Originally Tony and I planned to put Hunter into a kindergarten when he turned 3... well, the way Chinese New Year fell this year and our impending move would've only given him 2 and a half months in school, so we decided it would be better just to wait until we got to NZ before enroling him. Good thing we changed our minds - I've had a really good time with both kids building memories and relationships during our last couple of months in Taiwan. Here's a glimpse of our weekly routine...
After a full weekend with baba being home, we used Mondays as our 'relaxed' errand day. We'd often go to the fruit market and stock up a bit. Our favorite vendors were so generous - these guys always gave the kids a banana or other piece of fruit which of course kept me coming back week after week! The library was here in the market too so we'd often pick up/drop off our books during our weekly shop - it was all terribly convenient.
And then we'd often drop by a noodle house to pick up some lunch. The kids enjoyed this spicy tofu w/dried fish... really, they are truly Asian!
At the end of February we started going to Grace Baptist Church's Mother's Group on Tuesdays. I often found myself wondering why... since most of it was in Chinese... but the kids enjoyed the interaction with other kids in a 'class' type setting... and I did enjoy the parenting classes I took with my friend Anna (and the hang out times w/her & Tilly afterward). I think God opened up this opportunity to see how a women's group can be run... though I'm not sure how to implement that when I move, but I know it was a worthwhile experience. The women I met were so accepting and honest - we all just wanted to raise our children for God's glory.
We'd walk through the mall to the bus stop then board the 284 which dropped us off right in front of the church... the kids loved it!
It took a few weeks but they got settled into the 'class' environment and Hunter eventually stopped asking "Will you come back, mama?"
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