School

Arriving here not speaking Portuguese has been a challenge to say the least. And children being children, my 6 year old has put us all to shame by being the fastest learner (in fact we could have done with him to translate at parents’ meeting last night).

School Brazilian style has been an eye-opener after the European system. The school day is split in two. Literally there are two entirely different schools running under one roof – one from 7.00am until lunch time and another from lunch time until 6.00pm.

Our decision to go for the morning shift was a no-brainer given that since our arrival the kids have consistently woken up at sunrise. And I don’t mean a civilized 7.00am sunrise, I mean the glaring 4.30am sunrise that happens in North East Brazil 365 days a year. I’ve tried everything but no amount of blackout curtains, late nights and bedtime cocoa makes the slightest impact on their wake-up time. As a confirmed night owl this has come as a serious shock to my system. But there are benefits – I may be up by 5.00, kids at school by 7.00 and at my desk by 7.15 but by the time I’m ready to go and get the little terrors again I’ve got a good stint of work under my belt and the prospect of an idyllic afternoon with them ahead. A pity the reality of breaking up fights and repeating everything three times over to be heard over Ben 10 doesn´t always live up to the dream but that´s parenting I guess...