I Have Talented Children

Last Friday Gillian participated in a special presentation for parents to show us all she had learned in her Irish Dancing class this term.
What grace! What talent! She was lovely.

Today when I picked the kids up from school, Joshua informed me that there was a talent show for Year 5 in school today.

I said, Oh! Did you participate? And he said, Yes.

And I said, Really? When did you sign up for it?

And he said, Last week, when everyone else signed up for it.

And I said, So what did you do?

And, oh family, those of you who know Joshua well are already guessing what his talent was today.

Joshua said, Well, I borrowed a cd from Freddy and I break-danced to the song 'I Predict a Riot.'

I am so proud. Truly. I can't believe that my kid has the nerve to get up and do that in front of all of Year 5. The teachers were judges. He said he got lots of cheers and yelling and clapping. I believe it.

I said, Well did you win?

No.

Who won?

Honor sang a song, and Alex won 2nd place for playing his clarinet.

And I thought of all the lovely children who probably got up and did lovely things like singing nice Christmas songs, playing their nice instruments, and doing nice magic tricks. And there is Joshua, in all his break-dancing glory. Wow. That's my kid.

***Video is not actual rendition of today's occurrence. Courtesy of Ben's cell phone video skills at Blythe's wedding this summer. Thanks, Ben!

It's a Cock-a-Doodle Christmas

That's what Gillian has been singing all week, that is. The "Infant" school where she is a student puts on a spectacular production each year at Christmas time. This is not your regular old American assembly where parents can pull up a chair. This is a three-ticket-per-family event. If you want extras then hope for the best - it's first come first serve. Approximately 120 children were involved in this production, and I was genuinely impressed with how well the whole thing was run. Gillian shined as a "Fluffy Chicken." Can you tell I made her costume?

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I commented the other day that neither Joshua nor Gillian has really picked up a British accent at all. And Gillian said,
"Well, at school I DO have to talk differently so my friends understand me."
And I said,
"What kinds of things do you say differently?"
And she said,
"Well, today I asked Elisha if I could borrow a rubber."

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Most people will tell you that it takes about six months to feel settled when you move to a new country. It has been five months since we moved here, and I'm still waiting for that "settled" feeling. There are things that are better. I no longer feel completely conspicuous when we go places - that I stand out like a sore thumb looking like such an American. It's not because I AM less conspicuous, but because I'm more comfortable here when we're out and about. I don't think about it anymore and have realized that this is my home for now and I might as well just figure it all out. I sure do miss Target some days, though.