Pratima's first day of school!  I think she was pretty happy to go, although a little nervous.  Last week she went and met with the ELL teach for about an hour each day.  Two of the three days she came home talking about BOYS!   She is not used to going to school with boys, and I think they made quite an impression.  I don't really know what she was saying about the boys, but she was talking about the boys.  Today I took both girls to school.  When we came to Pratima's classroom, the girls in the class came to the door saying "she's here, she's here!"  It just makes me tear up, it was so sweet.  I think those 5th grade girls will take good care of her- at least to start!  Here Molly and Pratima share a hug before school.

All dressed up and ready to go....snowpants, boots, hat, mittens, coat, backpack, lunch, school supplies...she was loaded down!
This is where she hangs her coat and backpack.  No lockers, just hooks.  It's alot of work to get dressed and undressed for the cold weather here.  It still takes her some extra time.  Even putting on gym shoes is difficult.  I don't think she had worn anything other than rubber flip flops before she arrived here.   
Last week we also made a trip back to the ear doctor and it seems that Pratima has a hearing loss in both ears from chronic ear infections.  When we first got her, her right ear was infected. We found out last week that her right ear is actually  her better ear.  She probably couldn't hear us at all while we were in India!  The good  news is that both ears can be repaired and hearing restored.  The bad news is that we can't schedule surgery until May.  Learning English when you can't hear very well will be even more challenging.  If you want to talk to her, make sure she is looking at you and speak clearly and slowly.  If there is alot of background noise, it may be hard for her to hear you.