It's a big milestone in the Chiang family. All the kids are officially in school.
Tori started Cheng Mei Montessori a few weeks ago and has adjusted very well. The good news about the school is that they provide lunch every day. The not so good news is that Tori only eats white rice and watermelon. We're working on expanding her taste buds. :) While navigating simple things like school forms in all Chinese is difficult, the kids are doing well.
Lexi and Ellie started at Kuei Shan School (KSS), which is a bilingual Christian school. We're adjusting to life with a lot more homework. Lexi is feeling the challenge of being behind in Chinese, but we know she'll learn a lot this year, even if it's a bit nerve-wracking. Ellie's curriculum is the same level for Chinese and English so far since they're all just starting to read. Ellie and Lexi often meet up at recess and enjoy playing at the pond catching tadpoles and fish. It's still so very hot here.
A few things I appreciate about Taiwan schools:
- Learning Chinese: We're here in Taiwan, so this was one of our primary goals. While Lexi and Ellie go to a bilingual school, one of the questions we asked during info sessions is what language do the kids use on the playground. Tori's in a local Montessori school. Everyone's Chinese is improving.
- Uniforms: Had I known that the big girls had uniforms, I would have packed much less clothing. Although confusingly, they have to wear their sports uniforms on different days. It still reduces decision fatigue in the mornings
- After school classes: Tori has a STEM, dance, and nature class that comes to the school for additional activities. You can just sign up and there's space for everyone. There's no waitlist or time everyone has to be on the computer to sign up.
- Lunch steamers: KSS has a steamer at school and the kids separate the part of your lunch that needs to stay heated for lunch. Great way to have a hot lunch every day.
- Parent community: It's difficult to meet parents at the school and definitely not a priority. We had to ask around to find out if there's a Line Group (similar to WhatsApp) and was added randomly. Tori's school doesn't have any means of knowing names of students or parents in her school. I heard play dates aren't really a thing here.
- School communication: Possible that it's due to being early in the school year, but we get school communications last minute. For example, you get your school supply list on Friday and have to bring everything on Monday. We might get a notice at 6pm that they need to wear a different uniform to school for the next day.
- Paper: I might have said this before, but in general, I appreciate that everything in SF is digital (tuition payment, notices, forms, etc). There's just a lot more paper here.
