LEX MOVES UNDER THE MAGNIFIER

Lex and her first teacher, Mrs. Nybakke

Dearest Friends,

The kids' new school -- I.S.O.L., the International School of Lhok Seumawe -- was to be an experience beyond their imaginations, especially for Lex, who was starting third grade there.  Austin didn't have much to compare it to, having only been to pre-school and Mothers' Day Out programs before this.

Lex, I'm afraid, was used to coasting.  Her classes back in the States had been too large and her teachers too harried.  Because she was cute, quiet, and fairly well-behaved, she managed to fly under their radar -- not doing as well as she should have, but not doing poorly enough to demand their attention.  Here, there would be no more coasting, and she would get plenty of attention.  Way more than she wanted, in fact!

The school went from pre-k through 8th grade, had nine teachers (four American couples and one Indonesian lady), and lots of parents anxious to help out with extracurricular stuff.  Since there was only about 35 students in all, I'd say the adult to student ratio was pretty darn good, wouldn't you?  The facility, equipment, computer lab and supplies were all top notch as well.  The principal, Mr. Werber, also taught science, while Mr. Poulin was the P.E. teacher, and the local lady taught them Indonesian language and culture.  The other teachers each taught two or three grades combined, and still only had five or six kids in their class.

Sounds like a dream job for a teacher, doesn't it?  Small classes, great budget, free housing, travel opportunities, etc.  There was just one hitch.  Who did they have to socialize with?  Us -- their students' parents.  They just couldn't escape us!  Nor could our kids escape them.  I did my best never to spoil their downtime by bringing up school matters at parties or other social activities.  However, Lexi's teacher just happened to live right next door to us, and she was not the least bit shy about flagging me down when she thought something needed discussing.  Poor Lex.

Then too, as I mentioned before, there was a good bit of parental involvement at the school.  What else did we have to do?  Within a couple of weeks of our arrival, they had me teaching after-school enrichment classes and helping out with the costumes for an upcoming play.  They also had both me and my hubby doing sports with the kids in the evenings, and we had signed on to help with the haunted house at the Halloween Carnival.  On top of all that, I had been railroaded into teaching a Sunday School class!  Not my forte, believe you me, but in a community this small, everyone who wanted a church had to participate, or there would be no church.

So, like I said, Lexi's days of flying under the radar were over and done with.  Kaput!