We started the week of "October break" by attending parent-teacher conferences at school. I didn't get very many pics except a few of what the kids wanted. Music class, taught by Ms. Betsy who is also American, is one of Thomas' favorite classes. The IB program of LIS does a wonderful job of bringing all of the subjects together during their units. For example, Thomas' grade level did a unit on "Beauty," so in music class, the students were asked to create a musical piece that fit their own definition of beauty. His piano piece is called "Butterfly's Adventure." I think the name is totally appropriate!
They have what seems like a hundred instruments at their disposal to be as creative as they want, including a number of piano keyboards, Thomas' favorite. He and some other students were asked to perform "Imagine" by John Lennon, at an International Peace Day assembly. He played a melodica, an instrument like a little mini piano that functions as you blow into a mouth piece. I was unable to be there, so Ms. Betsy was kind enough to send me the video.
Once a month, Ms. Betsy has a spotlight lunch once a month where the kids are able to perform something musically for each other. Knowing how much I appreciate these videos as it is difficult for me to get out to the school, she has emailed this to me as well. :)
This is Doctor Nazneen, from Pakistan. She is amazing. ALL of the kids at school LOVE her! I finally got to meet her, and I can see why they have such an affection for her and will make up any excuse to leave class to see her. She is absolutely adorable and is so sweet as she interacts with the kids. The feeling that I got from my interaction with her, is that she does more than just "fix" their outer owies. She is hugging and loving these kids when their hearts need a little fixing too. I'm grateful that my kids have her to go to when they need some emotional support away from home!
Savvy was showing me all that she did for her "Who I am" unit.
Coming home with two other embassy families. Valerie and Holly were saints sitting in the middle of all of the "kids that talk so loud you would think they were deaf." :)
We went straight to the embassy pool with the new "W" family that just got to post a few weeks ago. We're their sponsors, so we did what we could to prepare them to come to Angola, and now are trying to help them feel at home here.
A few days later we went to another embassy family's house. It was great to stretch out and play outside in their yard, find lizards, etc.
Tree full of mangoes but Carla said that the rats get to them before they do. :)
Thomas didn't have anyone to play with, so he asked if they had a piano. Carla luckily had a keyboard that she was willing to pull out for him so he wasn't bored. :)
Savvy is comforting Micaela after she got hurt. They have a cute relationship with Savvy acting more as a older sister or mom to her, always trying to take care of her.
Another day we went to the "F" family's pool. Valerie invited all of the embassy families over so the kids got to play for a few hours together. Our visit was cut short after Savannah's shin met a sharp, jagged edge of a stair. Not knowing if she needed stitches or not, we left and went to see the embassy nurse.
Luckily the new temporary nurse Beth arrived the day before. She said we had options and could definitely get away with using steri strips instead of stitches. Thankfully...
Luckily this happened while we were still in Luanda. We left town to a place called Conda (way out in the sticks) the next day!
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