term and joined in the spirit. He didn't go to the party but he bought a costume to take back to school for the Halloween party they will be having there.

Half-term doesn't seem to exist here, which surprised me, so he has been here for 10 days while Antonia has been to school, other than when I have been too sick to take her. Next week we get All Saints on the 1st November and the Friday too, which is nice, but other than a couple more days before Christmas that will be it!

Anyway I am hoping that the 3 days she is in next week will be healthier than they have been!

Sick Again

2007-10-02T20:22:00.000+02:00

The first few weeks are always bad where coughs and colds are concerned. Anyway, Antonia missed school again today with a temperature. As she slept for 3 hours in the afternoon, something she never does anymore, I knew I had made the right decision. Friday is a write-off too as my possessions arrive from the UK and I have to be here from 12 noon. Never mind! We have plenty of time.

Week Two - what exciting titles!

2007-10-01T10:10:00.000+02:00

I'm really going to have to come up with something else! But anyway, week two was hit and miss. She didn't go in Monday, after the frustrations of the Sunday and getting Alexander off to school we didn't get home until gone 11.00 p.m. so as she had been ill Friday I didn't take her in, which meant I missed my class too. Instead we went out with her dad for lunch. What a disaster! Forgetting that everywhere is closed Monday the best we could find was a place called "Note Bizarre" and please note, it is! We had burgers and hot dogs. It has to be the worst meal I have had since arriving here - and I've had a few rough ones! The meat patties themselves were fine but the presentation and salad were just awful. Antonia's dog was covered in mustard without being asked for - I don't know too many three year olds that are big on mustard, do you? So please avoid!

She went in Tuesday but I started with a migraine that night and could barely move Wednesday so, again, we both missed school! With all this disruption we were back to square one with her being really upset at my going. But she is happy when I return so I am not too concerned at the moment.

This week I am trying some reverse psychology - I told her to cry as much as she wanted but I was going to have to leave anyway! It seemed to work a little - she only started to cry as I was leaving, and it wasn't hysterical more a case of this is what she HAS to do when I leave!

Dancing starts this week, so I think this will see a change anyway as she loves to dance!

First Week

2007-09-24T17:29:00.000+02:00

All in all the first week went a lot better than expected. Antonia was very upset, as in hysterical, when we dropped her on Monday and Tuesday last week, but really happy and jolly when we picked her up. From this we knew (having gone through a first day at school thing once already!) that it wasn't that she didn't like school, it was that she didn't like saying goodbye to us. Which is really normal.

So we came up with a tried and tested strategy. Bribery! Yes, in true good parenting style we bribed her. If she didn't cry at drop off for the rest of the week, Wednesday to Friday, on the Saturday she could have any treat she wanted. Anticipating a Barbie fest I was actually quite relieved when she asked for a Cinderella jigsaw!

And, you'll be pleased to know, she got one! When I dropped her Friday morning, dad having done the other two days, she got some paper and pens, sat down and drew. No tears, nothing.

One other thing happened on Friday, which has given me greater confidence in the school. I received a phone call about 12.30 p.m. to say she had been a bit poorly and could I pick her up. I was so pleased they had called me. It can be a bit hit and miss what school's anywhere call parents for, so I was glad this was something they felt needed attention.

First Day of School, Official

2007-09-13T18:53:00.000+02:00

This is Antonia just before we left to go to school. It was pretty chilly first thing this morning so she wore her new anorak!

At school we found her hook with the kitten picture on it and hung up her coat and put on her overall. In Italian they are called "grembiulino" and she has two. I altered hers to fit as she looked like she was wearing a yellow sack! Bizarrely I was the only one who had! It was around her ankles prior to this and is meant for at least a 6 year old. I think we were given what was left. I say "given", this delightful outfit cost me €37 for two! You have to buy schools as well. Anyway she looks cute doesn't she?!

This is one of the many pieces of equipment in her playground. Every other seat is a bicycle which makes it turn around. There are climbing frames, cars, see-saws and other ride-ons. I don't remember my school being this cool! I also noticed planters around the playground with sticks in with each childs coat hook symbol on. It looks like each child has a plant to look after too. I arrived with Antonia at 9.00 a.m. when school is supposed to start but they didn't start kicking us out until after 9.30 a.m. I think this was because it was first day. Antonia was fine up until the point where I left! Other kids were howling at this point so she started filling up too. Luckily her teacher was there and she took over.

I picked her up at 12.30 p.m. as it was only half day and no lunch today. Next week she can leave then too or stay for lunch or stay the full day. I am going to try the full day as I think she can cope (see next picture, ha!) but we shall see. I want to start a language class which doesn't finish until 2.00 p.m. so there is some, well, alot of selfishness in this wish!

Unfortunately on the way home she fell over playing outside the Gelateria and badly bashed her knee and arm. This, combined with school resulted in this....

Three hours later she woke up! She tells me she cried after I had gone, but when I arrived she seemed really happy, although she did fling her arms around me when she saw me! She also says she isn't going tomorrow. Where have I heard that before?!

Finally, here are the contents of her bag. Tooth brush, toothpaste, tissues, toilet roll, drinking cup, plastic apron, liquid soap, overall and a snack! And it all fits in the pink backpack with the cat on.

A New Blog for a New Start!

2007-09-11T10:11:00.001+02:00

This is Antonia. She is 3 1/2 years old and all dressed up for her first day of school in Italy!

What I want to achieve throught this blog is information for others doing the same, let friends and family know how she is getting on and have something that she can look back at too!

As it happens we were a little premature, school starts properly on Thursday, but Monday was registering and picking up aprons and forms, plus we all had a chance to have another look around the school before it became filled with children.

We have decided to send Antonia to a private, Catholic school run by Nuns. The school continues through to liceo level so it is quite a big site! Antonia will start initially in the Asilo and continue at this school until she is at least 7 years old. Then we are going to consider transfering her to the International School here in Florence. This is because we are considering sending her to school back in the UK when she is older and need her to be able to read and write in English. Everything changes, when my son was 3 and starting school in the UK I didn't think he would now be at boarding school, so we shall see what comes along!

The main reason for not using the state schools here in Florence is the difficulty of getting into a good school without residency and after the registration date, which is between January and March. This date applies to the private schools too and we found this school after looking at many and also having problems with lack of space at some closer to us. We don't feel we have chosen second best with this school, it is about 20 minutes walk away, with Antonia walking, so a little further than I would have liked. The reason for the spaces is that it is in a very residential area of Florence, out of the centre, where most people tend to use the state schools rather than pay. In the centre places fill up fast in all the schools but there are higher proportions of foreign children at the private schools as we foreigners tend to live and work in the centre.

With the private schools you literally have to ring them and knock on their doors to find out what they are like. I looked at 6 before settling on this one!

If you have questions please ask! I'll post again once school has started on Thursday.