Luka is starting her first day of school in the Netherlands today. After having lived in Australia for the last three years we moved back to the Netherlands last month. With it still being summer holiday, the new school year did not start until today.
We moved to a new city and Luka is starting at a brand new school. Although she has lived in the Netherlands for 7 years and speaks Dutch, English is now as her native language. At the moment it is easier for her than Dutch. When she speaks Dutch it takes a bit longer, as she translates from English.
No more ‘mama-taxi’ to bring the kids to school. The Netherlands is a bicycle country, where a bicycle is a mode of transport. With separate bike paths almost everywhere and bicycles having many rights on the roads. Most kids know how to ride a bike before they can even walk.
As all kids ride bicycles this means that car drivers have bicycle experience as well and know how to pass a bicycle with care. This was not always the case in Australia, where Oliver once got hit by the rear view mirror of a car when riding his bike.
Her school starts at 8.30 am and ends at 2 pm. The difference being that the breaks are A LOT shorter than in Australia.This came as a big shocker to Luka.
Recess: 15 vs 30 min
Lunch: 30 vs 60 min
Another big difference is that there is no school uniform in the Netherlands.
I still remember her first day of school in Australia as if it was yesterday.
Wow, it is almost 2 o’clock, time to pick Luka up again. I wonder how her first day went. I can not wait to hear her stories!
