10.18.07
The Welcoming Time
I’m finding it interesting how my opinions about certain cultural differences have changed the longer we live here. The tempo di accoglienza is one of those things that used to kind of bother me, but now I see how it’s a good idea.
The first two weeks of school are pretty low key: little homework, longer breaks, usually a field trip of some kind. There’s sometimes even a little program for the parents to come and watch during these initial weeks. When I first learned about the welcoming time I remember thinking, “What’s the big deal? Why do they coddle the kids so much? It’s better to just dive in!”
But now that I’ve been here a bit, I kind of see how it’s a good idea. There’s sort of a build up to the end of the tempo di accoglienza as if to say, “You all can act up a bit at the beginning, but next week it’s a whole different story.” And I think it works. Everyone is on the same page, the class rules are clear, but the kids have had time to have fun with their teacher (who is already a very maternal person, since the teachers move up with the kids during grade school).
And then the hammer falls … the party’s over kids. 