When you're a kid, for the first few years every birthday is accompanied by shots (if you're a vaccinating parent, like we are). This one was no different for Nicholas. He received the final MMR in one arm and the final DTP in the other.
The nurses love to have my boys come in for shots. Jonathon was literally begging for some, trying to climb on the table after Nicholas was done. Yes, I know he just wanted the lollipop after, but come on, that's still weird.
Nicholas put on a show but dutifully followed the nurse and resigned himself to the injections. The stars and stripes bandages didn't hurt either. I've taught the kids that it will hurt, it's OK to cry, but rather than freak to say "ouch ouch ouch" repeatedly while getting it. It works and as soon as it's done they're all smiles for getting through without crying.
To top it off, they both got a lollipop. And a mini candycane. Yum, leftover Christmas candy!
Friday, April 30, 2004
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Already mired in controversy.
We've known about Togo for 3 days and we're already mired in controversy.
Here's the gyst. Obviously, we have been talking a lot to the folks currently at post about work, housing, schooling, etc to get a clearer picture of what's in store. Most of these people will be gone or walking out the door as we arrive, but for now, they are our eyes in Lome. We ask, they answer, we make our decisions.
There are 2 schooling options in Lome. The American International School and the British School.
AISL has combined classrooms. Not just combined, but currently there is a class that combines 3rd-8th grades. No typo. I'm serious. Our contact says that the facilities are subpar, the security is laughable, and the academics are not to standard. I guess you could say that there's something about the headmistress and the school in general that the Embassy folk don't like because a single person has their child attending (and after this summer, there are no U.S. Embassy children scheduled to attend there). There have been attempts to get AISL dissolved.
The British School is raved about, and that's where all the other children attend. Check it out on the British School of Lome website.
More details. A new Embassy compound is being built as we speak, in a different area of the city. Part of this is to build a more secure building. The other part is that the current location is almost entirely surrounded by the encroaching central market. The new digs should be opening around the time that we arrive.
The British School is right near the new compound. The American School is near the old compound.
We have been speaking with the housing office and there is a good possibility of a home right near the new Embassy, a few minutes from the British School and in a quiet safe neighborhood. It's said to be in the only neighborhood where the kids could safely ride their bikes around the streets. (Ian's minor issue... it has no pool. But then, very few of the houses have pools so it's not a real issue at all).
When we were bidding, switching the kids to a British School was a concern for me, but I've become convinced that before 6th grade, the systems are compatible and we can easily move back to the American System at the next post. The Director of Overseas School at the State Department tried to sell us hard on the post in Mauritius as a family post because while it has no American School to offer, there are several other options including a British School. We put it on our bid list in good faith.
So. Balancing school locations, considering where the Embassy is moving and where our potential housing is, and most importantly the curriculums available to us, we agreed to enroll the kids (we'll have 3 next fall and all 4 the following year enrolled), at BSL.
Now the controversy.
State won't pay to send our kids there. We -just- found this out, from the same person we were discussing school options with during our bidding process. The Director of Overseas Schools determined upon his visit last year that AISL was suitable and that no other options would be accommodated. AISL fees are at $5000 for K to 8th grade. BSL is E5800-8920 depending on grade. State will cover the cost of attending BSL up to the AISL fee, but after that it's out of pocket.
One child, not bad, definitely doable for an excellent education with plenty of afterschool options and in-class culture.
In the 2006-2007 school year, all four of our children will be attending school. We'd be paying close to $10,000 for them to attend.
Let me give you a comparison though. Here in Manila, there are hundreds of Embassy employees and kids to go with them. We have 3 major school options (British, Brent and ISM) with others available as well. To send Rebecca to ECLC costs over $14, 000. Katherine is more.
The issue as I see it, is that there are a handful of children in Lome associated with the Embassy. No one wants to go to AISL because there is a superior choice to be had. People are willing to pay out of pocket to go to BSL. AISL is floundering, and post updates we read from 2002 stated they didn't know if AISL would continue to exist into the 2002-2003 school year. Apparently it is muddling along but not with the enrollment of the Embassy children. This is not a matter of finances for State, so we can't understand why the refusal to add the British School as a viable alternative.
The balls are rolling. While the current folks at post have done what they can in their time, we hope to bring some new life to their argument.
Hopefully we can get the Director of Overseas Schools to change his mind.
Here's the gyst. Obviously, we have been talking a lot to the folks currently at post about work, housing, schooling, etc to get a clearer picture of what's in store. Most of these people will be gone or walking out the door as we arrive, but for now, they are our eyes in Lome. We ask, they answer, we make our decisions.
There are 2 schooling options in Lome. The American International School and the British School.
