Gentry David starts school at Las Nubes!

The original plan when we moved down here to Costa Rica was for me to homeschool Gentry.  Since we have been here and God has opened numerous doors for me to do counseling we decided to send Gentry to school.  We also really wanted him to learn Spanish...I might have been severely lacking in that subject, as I was blind leading the blind.  The opportunity kinda fell in our lap all of a sudden and even though at first I was a little overwhelmed we are so excited that he is in school.  

My dear friend Sarah graciously drove me out to the school which is about 10 minutes down the highway and we were just going see if maybe they had any openings even though we had been told numerous times since February that they were completely full.  Much to our surprise the principle said they had a kid leave the day before and said, "Is he ready to start school?  Can he start tomorrow?"  Yikes even though it is exactly what we wanted I was a little overwhelmed with the fact it was really happening and it was happening the next day!  Ahhhhh!  Thankfully Sarah drove me directly to the store, helped me get all of his supplies, explained to me how everything would work, offered to drive him to school the next day, and gave me a little oomph for my overwhelmed mom spirit.  She even had all these extra odds and ends that I couldn't find at the store right then like an ice pack for G's lunch, a swim cap for swimming, and an extra car seat!  So there we were ready for school in Costa Rica!  

One of the greatest blessings of where we live has been the people God has put in our lives.  School for G was no different.  He already knew kids at school including some of his best buds.  He got to ride to school with Thomas and Jacob (Sarah's two boys), and his other friend Josue is also in 1st grade but not in his class, so even though he was the new kid on the block, he at least knew some kiddos already!  

We don't have a car if you will remember so Sarah and another friend offered to take him to and from school everyday.  (Remember how I mentioned that there have been really awesome people in our lives, I really wasn't kidding!)  There is a bus he could ride, which at this point I think I would feel more comfortable with him riding it, but when he first started the thought of him riding the bus might have been a little much for me :)  He rode the bus back home but that took me a while to feel okay about also.  (I know, I will own it, I am one of those weird over protective only child moms.  I have come to just own and not feel bad.  What's the worst G can say when he's 18 and leaving home?  "Mom how come you were so overprotective and cried at every little milestone in my life?  Your so annoying!"  I can live with those questions and will take them in stride)    

Any-hoo I got his lunch packed up, his boots tied tight, I hope he don't get in a fight. Ohhhh, back to school!  (For all my Billy Madison loving friends)  I went with him the first morning and tried to nonchalantly take pictures.  Of course G was not impressed with my ginormaous camera in his face at his new school.  I'm sure the first day is more appropriate for all us crazy parents to parade around with our cameras, but school has already been going for a while, so I was certainly out of place.  I really wanted to snap a bazillion shots of my sweet little guy in his cute uniform and new Costa Rican school, but I was limited by his reserved and nervous little looks.  I did catch a couple at least although it wasn't the play by play morning I usually do on the first day of school.  By the time we got everything settled he was a little late getting to class and they were already in art.  I walked with him and the principle to his art class and watched how sweet kiddos can be.  When the principle introduced G to the class in Spanish one little boy literally started clapping and was so excited :)  Another asked if G could speak Spanish, when the principle told him no, he said "he can talk to him, he speaks English" as he pointed at one little boy across the table who then sweetly waved at G.  It melted my heart and reminded me of the innocence of children at this age.  G slowly walked over and sat by the boy who had waved at him.  Beyond the sweet kiddos in his class, the school is really great.  We are really happy he is there, and most days he is too.

Since then it has been great for me to be able to focus on the opportunities I have for counseling and be mom when G-man get's home.  It's overall a great opportunity for all of us.  For the most part he likes school.  He is enjoying being with the kids, and twice a week they get to swim for PE in the Olympic size swimming pool at school!  Who can complain about that?  They also have a little different view on food for kids than Hygiene Elementary would allow :)  Some how he always comes home with candy, chip bags, and one time a fanta??   Apparently they have a snack bar you can buy really awesomely unhealthy food and they all trade!  Needless to say we have implemented some food rules of our own :)  With all the good things, it has definitely been a bit of a transition for G.  One being that half of his day is in Spanish.  While we can see what a great opportunity it is for him and know he will catch on so quickly, it's definitely hard for him.  Some of my favorite comments so far:

"mom she doesn't even speak one word of English to even tell me what she's saying, it's ridiculous!"

"she told the whole class to only speak Spanish to me, I don't even know Spanish, she is so rude to me!"

Me: "G what are some of the names of the kids in your class?"

G: "Mom, I can't even think what their names are cause it's just like Spanish words all around me and it's just too much"

G: "I need a new name.  No one says my name right, they are always asking how to say my name.  they call me "Hentry" instead of Gentry.  I just need a new name everyone can say"

Me: "Just tell them to call you G"

G:"No that's what all my friends call me, but I need an official school name"

Poor guy is struggling a little bit but we all know this transition period is so worth it.  Jeff and I are trying to be really encouraging and supportive cause there are days his little bucket is just empty.  I really do feel his pain, cause the homework that is in Spanish is hard for Jeff and I both to understand, so I know it's hard on him.  Luckily again we all have good friends that are helping us along the way including with Spanish homework :)  All in all we are so thankful he get's to go to school at Las Nubes, and know that in about 3 months it will be a different story.  

One of these heads is not like the other one :)
This picture was on the school website and is of some older grade giving a little presentation but Jeff and I couldn't help but laugh at how much our little guy sticks out in the crowd :)

Yay buddies!  So thankful for you boys!!

G's unimpressed with me taking pictures face sitting in the principles office getting ready to be taken to class :)

His class!

After his first day of school, Molly Paws, G, and I headed to the beach to climb trees and watch the sunset :)  

Tree hugger :)

Playing with Molly Paws and climbing some trees was a good outlet after his first day :)

Love these two blondies

This is his overwhelmed face that we see semi-often these days :)

I love this sweet face, hang in there sweet boy, I promise it you will settle in soon and start speaking Spanish just like everyone else!