Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Caroline goes to Camp

postcard from C 
Postcard from camp, I'm guessing there are three horses and she is getting to ride one! And happily, she hearts us. The back of the card says, nice and simply, "CAROLINE IS O.K., BUY"

Every year, Caroline's kindergarten spends a week at Škola v prírode, or school in nature. Half the school's teachers go and most of the předškolní, or 5 year old kids, too and for a week ahead of time, it is the only thing that the mothers picking up their children talk about.

This is C's last pre-school year, her year for kindergarten camp. Back in March, she brought her camp instructions home, and we started going through it line by line. I thought we'd have most everything already, but then again, I'd heard that the girls shouldn't pack dresses, and Caroline rarely wears anything else. So we poured over the list to make sure she'd be set to go.

There were all the standard things you'd expect, like a pláštěnka, or rain poncho, and holinky, gum boots, but it took me several calls to friends to figure out exactly what oteplene sustaky might mean. (Apparently, a track suit lined in flannel on the inside and nylon on the out. Now I know what they are, but I still don't know their name in English!)

Thanks to C's babysitters and several expeditions, we managed to find everything, even the elusive sustaky. The night before she left, I read C her clothing list and she ran back and forth collecting everything while I marked her name on each piece and we folded it away. All packed, down to the smallest bear and largest rubber boot, and I thought we were finished for the night. But no. "Mommie," C said, "can you teach me how to take a shower?"

So it was, on the eve of her first overnight camp, at nearly six years of age, that C decided it was time to step under water and voluntarily get her face wet. What else new will she learn this week? Come Friday, I'll let you know.

10 comments:

lizardek said...

SO CUTE!! :)

countrypeapie said...

Oh! Just -- oh! :)

Roderick Robinson said...

While it's far more important to applaud and encourage young children's attempts at writing (the start of a long rewarding road) someone must do some research on why they tend to reverse the diagonal on the capital N. Theoretically the two options must have a probability of 50/50, yet it's my impression that the wrong one predominates. Not that I'm being critical: for me the north-east/south-west slant is a warming symbol of a young mind starting to take big steps. On y va, Caroline.

Julia said...

I think she reverses the N because she has the habit of starting letters at the top left, drawing down, and proceeding from there. I've taught her memory devices for it, but when she is just drawing, and not thinking, it still reverses. Habits start young!

eurolush said...

Such a big girl! What a fun experience for Caroline. Camp is such a great way to learn a little bit of independence. That post-card is adorable!

I imagine her teachers will need a long vacation after a week with all those six year olds...

Lynn said...

Oh, the message is precious -- what a wonderful keepsake that will be...

zurich said...

Beautiful ending!

Eleanor said...

I'm missing Caroline terribly. I'm pining for her.

P.S.
Barrett Bonden is so cute - discussing C's N reversal so seriously, stylishly and sympathetically. I think I may have a little crush on Barrett.

Anonymous said...

How fun! That is the most charming picture! I'll keep reading to see how this camp goes;)

alice c said...

Oh! Oh!

Definitely my favourite post of the weekend. I can't wait to hear more about Caroline's adventures at camp.