1st Day of School

Oh boy... a big day today. Kids started school and they did great. We had a WET walk to the bus/school as it was pouring. I told Evan we were NOT going to Salzburg (that is the plan) this weekend we are going car shopping!! I don't think I will win this one though.

Julia did great - she didn't even look back when I left her in her class. Thank God, if she would have lost it I would have lost it - I barely held it together. :) Her teacher is very nice, Mrs. Leckie... she is in her 2nd year at AIS, but taught in Seattle a few years (she is from WA!) and has her masters. Bad news...she is having a baby in mid October ... I was NOT thrilled about this. As most of you know, I am fairly neorotic about my kids schools, teachers, stability, etc... I have already found out that she will be back in january and they are bringing in Mrs. Winner who taught 1st grade at AIS for 20 years and she just retired last year. Everyone I have talked to loves her, so I am hopeful all will be okay. I kept chanting to myself "Just cuz you are not happy with this doesn't mean Julia will have an issue with it!" Anyway, got past that hurdle.

Evan of course just walked to his class no problem. He met some nice friends today and his highlight was playing soccer at recess. He also loved German class.

Went down to the PTF (PTO/PTA) meeting for an hour and met a few people. I had met a gal Halane that has a 1st grader at the meet and greet thing so her and I jumped on the train to explore a shopping area... I needed to find an iron! Anyway, we had lunch together and shopped on our own and then headed back to the school. It was nice to 'hang out' with someone although she is not new to Vienna and was probably sick of me asking her questions. :)

The next hurdle was that I couldnt' find Evan at the pick up point after school. I was okay for the first 25 minutes trying to find him but in the 30th minute I lost it. I was sobbing and telling them to call the police and they did an all school call and everyone was running around like crazy. It turns out he had not seen me at the doors and walked outside and down the street to another set of doors. (which we had checked but must have missed him) The school is like a campus (K-12) not just one building so it is very very confusing. He wasn't scared but when he saw me sobbing he felt really bad. I am pretty sure I was sobbing from 30% Evan lost and 70% Julia starting school, me missing my posse, feeling out of place all the time, not understanding a damn thing anywhere, not having our stuff, walking everywhere with one sometimes two whiny kids, eating too much, not excercising enough, not having any friends, not being able to buy groceries in any quantity because the fridges are so darn small, it taking 5 hours (I'm not joking) to do a load of laundry in a washer/dryer in one machine, not sleeping well, not getting enoughsleep, having my period... I could go on and on.

On a positive note......there are some.... I really do love exploring here. There are ENDLESS thigns to see and do and it is so fun to follow the map and get on buses, trains, subways, walking etc... Very very fun. I keep thinking I am going to feel better and most days I feel pretty darn good aside from about 1-2 hours. That's not bad, right?

Okay, don't worry about me if you are - I will be fine. I definitely need to vent though! It is hard not being connected right now. Eric is happy as a lark and is probably (most definitely) sick of me feeling a bit 'challenged' ...

I won't have many downer blogs I promise!!