Joey is already much happier after the changes made at school yesterday. Full of beans. Went to the local school playground this afternoon where, in 60 degree warmth, loads of kids were playing. Our had a blast and Joey seemed to get involved with two pretty wee girls. He kissed at least one of them.
Not sure why we don't do this in the UK - let the kids play on the school playgrounds after school. After all, they are paid for by the public. Here, lots of the kids just hang out playing whilst parents chat. Couldn't be nicer. And although our two don't go to this school, we are tax-payers so the public are aloud after school hours.
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Monday, 30 January 2012
I have a date Wednesday with a redhead called Grace. Unfortunately Anne will also be there! Met her whilst getting a curry in the local deli and started chatting. Seems very nice and has a dyslexic daughter and has been through the system here, so offered to talk ti us about it. So tea/coffee on Wednesday.
It is certainly easy to meet Americans. Some neighbours came round yesterday with a cake and introduced themselves. They live in the funeral home at the back. Didn't I mention that? Those girls came around from a different neighbour's house. I am on first name terms and know quite a bit about my barber, booze merchant, barmaids, various assorted folk that I have met. The other parents have been very welcoming. All in all, a very pleasant experience to date from that perspective.
It is certainly easy to meet Americans. Some neighbours came round yesterday with a cake and introduced themselves. They live in the funeral home at the back. Didn't I mention that? Those girls came around from a different neighbour's house. I am on first name terms and know quite a bit about my barber, booze merchant, barmaids, various assorted folk that I have met. The other parents have been very welcoming. All in all, a very pleasant experience to date from that perspective.
It is not all plain sailing for Joey at his new school. We had to go into speak to the Principal today as we were concerned that Joey was not getting enough attention and help. It seems that one of the teachers who gives the extra one-on-one help is on maternity leave so Joey was not getting enough of that support, and he said that he was unhappy at times, unable to follow what was happening in class. We were very worried that his fragile self-confidence might be hurt again.
We were reassured by our conversation. Joey will spend the writing and reading classes each day in the lower class, where he will be one of only three. Efforts will be redoubled when he is with his classmates. All the right things were said and we l;eft feeling happier. We have a parent-teachere meeting on 8 February, which will be a good chance to evaluate progress.
We were reassured by our conversation. Joey will spend the writing and reading classes each day in the lower class, where he will be one of only three. Efforts will be redoubled when he is with his classmates. All the right things were said and we l;eft feeling happier. We have a parent-teachere meeting on 8 February, which will be a good chance to evaluate progress.
Sunday, 29 January 2012
Beautiful day and I am home with kids, as Annie is out walking with a neighbour and some of the 'gals'. The neighbour is somebody that used to work for us un NY and now works for the NJ Government - the one we had over last Friday. Good chance for Anne to meet some more people. Went out for dinner in the Brothers Moon restaurant last night. Very good. Popped into pub on the way back to introduce Anne to Suzy and Etta, the two barmaids.
Saturday, 28 January 2012
Had a good night last night. Had dinner with parents of one of Joey's school chums. Took the kids and had a very nice time, also learning more about what other kids have gone through with dyslexia and some of the things that they have tried that work - in this case a gluton-free diet made a positive contribution to their son's progress.
Then I hit the local pub, where there was a good four-piece blues band playing. The wee pub was crowded ie with about 25 people. By the time the band finished at midnight, there was only 5 of us left which was a bit sad for the band and not at all indicative of their quality. Real troupers, they played with heart and soul until the end and then joined us for a beer. I was then invited by another new mate, Pete, to the infamous Hill Billy Hall bar, up the hill. The one with the bikers etc (the couple that we had dinner recommended it - apparently did a great Oktoberfest with loads of people and a cracking band. On another occasion, Bruce was in the area in the woods with his Cub Scout troop and turned up at the bar in uniform to find a hundred Harley's parked outside and lots of guys in leather with their tattooed chicks. All very friendly).
