Pikinini Playtime

The first wave of disease in Vanuatu has been overcome. Despite Michel and I sniffling all week, Pepe's kindergarten adventure aka Pikinini Playtime began.

On Monday we set out to visit and introduce ourselves to possible kindergartens in the area. Pepe found the first two exciting and since they are closest to our apartment, we decided to try them out the next day. Since one daycare center is only open in the morning and we are particularly interested in the afternoon, we decided to go to another larger daycare center that offers all-day care from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. So we announced ourselves at 12. When we arrived it was just bedtime, which was supposed to last from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. So the outside area was virtually empty because all 4 groups had lunch time. There are around 35-40 children in each group with around 3-4 teachers. There's a lot going on, especially in the mornings, and that's why the afternoon was a good start for us. Many children are picked up at lunchtime, so in the afternoon there are usually only about 15-20 children per group.

When we arrived we met the leader of Pepe's group: Miss Maria.

She was really sweet and was happy that Pepe would now join her group. She took her time and after a quick sniff, the two went straight into the play area and I was able to sit back on the veranda of the group room. Pepe quickly felt at home and as more and more children came to play from lunch break, I was quickly forgotten. Afternoon tea was scheduled at 3 a.m., where Pepe told me that he would be doing everything on his own starting tomorrow and that I could go home. I didn't expect that at all. At around half past four we went home and enthusiastically told Anton and Michel about Pepe's afternoon. Since the day he got used to it, Pepe has been going to kindergarten alone every afternoon from around 1-3:30 p.m. When the others are still sleeping, he paints or plays and after afternoon tea we pick him up, where he is usually eagerly waiting to tell us about his activities. The majority of children are then bathed because parents are reluctant to pick up dirty children. So far, Pepe has preferred to play again or just wait. Since we go to the pool after daycare anyway, the bathing action would be free anyway.

It would also be exciting for me to take Pepe to daycare in the morning. After arriving at 7:30 there would be classes from 8-9 before morning tea. In class they are currently learning a different letter every day and have a theme, such as the sunflower. After morning tea it is playtime and at around 11:30 there is lunch. But let's see how the next few weeks go and whether Pepe wants to spend more time there.

Otherwise the week was unspectacular. At the weekend, after Pepe's soccer training on Saturday, we met our old friend Brigitte for lunch. That was really nice and in the afternoon we all slept for 2 hours, so the evening was a little later for once. Our daily rhythm has otherwise shifted quite a bit forward. We (mostly me) get up with the children and the sun at 5:30 a.m. and the two of them are in bed and asleep by 6:30 p.m. at the latest in the evening. We then try to be in bed by 9 p.m. at the latest so that we can get up again with the sun ;)

On Sunday we borrowed Vivi's car and drove to our beloved beach in Mele. We picked up lunch at the French bakery along the way and enjoyed a few hours on the beach. In the afternoon we visited a new acquaintance from soccer training. The Polish family lived in Copenhagen for the last 6 years and has now come to Vanuatu for at least 3 years. They have 2 older children (10 and 13) and only arrived in Port Vila about 2 months ago. So the weekend ended and Pepe asked in the evening whether he could go back to kindergarten tomorrow. It gives us great pleasure to see him so happy and to now be able to offer him a lot. Because the homesickness for Kiel was always present.

The current week has continued like this so far and the coming weeks have been planned diligently, which will bring in a bit of variety, as I will cover a few yoga classes and take a trip to Sydney to see Katha. There will be more information in the next report :)

Lukim yu