An end of year school trip was announced last week. Yes, very little notice again, but thankfully we were able to go.
The trip was a family cruise on the Tegeler See, a massive body of water in the Charlottenburg district to celebrate the end of term and thank the class teacher.
It was a beautiful day - I got a little sunburned - and the kids had an absolute whale of a time on a whale of a boat.
Meet Moby Dick!
The cruise lasted about an hour and the scenery was wonderful.
Unfortunately neither Tim nor I could understand the German commentary. And very little of the other parents conversations either as all were conducted in German. Occasionally someone would say something in English, but on the whole, we were left out. Need to get some language skills soon.
After the cruise, we were supposed to go somewhere near our home for dinner but ended up wandering through the lake area looking for a place to eat. We ended up at an Indian restaurant.
Then someone sensible brought up the fact that most children won't want spicy Indian food, so we all traipsed back to our cars to return to the original venue.
After an accidental six mile detour we arrived and tried to find everyone at this place called Ku'damm Beach. Eventually, by following the shrieks of children we climbed down a load of steps to discover a burger restaurant on a little sandy beach by one of our local lakes.
What a find! I think we will be returning there on a hot day. All the children splashed around in the lake while us parents talked. Or rather, they talked and I tried to join in, but my German wasn't up to it.
Luckily someone translated a few very important and extremely worrying points for me.
The school we carefully selected for Rhiannon because it was the only school to offer the English curriculum is changing to a German curriculum next term! Some lessons will only be conducted in German.
This is horrifying, to be frank. Rhiannon will drop far behind in these classes as everyone else is a native German speaker. Nobody actually knows which classes will be held in German either.
The communication is appalling at this school. The fact that I only found this out tonight shocked the other people there. And with only half a day left of term I have no way of discussing any of this with the head teacher.
Also, the class has only ten children in it, and five of these are leaving. Mostly because of this change of curriculum. And the turnover of teachers is worryingly high too.
When I told Rhiannon what was planned, she freaked out, understandably. However, when I suggested moving schools she freaked out even more. She really does love it there, even though she's only been there a couple of months. We have no time to do anything right now. And, as I say, she adores the school. I guess it will be a massive incentive to learn German though!
I hate school stuff.
I just don't know what to do for the best now.