In addition to our
4-day celebration, Ellie got to celebrate her birthday at Kindergarten!
Granted, I've never been to a pre-school birthday celebration in the States (other than my own, I suppose), but the way the Austrian children celebrate is quite remarkable!
There was no school the week of Ellie's actual birthday because it was 'ski week' - a week that all students have off and the expectation is that their parents take off work as well and they go skiing. The week prior to that the children had the option of enrolling in a week long ski course to prepare - Ellie and some of the other younger students didn't enroll in the course, but I think she'll be ready for it next year! So anyway, today was the day that Brian and I were invited to join Ellie for a birthday celebration at school.
First, she had some time to play and show us her favorite games.
Then the children, and Brian, gathered on the steps. The teacher explained (all in German, of course) that it was Ellie's birthday, asked Ellie how old she is ("vier"), and showed the children how to count to 4 on their fingers.
Then Ellie, Brian, and I were asked to wait outside of her classroom in the special book area. We were probably out there for 10 minutes while they prepared the classroom.
When we came back in, everyone was seated in a circle and Ellie was called to the back corner.
They sang songs as she walked to her seat, covered with the golden cloth, as two students held the sunshine arch above her.
After more songs, she was asked to sit in the center of the circle. Four students had candles under their seats, and they took turns walking around Ellie and placing the candles in front of her.
Ellie was then crowned with a flower head piece. Then each child and teacher came up to her, took her hand, and wished her a happy birthday (some said something quite lengthy, but I couldn't understand anything being said - I'm sure it was very sweet)!
Ellie then opened her birthday present from the students. It's this really neat bird that balances on one's finger or this little tree stand.
The teachers then held the candles as Ellie blew them out.
Ellie was then able to pick two students to join her at the big table for snack. She picked the two students sitting directly in front of her :) Our neighbor, and her good friend, Benjamin!
And a six-year-old girl we had never met before, Ana! (It's 'Montessori style' so 3 through 6 year olds are in one class). She also changed into the crown she helped make - this one she was able to keep and bring home.
Snack ("Jause") time is very impressive. After holding hands and praying, the kids take their snacks out of their tupperware (wasteful plastic baggies are not a thing here) and transfer them to nice ceramic dishes. They drink out of real glasses, which are kept at a special station in the classroom.
After they finished their own snack, they were able to come over and ask Ellie and me if they could please have a birthday treat (at least I think that's what they were saying). They were all very formal and polite! I was glad to see the kids liked the treat, which contained chocolate chips from the U.S. (they're not sold here). The teacher told me it was great I brought a "multi-cultural" dessert :)
As they finished their snack, they packed up their lunchboxes and brought their plates over to the sink where they washed them in soapy water and the teacher helped to drive them off. Impressive!
They then went to the bathroom and brushed their teeth!!
Over an hour later, it was time for Brian and I to go. I thought for sure Ellie would insist on coming home with us (it was 10:30am, and the bus doesn't leave the school until noon). At first she did say she wanted to leave with us, but Benjamin 'begged' her to stay and she agreed! When she got home, she told us that they went to the gym after we left and she got to pick the game. She chose "Eisbar" - in which she pretends to be a polar bear on ice and tries to catch the other children.
Tomorrow the teachers have an in-service day, and she was super disappointed she can't go back to school tomorrow. It's so nice knowing how much she loves it there! Although we didn't hear her speak much German, she definitely seemed to understand what was being said - and that is what her teacher told us as well - she can understand German and the ability to speak it will come next.
I can't believe how fast she is growing up and what a champ she is embracing her first schooling experience all in German! It seems like just yesterday she was 2 years old meeting Francis for the first time wearing her pink "Big Sister" shirt -- that may be because two years later she is still wearing the SAME pink shirt (see all pictures above)! Hopefully it'll still fit in 10 more weeks so she can wear it again to meet her new baby brother :)
