a few bumps in the road

i think that day 4 at a new school and in a new community is kind of like day 4 on a ski holiday in the big mountains... it's all so exciting + new + great and then... you hit a wall.  

our wall came this afternoon in the form of tired, overwhelmed and fragile children.  the french is particularly hard - most of their classmates have either been taking french for years or they already speak it fluently at home!  they have made some new friends, but as eli said "i like it here, but not enough yet to stop missing caledon and my friends there".  they had some challenging homework which we mistakenly left until after dinner because we wanted to go to the park after school.  nothing huge or insurmountable, but enough to tip the scales from enthusiasm to despair...

for me, jeff went "back to work" this afternoon and will be spending a good chunk of each day in his swiss home office (aka "international headquarters").  this leaves me more to my own devices.  being who i am and having lived in a community like belfountain where i was busy, comfortable and involved, it's a bit disconcerting to have nowhere to be and no one to check in with.  i know it's good to spread one's wings, to learn and grow in a new place.  it's also good to face intimidation and push on through...

so, tomorrow we push on and continue to count our blessings.  it will be day 5 and it is sure to be full of renewed enthusiasm, sunshine + adventure....