1.9.08 (Mon) - The Kids' Orientation Day at Raffles IS on the First Ramadhan

Today is the day that I (not the kids...) have been anxiously waiting for - the kids' orientation day at Raffles IS. When Along and Ain were so excited to start their first day in school after a two-month long break, Ibu was so worried. Their father was as excited as the kids that he even helped me ironing the kids' school uniforms the day before he left for Iran.

I was so worried that I could hardly sleep last night. First, I was worried that I may have overslept and missed our first sahur. Hubby was not around so, I had to rely solely on my own clocktime. Secondly, I was afraid that I might have overslept after sahur and woke up late which may result in the kids coming late on their very first day to school. Thirdly, I've been asking myself can Along and Ain cope in this totally new environment...Alhamdulillah I woke up on time at 3.30 am for sahur. Along and Ain had also been cooperative enough that I didn't have to take long to wake them up. Again at 6.15 am, they woke up high-spiritedly to put on totally different from their usual school uniforms and black school shoes.

Manalah Ayah ni tak sampai-sampai lagi...While waiting for Ayah to land in DXB from Tehran, the kids gave this pose that obviously shows their excited faces.

At this hall which was next to the school lobby, the registration was done.

We were being ushered to the kids' respective classes by the kind lady stuff (or teacher?). On the way to the classes, this is the view that we could see...Burj Al Arab. Ohh...if only I could teach in a school that has Burj Al Arab as the panoramic view...mesti mata lebih banyak memandang keluar dari memandang students sambil membayangkan bilik-bilik hotel mewah bak bilik istana, tak pun berangan bermain tenis ngan Andre Agassi kat the famous tennis court at Burj Al Arab...

As Grade 1 class was more welcoming for parents as compared to Along's Grade 4 class, so we took this opportunity to snap photos in Ain's class. (Nanti Atuk-atuk, Nenek dan Wan nak tengok sekolah baru cucu-cucu diorang).

There were just free activities for Grade 1 students today. We saw Ain taking this opportunity to read story books there and do some colouring. Still shy to mix around with totally new unfamiliar faces and names in her class.

Kesian Apit, dia pun sibuk nak sekolah nak colour-colour macam kakak. So, we let him sit beside her sis. There he was concentrating on his colouring.

These are the results of Ain and Apit's colourings. Ain handed in her paper and Apit's paper to her teacher, Miss Claire who then put them up on the class notice board. Ain's paper on the right and Apit's on the left. Wah...pandai la Apit kaler...he he

Coming back from school at 11.00 am, I asked Along and Ain about their feelings on their first day at an IS. Along said she's happy and it shows on her face. She's got a new friend named Maryam, an Emirati. But Ain who was so eager in the beginning said, "boringla...", probably because they haven't learned anything yet. Actually we knew that the main reason she said that was because she was tired. She was fasting today and yet some non-muslim kids in her class were given chocolate muffins and drinks and they ate it in front of her. And chocolate muffin was her favourite...We knew it actually she wanted to say she wanted to break fast but didn't dare too..hi hi hi. However, Alhamdulillah she made it today!

p/s - Syukur Alhamdulillah, I feel a bit relieved today.