Our Expat Adventure: An English Story Hour

Thursday, April 12, 2012

An English Story Hour

The girls were delighted to see a huge map of "Iowa State" when we walked into the Institute. Elle was trying to show Britta were Papa Donavon and Nana Becky live:). (the spots are reflectors on their rain coats)

This afternoon, the girls and I attended storytime at the Deutsch-Amerikanisches Institut (German-American Institute- known as “dai”). I had stumbled across the dai website when researching International Schools for Elle next year. And what a blessing my Internet surfing turned out to be; our experience there was ENJOYABLE and FUN- for all three of us!!

Prior to going Elle had many questions… “Would there be pillows for us to sit on?” “Would all the books be in English or some in German?” “Would the other children speak English or German?” “Would there be a craft?” I told her that I did not know the answers to any of these questions, but that together, we would find out!! And, Elle was DELIGHED when we got there and she saw a huge library filled with her favorite books and even pillows for the children to sit on during storytime (both pillows and crafts were part of the story hour in Iowa). It was definitely an afternoon filled with “familiars.” I enjoyed meeting some more English-speaking Mothers (the majority were Germans) and the girls enjoyed the stories, the craft, looking at new books and checking out some books!! Elle even received her very own library card and is officially in the “Book Worm Club!!”

We plan to attend story hour every other Wednesday. On the Wednesdays that story hour is not offered, Elle can still attend her gym/sports class. After class, we “had” to get frozen yogurt… to make our fun “ladies afternoon” end on an even happier note:)!! It was such a fun “American afternoon” spent in Germany!!