School Orientation and First Day of School

Today is the first day I go to see my new school for orientation.  It is the United Nations International School, Hanoi.  There are only two schools like this in the world.  I wonder what it will look like.

The main orientation was held in the gymnasium.  They started with the Head Master (like Dumbledore) banging on this huge drum to call everyone's attention.  Then they gave some boring speeches....where is my class?  Like Hogwarts the school is divided into Houses.  Unfortunately, no wizards and no Gryffindors.  I have been assigned to the Buffaloes.  What is that about?

This meeting is getting more boring, a bunch of new parents standing around talking to themselves. Not much happening.  But.....as I look around the gym I see that what looks like a balcony is actually a running track.  I wonder what I can do with that?

Look I am running so fast I am a blur.  If I keep this up I am headed for the Olympics.  The people below cannot even see me I am running so fast.

Hey, look......

This school has a pool.  Things are finally starting to look up.  I think I'll sign up for that.

Now, where is my class?

After a long tour of the campus they take us to one of the 5th grade class rooms.  These are all the new 5th grade students for the year.  They come from lots of different countries.  Korea, Japan, Netherlands, Germany, USA (me of course), India......but this is not my classroom.

Finally, my class room.  That is Mr. Daniel my new teacher showing us around.  The boy to the right is Adam, my new German friend (more on him later), to my left is Ms. Annelie, Adam's mother.  The girl in the pink shirt is Tara the new girl from the Netherlands.  The Vietnamese girl is Mr. Daniel's teaching assistant.

Mr. Daniel sits us around in a group and starts telling us the rules, teachers.....what can you do?  Mr. Daniel is from Australia.  He seems OK but I think he may be strict.

OK, this is looking better.  After the rules Mr. Daniel begins to show us around the class room.  This is looking pretty good and sounds like it will be a lot of fun.

Tomorrow starts the first day of class.

We have not had time yet to find a house or apartment so I have to go to school from the Hotel.  I could get used to this, the hotel has a shuttle to take kids to school.  No big yellow bus for me.  But like all things I still have to wait on the bus.  This lobby certainly beats standing in the rain though.

Finally, the bus (shuttle) is here and we are loaded up and ready to go.  Not a bad way to start the school year.