Bathing Beauties

Once a week Maddy goes for a swim lesson at the piscina with a group of kiddos from her asilo. This goes on for most of the school year, and is divided into three sets of lessons; the group of about twenty children is transported via this little yellow bus to an indoor swim complex in Vicenza.




The parents were invited to the pool for the final lesson of the second set. I suppose to check the progress, to see if we are getting our Euro's worth, to be grateful to the asilo directors for providing the service. There is lots of pomp and circumstance associated with children here. I imagine that in a case like this, the same would hold true in the States.




No complaints from us. (The cost of participating actually caused quite a stir when one of the moms from the asilo discovered that her girlfriend, whose child goes to a competing asilo, pays nearly half the cost. I missed that meeting when she confronted the asilo owners. Mr. Duncan reported that it was a good one. Despite her objection, she was there today. I did notice that her husband, a veterinarian who is usually absent, was there as well.)




This girl is swimming. Double the cost or not, we are content that someone else is taking on this timely task of teaching Maddy to swim. She'll be just right when the summer rolls around and we are ready to hit the beaches and pools. Chances of being in the right place at the right time for a full set of traditional summer swim lessons are slim -- so this works out perfectly for us.




I dare say that these camera-happy parents are pleased as well. This group represents about 1/4 of the total. Every single parent was there, and, in some cases, both parents and grandparents were present. This swimming business is clearly exciting for everyone.






Maddy's little group is not exactly learning a formal stroke. They do spend much of their time playing games in the water.




Love this! We had to buy these little booties before entering the pool area. Makes sense, really. There is quite a routine required when visiting the pool. The little ones change into their costumi in the locker rooms -- to include their swim caps, and then they don their robes (oh, it might be cold) and their pool shoes before being escorted to the heated indoor pool. Post-swimming routines MUST include drying the hair. It is absolutely unheard of to exit the building with wet hair.



Think she enjoys it? (Honestly, she does complain a bit about it at times. I can't figure that out yet, though.)



The third round of lessons starts next week. And, oh, yeah, about the too small suit -- she's grown a bit since August. The new one is in the mail. Poor girl.