Busy days
We continued to get a few things done each day on our way to settling in here.
On Friday we went to see the "Kita" (preschool) where Sharon has helped get a spot reserved for us. It is part of the JFK Friendship center and has a bilingual curriculum. This would probably make the transition easier for Grace and certainly would be easier for Fritz and I.
The school is located about 30 minutes away (which would mean we would either need Sharon's car or one of our own) in Steglitz. It is a small three story building next to the botanical gardens (where the kids take field trips sometimes.) It has three grades of preschool (one on each floor) and a small yard with sand and a playground. We met one of Grace's teachers and she seemed nice (there would be one who speaks English to the children and one who speaks only German to the children).
The place was a little more structured than we are used to. They follow a curriculum and have "lessons" in the morning and afternoon. It is also full day, five days a week. This may all be good for Grace, who knows.
We are planning to check out a small, family Kita here in Shoeneberg also and will decide by Friday where she will start.
In the afternoon we did a little shopping since our luggage had still not arrived. It was fun to pick up some things and we now have some things that look a little more "berliner". (It is very hot and humid here. A much awaited summer we are told.) It is too bad we haven't had more time to shop as the airline will reimburse us 50%.
On Saturday we went to the market and Sharon helped us make some calls from the paper to find an apartment. We looked at one only a few blocks away from her place. It is a little smaller than her place, on the ground floor and with a unique layout. It is funny, it is as if we were sent to pick up where the people living there now are leaving off. They also have two kids, a one year old and a three year old and are going to American next month. She is American and he is German. She has been here 15 years and now they would like to live there a bit.
The place is good for kids (ground floor balcony, courtyard, playground accross the street) and very reasonable. Since we got it from the paper we don't have to pay a "machler fee" which can be 2-3 months rent, it also has a kitchen that they will sell us for a reasonable price (it is customary for Berlin apartments not to come with kitchens. You take yours with you or sell it.) and the rent is low. It would be an easy place to start at.
We had an apointment with the landlord today who makes the final decision. Henner was nice enough to come with us and he communicated with the landlord (and schmoozed). It went well and I think we have it if we want it but need to work out a few details and sign a contract (everything is a Kontracte here).
Sharon and I got haircuts (her friend and hairdresser is really great) while the guys took the kids to a nearby lake for a few hours. Grace passed out on the ride home and slept right through till morning.
On Sunday, Henner, Fritz, me and all the kids piled into the car and headed for another lake. (As we were a full car, Sharon got to stay home and take care of a few things around the house.) This one was about 30 minutes away. There are many lakes and they are all connected so that one can take a boat all the way from Berlin through them.
The kids had a good time playing and swimming and we all enjoyed being out in nature. The lakes are not developed privately at all. There was a snack bar type of place (serving the typical fare: beer, pretzels, wursten, coffee and ice cream) with a small surf schood attached.
In the evening, Sharon and I went out to celebrate her birthday (since she was traveling back from NY on July 31) while the guys put the kids to bed. We went to a nice Italian restaurant where we enjoyed a fine meal in the pleasant company of some of Sharon's friends. When it was time for Sharon and I to go, we left behind a few of her friends and Gino, the owner of the restaurant out on the patio and a few people inside singing italian songs while the waiters waited to close. It was a beautiful night and we enjoyed a short walk home.
Aside from the meeting with the landlord, we took care of some other errands, like a bank account, cell phones, etc. while the kids played. Now everyone is asleep and the adults are exhausted. I think I am coming down with a cold. Zoe has one and me and Grace have started sniffling now.
Oh, I almost forgot to mention, today Grace got some mail. It was a postcard Redwood City. Grace was excited and listened attentively while I read it to her. At the end when I read "xxoo Matthew" she smiled a proud, broad smile and said "it's from my friend Matthew!" and I teared up a little bit and smiled too.
On Friday we went to see the "Kita" (preschool) where Sharon has helped get a spot reserved for us. It is part of the JFK Friendship center and has a bilingual curriculum. This would probably make the transition easier for Grace and certainly would be easier for Fritz and I.
The school is located about 30 minutes away (which would mean we would either need Sharon's car or one of our own) in Steglitz. It is a small three story building next to the botanical gardens (where the kids take field trips sometimes.) It has three grades of preschool (one on each floor) and a small yard with sand and a playground. We met one of Grace's teachers and she seemed nice (there would be one who speaks English to the children and one who speaks only German to the children).
The place was a little more structured than we are used to. They follow a curriculum and have "lessons" in the morning and afternoon. It is also full day, five days a week. This may all be good for Grace, who knows.
We are planning to check out a small, family Kita here in Shoeneberg also and will decide by Friday where she will start.
In the afternoon we did a little shopping since our luggage had still not arrived. It was fun to pick up some things and we now have some things that look a little more "berliner". (It is very hot and humid here. A much awaited summer we are told.) It is too bad we haven't had more time to shop as the airline will reimburse us 50%.
On Saturday we went to the market and Sharon helped us make some calls from the paper to find an apartment. We looked at one only a few blocks away from her place. It is a little smaller than her place, on the ground floor and with a unique layout. It is funny, it is as if we were sent to pick up where the people living there now are leaving off. They also have two kids, a one year old and a three year old and are going to American next month. She is American and he is German. She has been here 15 years and now they would like to live there a bit.
The place is good for kids (ground floor balcony, courtyard, playground accross the street) and very reasonable. Since we got it from the paper we don't have to pay a "machler fee" which can be 2-3 months rent, it also has a kitchen that they will sell us for a reasonable price (it is customary for Berlin apartments not to come with kitchens. You take yours with you or sell it.) and the rent is low. It would be an easy place to start at.
We had an apointment with the landlord today who makes the final decision. Henner was nice enough to come with us and he communicated with the landlord (and schmoozed). It went well and I think we have it if we want it but need to work out a few details and sign a contract (everything is a Kontracte here).
Sharon and I got haircuts (her friend and hairdresser is really great) while the guys took the kids to a nearby lake for a few hours. Grace passed out on the ride home and slept right through till morning.
On Sunday, Henner, Fritz, me and all the kids piled into the car and headed for another lake. (As we were a full car, Sharon got to stay home and take care of a few things around the house.) This one was about 30 minutes away. There are many lakes and they are all connected so that one can take a boat all the way from Berlin through them.
The kids had a good time playing and swimming and we all enjoyed being out in nature. The lakes are not developed privately at all. There was a snack bar type of place (serving the typical fare: beer, pretzels, wursten, coffee and ice cream) with a small surf schood attached.
In the evening, Sharon and I went out to celebrate her birthday (since she was traveling back from NY on July 31) while the guys put the kids to bed. We went to a nice Italian restaurant where we enjoyed a fine meal in the pleasant company of some of Sharon's friends. When it was time for Sharon and I to go, we left behind a few of her friends and Gino, the owner of the restaurant out on the patio and a few people inside singing italian songs while the waiters waited to close. It was a beautiful night and we enjoyed a short walk home.
Aside from the meeting with the landlord, we took care of some other errands, like a bank account, cell phones, etc. while the kids played. Now everyone is asleep and the adults are exhausted. I think I am coming down with a cold. Zoe has one and me and Grace have started sniffling now.
Oh, I almost forgot to mention, today Grace got some mail. It was a postcard Redwood City. Grace was excited and listened attentively while I read it to her. At the end when I read "xxoo Matthew" she smiled a proud, broad smile and said "it's from my friend Matthew!" and I teared up a little bit and smiled too.
posted by jackie and fritz at 11:28 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home