Vera at School

Here is Vera in action during her once a week 'Mommy and Me' class!  She LOVES going to school and definately would like to go more (if I had the energy to do it, I would!).  Each class they have a different skill and theme.  This class was working on the fine motor skill of clipping plastic rings together and the main theme of the class was colors.  It is a great way for Vera to get some social interaction as well as begin learning some basics in chinese!  The class is made up of about 20 kids and an adult per child.  There are four of us 'foreigners' who are bringing our kids to the class...we also happen to be the only four moms accompanying our children.  The other adults accompanying their kids are grandmothers and 'ayis' who are the primary caretakers for the kids while the moms are at work.   

The teacher is REALLY energetic... and Vera thinks she is really cool.  We sometimes see her when we are dropping Wendy off each morning at her class and Vera loves to run up and give her a hug and say 'that's my teacher!'.  You can see her in this first photo...she is wearing the black t-shirt and has a microphone on.  One might wonder why she has the microphone on.  This little class can get pretty loud!  Often the kids who are accompanied by an 'ayi' (nanny) are not ever disciplined by their nanny.  Therefore there is chaos from time to time as some of the children run around and cause problems for the teacher while their ayi sits and does nothing.  There is now, apparently, an assistant in the class who 'encourages' the 'ayi' to take control of their child.  It is quite a different cultural experience to be in the class.  Hard to describe in a blog!  However, I'm very thankful for this new assistant to the teacher as it will make the future classes, hopefully, more organized and productive for all the kids!

Sorry these are a little blurry...Vera is always in constant motion!!!