Caleb S and family left this week so they gave Sophia her gift early. It was a perfect 5-year-old gift, princess pencils, a pencil 'box' with sharpener, erasers, compass (she keeps telling us which way is north), candy, and much more. She has played with it every day. K asked me as Sophia opened the gift when I would start K5 stuff with her. "Oh probably when she is is six or seven... at the pace of our life right now". We laughed about this and watched Sophia enjoy her gift!
For Sophia's birthday she really really wanted to invite her friends from school. I was all ready for this and very thankful that she does have a few key girls that she plays with. She LOVES school. But in this culture the protocol for a birthday party is not the same. Most kids probably really don't celebrate their birthdays with parties (except when they turn one). Here are the steps I took, and who knows if anyone will show up.
- I asked her which friends to invite. She offered 5 friends from school, I offered another school friend because I am friends with her dad, so it was a must, plus she is such a sweet girl. She said her American friend 'Anna' was a must, and I agreed. And I mentioned one girl from our neighborhood, to which she said: 'oh yes, of course!'
- I then asked her teachers for the parents' phone numbers. That is pretty shameless I guess, not sure that would happen in America. But they knew my intentions so they obliged happily.
- I did type up an invitation and got my friend to look it over. And I asked her when I should call and invite. She said day before or maybe two days before at the most. It took all I had in me not to call up a whole week prior. But I just knew that that was not how it was done. We are always invited last minute to everything, that is how it works! They don't even know when some of their holidays or breaks are until the week prior.
- Thursday night I called folks, everyone was super nice. But who really knows if anyone will come? On Friday (today) it was my intention to run into all the parents at school and give them the invite with info on it, but I was a tad late, and two were already gone, and two friends (twins) were not at school at all. Sophia just handed one out to one other girl whose parent I have not talked to, and then we ran into another ex-pat family and Sophia invited her even though she is two years younger.
- Then, shameless again I called the two folks that I did not run into and
stalked talked to the parents, to tell them I was sorry I did not see them today and remind them of the party. I now actually think some people may show up. I hope so because Sophia is SO excited.
- And finally today I found the grandma of the neighborhood girl. I told her we could take her and bring her back from the party. The grandma will not be there but she said to come by and see if her granddaughter is at that time!