AISL has combined classrooms. Not just combined, but currently there is a class that combines 3rd-8th grades. No typo. I'm serious. Our contact says that the facilities are subpar, the security is laughable, and the academics are not to standard. I guess you could say that there's something about the headmistress and the school in general that the Embassy folk don't like because a single person has their child attending (and after this summer, there are no U.S. Embassy children scheduled to attend there). There have been attempts to get AISL dissolved.
The British School is raved about, and that's where all the other children attend. Check it out on the British School of Lome website.
More details. A new Embassy compound is being built as we speak, in a different area of the city. Part of this is to build a more secure building. The other part is that the current location is almost entirely surrounded by the encroaching central market. The new digs should be opening around the time that we arrive.
The British School is right near the new compound. The American School is near the old compound.
We have been speaking with the housing office and there is a good possibility of a home right near the new Embassy, a few minutes from the British School and in a quiet safe neighborhood. It's said to be in the only neighborhood where the kids could safely ride their bikes around the streets. (Ian's minor issue... it has no pool. But then, very few of the houses have pools so it's not a real issue at all).
When we were bidding, switching the kids to a British School was a concern for me, but I've become convinced that before 6th grade, the systems are compatible and we can easily move back to the American System at the next post. The Director of Overseas School at the State Department tried to sell us hard on the post in Mauritius as a family post because while it has no American School to offer, there are several other options including a British School. We put it on our bid list in good faith.
So. Balancing school locations, considering where the Embassy is moving and where our potential housing is, and most importantly the curriculums available to us, we agreed to enroll the kids (we'll have 3 next fall and all 4 the following year enrolled), at BSL.
Now the controversy.
State won't pay to send our kids there. We -just- found this out, from the same person we were discussing school options with during our bidding process. The Director of Overseas Schools determined upon his visit last year that AISL was suitable and that no other options would be accommodated. AISL fees are at $5000 for K to 8th grade. BSL is E5800-8920 depending on grade. State will cover the cost of attending BSL up to the AISL fee, but after that it's out of pocket.
One child, not bad, definitely doable for an excellent education with plenty of afterschool options and in-class culture.
In the 2006-2007 school year, all four of our children will be attending school. We'd be paying close to $10,000 for them to attend.
Let me give you a comparison though. Here in Manila, there are hundreds of Embassy employees and kids to go with them. We have 3 major school options (British, Brent and ISM) with others available as well. To send Rebecca to ECLC costs over $14, 000. Katherine is more.
The issue as I see it, is that there are a handful of children in Lome associated with the Embassy. No one wants to go to AISL because there is a superior choice to be had. People are willing to pay out of pocket to go to BSL. AISL is floundering, and post updates we read from 2002 stated they didn't know if AISL would continue to exist into the 2002-2003 school year. Apparently it is muddling along but not with the enrollment of the Embassy children. This is not a matter of finances for State, so we can't understand why the refusal to add the British School as a viable alternative.
The balls are rolling. While the current folks at post have done what they can in their time, we hope to bring some new life to their argument.
Hopefully we can get the Director of Overseas Schools to change his mind.
Monday, April 26, 2004
You're saying to yourself "Boy this site is dull now!"
My apologies for how pathetic the site has become since before our trip to Hong Kong. Honestly, since then I have been knee-deep in websites, e-mail and reservation forms for our R&R trip to New Zealand.
Our plan is developing. We have our flights reserved on Singpore Air (still waiting for the new price list and hopefully it doesn't do anything to the flight schedule). I have made hotel reservations in Aukland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hanmer Springs, Sydney and Singapore. I have bought tickets on the InterIslander Ferry and the TranzCoastal train. I have put in my reservation request for the RV and rental car. I still need to set up reservations for a Maori dinner, caving, Hobbiton site tour, Hot air balloon ride, and night safari.
Everything is being printed and stored in a 3-ring binder filled with page protectors. This will double as a postcard and ticket stub holder as we fly through our journey.
All of this is for 7 people. Our family and my mom.
Ian says I have no spontenaity. I wonder why.
I'm really hoping all this legwork will result in a relatively stree-free seamless trip filled with wonderful memories for all of us. If nothing else, I know that next time... all-inclusive package, all the way.
Our plan is developing. We have our flights reserved on Singpore Air (still waiting for the new price list and hopefully it doesn't do anything to the flight schedule). I have made hotel reservations in Aukland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hanmer Springs, Sydney and Singapore. I have bought tickets on the InterIslander Ferry and the TranzCoastal train. I have put in my reservation request for the RV and rental car. I still need to set up reservations for a Maori dinner, caving, Hobbiton site tour, Hot air balloon ride, and night safari.
Everything is being printed and stored in a 3-ring binder filled with page protectors. This will double as a postcard and ticket stub holder as we fly through our journey.
All of this is for 7 people. Our family and my mom.
Ian says I have no spontenaity. I wonder why.
