Summer's Over and Back to School

Summer time beaches and crowds.

The weather doesn't feel like summer is over, but the empty beaches and school uniforms tell a different story.  On Monday the kids went back to La Escuela de la Costa.  Sofia has been a nervous mess all week.  Her stomach hurts; she is restless and up early, but she has already explored the school cafeteria and analyzed all the new offerings.  She is preparing to spend 15 of her hard earned allowance pesos on a tub of jello.  She is just wondering if she should bring a spoon to eat it.

Caleb Antonio is having a blast.  He is so happy to be back in cahoots with his buddies.  I have absolutely no idea how he is doing with his schoolwork, but I know he is running, playing tag, and swinging on the monkey bars with his friends at recess.  Hopefully he is learning something in the classroom too.  When I asked him if he understands his teachers, he replied, "Only when we are doing something fun."  Um-hum.  Sounds like a case of 7 year-old selective hearing to me.  

Back to school beaches.

Carmela is enjoying her new schedule.  She stays at school until 2 PM, and then comes home for the rest of the day, while Caleb and Sofia come home for lunch and sometimes a swim at the beach from 12-2, and then go back until 5.  It is a dream come true for Carmela to have a quiet house in the afternoon.  Her greatest struggle is not having a cell phone.  According to her, and I believe her, every other child in the secondary school has a cell phone except for one boy.  When it is break time, out come the phones and the kids aren't as interested in personal socialization.

It is so hot. I don't know how they are wearing jackets!!

Today the school counselor called her into the to talk, and Carmela explained all of this to her.  Now the counselor wants to have a conference with ME to explain to ME about the popularity and necessity of cell phones at school.  That is going to be hilarious.  "No, sorry Ms. Counselor, my daughter will not be having a cell phone at school.  We can barely contain her antics on a supervised Kindle at home!"

And... What is the school going to say when they realize that I am not buying my kids the English books for the year?!  I hope they don't  freak out on this gringo mama, but we are only going to be here three more months, and my cheap-ass is not going spend $75 to buy some baby-easy English books for my kids that Caleb could read last year.   I spend enough money just buying paper.  300 sheets of paper for $18 - and that is 18 dollars, not pesos - and that is AT THE BACK TO SCHOOL SALE!!  What in the world?  Why is paper so expensive?!  I bought the pack of 48 sheets of paper for $2.50.  One piece a day kids, and write on both sides, and write really really small, and you might as well write in the margins too!

First day of school photos at La Escuela de la Costa
Carmela - 7th grade
SoJo - 5th grade
Caleb Antonio - 3rd grade