Our little hedgehog

We only got back to Germany yesterday, but we needed to do some shopping right away for Rebecca as she began Kindergarten (preschool) today. The supply list for German Kindergarten is a bit different from the list you get for American preschool. We needed to buy house slippers (which most kids wear around their own houses), gymnastic slippers, a raincoat, rain pants and rain boots. "So," I said to David as our items were being rung up at the register, "I guess rain will be no deterrent to playing outside." He answered, "I guess not."

In Germany, Kindergarten begins when a child turns three and is pretty much all year round, every day of the week. Because it is subsidized by the government, it is very inexpensive. For the first few months, we've signed Rebecca up for the short day, from as early as 7:30am to as late as 1:30pm. We may switch her to the longer day in a few months where I can pick her up around 3:30pm. And, yes, the entire day will be in German. Since Rebecca doesn't speak much English and is so young, we're not too concerned. She'll figure it out.

This morning, we took the five-minute walk to the Ritterwiesen (Field of Knights) Kindergarten where Becca is in the Igel Gruppe (Hedgehog Group). The cheerful director took Becca by the hand and led her to her room, calling out "Ein neuer Igel! Ein neuer Igel ist hier!" ("A new hedgehog! A new hedgehog is here!") We changed her into her house slippers and said goodbye. Rebecca seemed a little surprised that we were leaving, but handled it OK.

Her teacher told us at the end of the day that she did just fine and played with other kids. I'm praying it continues to go well. With the older kids in school in a few weeks and Rebecca in preschool, I will have mornings to myself for the first time in years.

A first day gummi bear treat for einen neuen Igel. Hedgehogs, a protected species, are beloved in Germany.