Welcome to QSI Skopje! Community Time and PSG meeting, January 27

(So many blog posts have been in draft folder, and this is one of them. From January 27th?!)

We left Madeira Beach, Florida on Wednesday, January 25th -- 3 planes and about 24 hours later -- we arrived in Skopje, Macedonia. (Our luggage did not. It enjoyed a holiday in Vienna.)

We were delighted that the very next morning (Friday, January 27) there would be "Community Time" at our daughter's school: QSI Skopje. (This is a monthly event that takes place on the last Friday of the month.)

She would have the opportunity to meet her new classmates and teachers, and I would be able to attend my first PSG (Parent Support Group) meeting after the event.

As tired as we were - and how we felt after the 3 airplanes - when we learned that our bags were going to be stuck in Vienna - we were distraught - thinking we would go meet everyone for the first time in the same clothes that we were wearing for 2 days (!).

Fortunately, our bags were rescued at 1:00 am by our friends Toni and Aneta (to whom we will always be grateful for the warm welcome and the assistance in our hour of need! but more on that when we update the other blog posts).  I stayed up until 4:30 am unpacking our suitcases. We got up at 6:30 am for breakfast, and we were picked up to leave for QSI at 7:30 am.

We had very little sleep - but - thanks to our friends Toni and Aneta - at least we had a nice shower and clean clothes before we met everyone for the first time.

My daughter appreciated the warm welcome at the Community Time. The Director of the school called her up front of the assembly and introduced her to everyone.  We enjoyed the student presentations -- especially the poetry readings by the students in her (soon-to-be) class (Level 11).

After the Community Time, I went to the PSG (Parent Support Group) meeting in the Community Room. (Side note - the Community Room is lovely - and includes a coffee bar - so I was able to have a macchiatto to keep me going during the meeting.)  I am involved in the PTSA at our daughter's school back in Florida - and I was (am) eager to be involved with her school in Skopje. It was nice to have the opportunity to meet other parents so soon after we arrived.

Among others, I met parents involved in the Peace Corps and the International Women's Association.  I really enjoyed being involved with the International Women's Club Moldova, and I was hoping there would be a similar group in Macedonia. I felt so fortunate to meet the President at the PSG meeting less than 24 hours after arriving in Skopje.  And the next monthly meeting of IWA Skopje was the following Wednesday (within the first week of arriving) - so I was glad that I was making these connections so quickly. Thanks to the community at QSI.

Back to the PSG meeting - I enjoyed hearing the concerns voiced by the other parents who were in attendance and hearing from the PSG Board about what could be done to address those concerns. Also, I learned about upcoming PSG/QSI events and activities. I am especially looking forward to the 20th Anniversary event later in the Spring. (Which seemed so far away when we were looking out on the snow-covered playground in January - now as I type this it seems around the corner. Time is flying!!)

I also met with the Director, and we sorted out all of the admissions paperwork.  We met her classroom teacher, and we got more paperwork. Including a permission slip for a ski trip to Mavrovo (Yay!!) and sign up sheet for after school activities (such an amazing variety!!)

We took the weekend to decide about all of the activities. She selected

Drama
Quilling
Girl Scouts
Kangoo Jumping
Rock Climbing
Science Experiments
Gymnastics
Dance
Piano
Singing Lessons

(She can do up to 2 activities per day after school - which determines whether she gets the 1st or 2nd bus home)

Here is the QSI Skopje website:  https://www.qsi.org/macedonia/mcn/

this is our daughter's (soon-to-be class reading poems that they wrote

our daughter being introduced to the assembly...it was great timing that we could get to the Community Time in January

the Director of QSI, Eric Nelis, introduces our daughter. everyone made our daughter feel instantly at ease and at home here. including one of her classroom teachers -  Ms. Daniela - who came and sat with her on the floor during the event

another class performed Greek myths, including Narcissus and Medusa. they were excellent! (side note: I hope I can bring my daughter to Greece and to help her learn more about ancient Greece before we leave the region)