Anyway, we were made very welcome, had a couple of beers and a chat whilst people watching - lots of guys with big guts, beards and tattoos, lots of girls with tattoos and piercings. One of whom mooned her friends across the bar. Bad kareoke singing. Quite enjoyed it!
Then I hit the local pub, where there was a good four-piece blues band playing. The wee pub was crowded ie with about 25 people. By the time the band finished at midnight, there was only 5 of us left which was a bit sad for the band and not at all indicative of their quality. Real troupers, they played with heart and soul until the end and then joined us for a beer. I was then invited by another new mate, Pete, to the infamous Hill Billy Hall bar, up the hill. The one with the bikers etc (the couple that we had dinner recommended it - apparently did a great Oktoberfest with loads of people and a cracking band. On another occasion, Bruce was in the area in the woods with his Cub Scout troop and turned up at the bar in uniform to find a hundred Harley's parked outside and lots of guys in leather with their tattooed chicks. All very friendly).
Anyway, we were made very welcome, had a couple of beers and a chat whilst people watching - lots of guys with big guts, beards and tattoos, lots of girls with tattoos and piercings. One of whom mooned her friends across the bar. Bad kareoke singing. Quite enjoyed it!
Friday, 27 January 2012
My sister Sharon would not enjoy driving in the US. It is not just that the speed limits are low, which they are, but that they re-enforced. No messing around here with airy-fairy speed cameras - around every corner there appears to lurk a police cruiser, just like in the movies. With armed cops just waiting for some smart-ass foreigner to break their speed limits.
OK, the last wee bit I am sure is not true but they are there lurking and, anywhere near a town, everybody drives at a glacial 25 mph. Between towns, on wide, open roads, you can do 45 mph and then it is either 55 or 65 mph on the highways. No point in bring your Jag convertible here.
One of the many reasons why se didn't go for one of the bigger family vans was that, perched high up in a car that purred along, driving with one finger, it did seem as if you were crawling along when passing through the town.
What is frustrating here is that, despite the plethora of roadsigns about speed, or whether or not you can turn right on red, there are very few signposts that actually tell you where you are going ie with the names of towns. So very easy to get lost. Maybe this is why Anne is son good at directions and getting around - you have to be good to avoid getting continually lost in America.
Fortunately we have a satnav, although it would be better if it worked properly. Half the time, she isn't sure where she is, she gets distances wrong, says 'half of a mile' (a petty irritation, that one) and sometimes only tells you to turn when you are a few yards from the turning. And the map is always facing north so if you are going south you have look carefully which way the wee arrow is pointed.
We have been doing a lot of shopping recently and going to malls. I have spent far to much time driving around highways and strip malls that all look the same and cursing the bloody satnav.
OK, the last wee bit I am sure is not true but they are there lurking and, anywhere near a town, everybody drives at a glacial 25 mph. Between towns, on wide, open roads, you can do 45 mph and then it is either 55 or 65 mph on the highways. No point in bring your Jag convertible here.
One of the many reasons why se didn't go for one of the bigger family vans was that, perched high up in a car that purred along, driving with one finger, it did seem as if you were crawling along when passing through the town.
What is frustrating here is that, despite the plethora of roadsigns about speed, or whether or not you can turn right on red, there are very few signposts that actually tell you where you are going ie with the names of towns. So very easy to get lost. Maybe this is why Anne is son good at directions and getting around - you have to be good to avoid getting continually lost in America.
Fortunately we have a satnav, although it would be better if it worked properly. Half the time, she isn't sure where she is, she gets distances wrong, says 'half of a mile' (a petty irritation, that one) and sometimes only tells you to turn when you are a few yards from the turning. And the map is always facing north so if you are going south you have look carefully which way the wee arrow is pointed.
We have been doing a lot of shopping recently and going to malls. I have spent far to much time driving around highways and strip malls that all look the same and cursing the bloody satnav.
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