The grembiule/smock/uniform shop aptly called 'Mr Job' apologetically tells us that they have no more grembiules in Charlie's size so he will need to get one that is far too big or far too small. After a lot of searching on the racks, we find one in the right size and send it away to have Charlie's school logo embroidered on it. He better not get it bloody dirty because he's only got one and we don't have a drier.
Two days before school starts I go to pick up the grembiule from Mr Job. Charlie's not with me when I pick it up, but it looks really big, and the size '85' doesn't seem like the size that I ordered - I was pretty sure we had found the last '75' on the racks. Charlie tries it on at home and it swamps him completely. It looks like a graduation robe. Shane and I both worry that because of Charlie's exotic origins, his ginger/blonde hair and his inability to speak Italian, when combined with him wearing something that looks like a dressing gown, he'll find himself the source of much schoolyard ridicule.
I head back to Mr Job after our unsuccessful fitting when the shop reopens from the lunchtime 'pause' at 3.30pm and explain the situation. They take pity on us and call a seamstress who agrees to take the oversized grembiule and cut it down to size. We pick it up the afternoon of the day before school and it's a lot better. Phew.
 |
| Nervous smiles before the walk to school |
Charlie's first day starts at the leisurely time of 8.30am. I'm nervous, Shane's nervous, but he's doing a good job hiding it and I think Charlie is packing it....I would be too. I feel like we're feeding him to the wolves. We get his grembiule on, and he's doing a really good job of keeping it together. We walk to school together, drop Sammy off at kinder, and then make our way into the school unaware of what awaits us other than knowing it's an assembly of sorts for the first day of school. We stand up the back, but basically it breaks down like this...
- 15 minutes of the principal speaking without a microphone so we have no hope of hearing her
- 10 minutes of head priest speaking but I don't catch much of it, probably too many religious words in there
- 10 minutes of older kids reading poetry about not being scared on the first day of school, followed by awkward pre teenage girls half heartedly doing a dance...really cringeworthy, but 10 points for getting up and having a go
By this time I feel so nervous I feel like I'm going into a job interview. All the parents seem to know one another...will we fit in?...how will Charlie go? will he make friends? will we make friends? It's a downward spiral this type of thinking, but once you're in it, it's difficult to rationalize and cut it out. My knees start trembling and Charlie starts holding on a bit tighter. It feels like the assembly's reaching a crescendo. Then a song starts and the principal starts calling out names and one by one the little kids in 'prima elementare' get collected by a more senior kid. They go to the front and pin their names on a big bumble bee, and then sit up the front until they are joined by all the littlies, sitting up there on show for everyone. There are a few that shed tears, actually some of them were bawling. And for poor Charlie that had no idea what was going on, he did pretty well.
After every name had been called out, a different song starts, but this one sounds a lot like a song befitting a funeral procession. More tears follow as the kids follow the teacher out of the gymnasium. I have no idea where the kids are going or if we're meant to follow, but as Charlie walks past and I am trying to take a photo of him, he bursts into tears and grabs onto me with dear life. These Italians have a way of dramatizing everything. It's been built up so much Charlie is beside himself.
After a few moments of sobbing and hugs, we realize we can all go up to the prep classroom and the parents can stay for a while. This goes down well, and even better when Charlie realizes he can pick his seat and that there's food outside. Charlie sits down next to two really nice boys. He's in the middle of the classroom in the middle of a 3 seater desk. Very well chosen I think and I'm happy for him. Once that's done, we head outside and Charlie heads for the food table. Shane and I are shocked that there's only coke, fanta, or peach iced tea on offer for the kids, and in a moment of weakness we agree that Charlie can have some coke (this is a big deal in our family!). He loves it and suddenly all is right with the world.
Shane and I meet some great parents. Charlie's desk neighbor's mum invites Charlie over to their house after school for a play, and all of a sudden we are welcomed into the school community and people are so lovely to all of us.
 |
| Encouraging words from papa |
 |
| Poor little Charlie falls to pieces |
 |
| Feeling a bit better and more settled in class |
We say goodbye to Charlie after some prolonged hugs and there he stays for the next few hours to stare blankly into space while people around him speak in a language he is not yet able to understand. A pretty big first day of school in anyone's language but a success since he's not totally against the idea of going back the next day.