I'm really hoping all this legwork will result in a relatively stree-free seamless trip filled with wonderful memories for all of us. If nothing else, I know that next time... all-inclusive package, all the way.
Saturday, April 24, 2004
And the verdict is in....
Do you know the country to which this flag belongs?
Flags courtesy of ITA's
Flags of All Countries used with permission.
You don't think it's going to be THAT easy, do you?
Come on, try to figure it out!
I'll give you a hint, it's a French speaking country. And it's not in Europe.
Flags courtesy of ITA's
Flags of All Countries used with permission.
You don't think it's going to be THAT easy, do you?
Come on, try to figure it out!
I'll give you a hint, it's a French speaking country. And it's not in Europe.
Wednesday, April 21, 2004
A Night Out at the CCP
Last night we ventured out with Laura and Ryan to the CCP to see "Maksim" in concert. The music was wonderful, though loud. It's like attending a rock concert but with the Flight of the Bumblebees as the opening and an intermediate portion of classical solos including Chopin's Nocturne. Ian's favorite is Croatian Rhapsody. Mine is Claudine.
In case you're wondering of whom I speak, Maksim is a 28 year old Croatian classical pianist (with a twist). He's currently touring Asia and you can buy his CD off Amazon. Along with most of the pieces off the CD, we heard a new one he recorded last month in London, which will be on the Olympic CD for then next Games.
He has 2 CDs out, "The Piano Player" and "Gestures". We own the first, and will be purchasing the second. I highly recommend you check him out.
Maksim Mrvica
In case you're wondering of whom I speak, Maksim is a 28 year old Croatian classical pianist (with a twist). He's currently touring Asia and you can buy his CD off Amazon. Along with most of the pieces off the CD, we heard a new one he recorded last month in London, which will be on the Olympic CD for then next Games.
He has 2 CDs out, "The Piano Player" and "Gestures". We own the first, and will be purchasing the second. I highly recommend you check him out.
Maksim Mrvica
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
Happy Birthday Nicholas!
He's 4 today!
And to prove how grown up he is, as we were getting out of the car for preschool, he put his blanket on his seat and said "I'm big now, I can leave my blanket here."
*sniff*
And to prove how grown up he is, as we were getting out of the car for preschool, he put his blanket on his seat and said "I'm big now, I can leave my blanket here."
*sniff*
Monday, April 19, 2004
The House That Fried Chicken Built
On Saturday we tried out Max's for lunch.
You'll see these periodically in malls or as stand-alone stores (there's one in Malate by the fountain). I'd always thought it was a fast food joint and wondered about the silverware and table cloths. It's more a mid-grade chicken joint.
Have you ever wondered what happens to those parts of the chicken that don't make it into a bucket of stateside KFC? They end up here in the Philippines. OK, that's not entirely true, but as Ian commented, we'll be so happy to have a break from hand-hacked chicken parts. So often, the chicken that comes in a bucket or basket is barely recognizable, but for the stubborn feathers that cling to the deep-fried skin. The fries were specialty house fries and we finally figured it out that they are baked sweet potato chunks. The ketchup, banana ketchup of course.
I have noticed that I'm getting used to the particular flavor Philippine chicken carries. The ketchup wasn't half bad either. And the shrimp basket was actually pretty tasty. I haven't determined if this is a good thing suggesting I'm acclimating or a sign we've been here too long.
Max's is a big wedding reception spot with or without the ceremony. It's a hopping joint but not one we'll be frequenting I don't think, even with the tantalizing soup in clay pots. They have a very limited menu, though the pitcher of Pepsi was way cool.
And as much as we'd joked about it... No, we didn't lick the walls.
You'll see these periodically in malls or as stand-alone stores (there's one in Malate by the fountain). I'd always thought it was a fast food joint and wondered about the silverware and table cloths. It's more a mid-grade chicken joint.
Have you ever wondered what happens to those parts of the chicken that don't make it into a bucket of stateside KFC? They end up here in the Philippines. OK, that's not entirely true, but as Ian commented, we'll be so happy to have a break from hand-hacked chicken parts. So often, the chicken that comes in a bucket or basket is barely recognizable, but for the stubborn feathers that cling to the deep-fried skin. The fries were specialty house fries and we finally figured it out that they are baked sweet potato chunks. The ketchup, banana ketchup of course.
I have noticed that I'm getting used to the particular flavor Philippine chicken carries. The ketchup wasn't half bad either. And the shrimp basket was actually pretty tasty. I haven't determined if this is a good thing suggesting I'm acclimating or a sign we've been here too long.
Max's is a big wedding reception spot with or without the ceremony. It's a hopping joint but not one we'll be frequenting I don't think, even with the tantalizing soup in clay pots. They have a very limited menu, though the pitcher of Pepsi was way cool.
And as much as we'd joked about it... No, we didn't lick the walls.
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