We have been thinking about what to do about school since we have thought about moving here. CVIS is the local private school which is amazing but out of our price range. There is a Montessori school in San Poncho, the next town over which is also amazing, expensive and they speak only Spanish. Also, the drive there twice a day is a bit much on the nerves. There is also the local Primary school, aka public elementary and of course they speak only Spanish. I visited CVIS and the local Primary school in March, and we drove to the Montessori the other day but it was closed due to Jova. I came down here thinking that I would most likely put Alex in the Primary and she would just have to wing it. Then thought that it would be quite difficult. She would one, become frustrated because she wouldn't be able to complete her homework and I didn't want her to hold the other kids back due to the language barrier and her needing extra help.
Enter Gretchen and Pete. Thanks to Dillon running up to Gretchen to make a new friend on the beach, we met. Nancy was also trying to get us to meet as well. We started talking and Gretchen told me about the local kindergarten that I had no idea about that her daughter Maggie, also six, Alex's age, would be attending. After visiting, meeting and talking with the teacher, with help from Nancy, we decided that this would be a great place for Alex and Trace. They would meet local kids and families, interact, learn the language, all in a safe and non pressured environment. No one at the school speaks english, not even the teachers. Let the emersion begin!
First though we have to buy uniforms. Luckily Gretchen had been down this road and told us exactly where to go to purchase them. The store is a very nice lady's space right beside her house behind a very large tree with no sign. We spanglished our way through this purchase and the kids had a few pieces to begin school. EVERY school, as far as I have seen, has uniforms. It is actually very nice. Alex and Trace were so excited about their uniforms and going back to school that they literally asked every hour how much longer until we get to go to school and had to try on and wear their uniforms all day Sunday.
A success story...we get there at 9 am but wait a while for the teacher.(We believe she commutes in from Puerto Vallarta on the bus each day, and only think this because we saw her at The Home Depot in PV on Saturday.) Alex and Trace couldn't enter the gate because we weren't sure if they would let them come today due to paperwork and I use that term very very lightly. The teacher shows up, lets them in, meanwhile I am trying to talk to a local mom about buying more uniform pieces, I look up, the doors are closed, locked and my kids are in school, no bye no nothing.
At the local schools here the parents either walk or drive their children to school. Each school is in total lock down during the day while the kids are there. When the parents arrive, the kids go in the gates and the parents hang out, outside of the gates, and socialize until that gate is locked. When you go back to pick up your children, at least at the kindergarten, the children are not allowded out of that gate until the teacher sees that childs parent to pick up their child. This system that is in place here might add years to my life. There were two times in Alex's very short one month of school that I didn't know where she was and each had something to do with the school bus. In the first instance with help from the bus driver we found out where she was quickly. The second instance, her very last day of school, I didn't know where she was for at least 20 minutes which felt like 20 hours. Any parent understands that fear and it SUCKS!! So, needless to say, I am actually happy that my kids are locked up, happy, safe, and well looked after.
They came out all smiles, had a wonderful day and cannot wait to go back tomorrow.
YEAH!!! Ashley
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