The First Day of School

The Cinnamon Sticks are Excited!

The Cinnamon Sticks started school at the Stockholm International School. For those of you with young children, you know that the first day of school is always challenging. The kids are equal parts nervous and excited. Starting school, not only in a new school, but in a new country is, well, doubly nervous and exciting. Rather than re-create the wheel, I will share with you the words of my incredible wife, Mrs. CB, shared on Facebook:

What a year.

The girls started at their new international school in Stockholm this week, and this feels like a huge milestone to celebrate. The first two days were great

12 months ago… the girls were starting back at their school in Los Altos and little did we know that we would be leaving California to go on a new adventure!

After almost 10 years at Apple, and 15+ years in California, I took a leap and decided to start a new job in Stockholm in May. We have always had an aspiration for international family assignment to help our girls experience more of the world, and the last year brought this goal into sharp focus.

There have been lots (and lots!) of moments of highs and lows and ‘I don’t knows’ but we are grateful for the change and challenge this will give us as a family. On the first day of school, the girls were 99% nervous and 1% excited and we agreed to start the year with a new saying that appears in a book we are reading as a family: ‘Be brave. Be curious. Be kind.’

Stockholm is a wonderful city and we have quickly fallen in love with its charm, people, architecture, water, cuisine, public transportation… and so much more. Especially the tradition of fika - a small coffee or afternoon treat to connect with friends and family.

And a special thank you to Chris and Malin, Brian’s brother and our sister in law, who gently supported us during the last many months. They have so warmly hosted us, welcomed us and translated many confusing things for us. They also freely share their home and are still helping us to get a bit more settled in with yummy coffee, extra umbrellas, warmer jackets, cuddles with their adorable puppy Abbe, and lots and lots of delicious meals.

This year I have been focussed almost solely to getting the girls and I (and the kitties!) moved safely from California to Stockholm and started in their new school. Mrs. Cinnamon Bun came to Stockholm in advance to start her new job in a new country and find us a wonderful place to live (she found a killer apartment, I’m sure you’ll hear more in the future). I feel like the first step of our journey has just been complete. I look forward to all of our next steps.

And now, some pictures of the real stars! The Cinnamon Sticks getting ready for school, with Joy in hand:

Ready to go outside our apartment. Of course the weather forecast calls for rain so you can see their new rain jackets:

After a 15 minute walk, we arrive at school

Quinn gets to go into the building whenever she wants prior to 8:30. Rowans has to wait outside for school personnel to escort her to her classroom:

The kitties dutifully waited for the girls to come home:

Here we are after their successful first day!

We learned that they have already made new friends. They are excited about their new school and Mrs. CB and I are super happy with the teachers and plan of instruction. We are relieved and happy that they have landed in such a good spot!

To be continued…