So, we moved!!! Just short of celebrating our 4 years in LA, we packed up our belongings and moved to a quiet suburban heaven of OC.
Carlos really made me proud by shedding all fear and going for it! -- as new job that is. It was a difficult transition for him, considering so many years was spent at his old job, so many human connections and so many projects with considerable emotional investment. But now he has a better paying job in a better company, that allowed us to find a better place, away from the LA hustle and bustle and in a tranquil area. We are feeling so hopeful about his carrier and look forward to the many accomplishments that will surely follow. So, this move was full of excitement for our brighter future.
But, it was no small task for me to find this place. The time was short, as he was supposed to start his new job on Feb 3, and we didn't get the final go ahead until second part of Jan. I felt quite a bit under pressure, since the housing dilemma was mine to solve. After narrowing down the area based on the scores of the zoned schools, and considering the driving distance to Carlos' work, i settled on the neighborhood. The trouble was that all of the ads were advertizing "no pets" rentals. The only two apartment complexes in the area were overpriced and not appealing at all, so we knew it had to be a private rental. After calling on all of them, one lady seemed open to ONE kitty, so we went to see it, put on our charms, and got her approval.
The place is technically speaking a bit smaller than our last one, but with high ceilings and a garage it feels more comfortable. The only uncomfortable part is having to hide 3 cats from the landlord, which we already had to do last week, when she was coming by for some unfinished business.
With the relocation came the new school for Sari. We were concerned about making the switch in the middle of the year, but it actually went smoothly. Sara was excited and ready for a change. I think this may be because she has not been able to truly bond with any of her Goethe classmates, and probably felt like a third wheel to Chrisette (her friend from preschool) and her new classmate friend, which were the people that she had associated the most with. So, i am happy to report that this new school is working out so much better than her old one so far.
From my personal observations, it seems to be a more organized place. Sara feels more secure here, and as a result she has better connections with her peers, and is overall more emotionally stable than before. Perhaps the continuity of morning to evening routines within the same household has also been of a positive factor. There is more positive vibe in the house and we all seem more peaceful and less stressed.
I also think she is learning more, because we get work sheets home every day, and that lets us know what they are covering in class. Plus, there is a definitely emphasis on reading and spelling. Perhaps her previous school also taught similar things, but since no worksheets were going home, we had no way to reinforce the information at home, and no way to practice. In addition, this school has daily volunteering parents that are pretty much a part of the classroom, and are able to supervise not only learning but also socializing. I was pleasantly surprised of this, as i received some feedback at the classmate's birthday party.
So, with many hopes and dreams we are starting a new chapter in our lives. Oh, the excitement!
