Reality! Back to School and Work

After a few amazing weeks of travel, we return to our new Basel reality. First, some work on the apartment, which is fully furnished and beautiful but missing some key items.

Yes, we take several trips to the place where marriages are tested and children throw their most fantastic temper tantrums.

Matt is building out the Basel office of his company. I’m returning to my health policy and government relations world. We are both working some California hours in the 6 pm to 11 pm range. It’s a new rhythm for us and for the family. Then we add the craziness of the first week of school.

Xander and Jacob start 8th and 4th grade at the International School Basel (ISB). With 1,420 students in PK to 12th grade on three campuses, ISB is big for us. The school was started to address a perceived need for an English-speaking school for expatriates. Roche, Novartis, Bayer and the other pharma companies keep it packed. There are 200 new students starting this year. They know how to integrate new families.

Xander was assigned an amazing 8th grade buddy, Dhruva, this summer. Dhruva immediately draws him into an active social scene at pools and basketball courts. Constant texting ensues and the start of school is smooth and fun. Jacob’s start is more cautious, but his teacher, Mrs. Tadzig, is super and he finds his scene on the football (soccer) pitch at recess. This seems to spark a budding obsession with European football teams.

I am brave too and attend parent mixers. It’s fun! And this group of families that float from country to country is so interesting. My concept of familial stability is pretty tied to being stationary.

In the midst of all this we throw in a date night, trip to the zoo, bike rides and runs.

There are things we puzzle over. How to choose between 500 kinds of sausage? Why is my pedicure 99 francs? Why don’t European dryers work? But we are figuring it out and having a great time. As always, we feel lucky with our flexible and courageous boys. Basel reality is pretty good!