22nd February 2010 Back to school

by Peter
(Bucharest)

Victor getting acclimatised for the cold!

Well the time has come to bite the bullet and return to school - leaving Irina and Victor without support for a morning. Nae slept over last night - lucky he did as the boy just did not want to sleep!

He walked around the apartment until about 4.00 am - at 7.00am he had a quick coffee and then drove me to school and Doina to her hospital check up.

The children had missed me terribly and so I got lots of hugs and some money from the staff - I now need to think about what Victor really needs.

The school has expanded again and now is in a new site in the North of the city - which would be much easier for me to get to - I just need to think of teaching Year 2 would be for me...

To be honest, I am tempted. But then again I would also like to become a KS2 coordinator. So who knows.

It is lucky that I am in such a unique position in having the in-laws coming around all the time. Occasionally I would love to close the door on everyone, but as I see how the Romanian family system works, and the fact this is the one and only grandchild or even one and only great grand child, I recognise the importance of standing back and letting the whole family be actively involved in his upbringing.

Another issue which raised its head here was how hot should the apartment be? In the UK the answer would be 19 - 21C. Here if the temperature looks like it is going to reach 23 C everyone panics and the warmth goes back to 25 C. Even Romanian doctors recommend heat. The baby always has a blanket on - though he iss now out of swaddling as he got too hot and he was always trying to break out of its tight hold. Ironically he sleeps best on my chest - so obviously loves the heat!

The family were told to prepare him for the big out doorsthis week. A few minutes a day is spent next to the window - Romanians wrap him so completely up - including a scarf over his mouth - and then left him on the bed at 25 C - and thought this would work. I had to laugh and take a photo of my sweet bundle!

I am now writing my daily blog on the metro home - so hopefully over time you will gain an ever broader view of life in Romania and continue to enjoy my personal pictures of Romania - please leave me comments as these really do inspire me to continue these tales.

Post update - as we speak, 4 baby parcels never seem to have made it though the Romanian black hole of a postal service - so thanks for trying and please remember that it is the thought that counts!