New School Year = New School and Public Transportation

     On August 19th, Alex and Ben went back to school.  After spending a year in a Swedish local school, where we were glad they got to learn the language and make friends, we decided to change schools to a school that focuses the learning in English.  It is still based on the Swedish curriculum and some of the classes are still taught in Swedish, but there is an emphasis on English and the teaching styles are more in line with what we experienced in the states so we though this would be a good opportunity.  It is considered a "for-profit" school but is available for free, (I would compare it to a magnet school in the states where you have the choice to go, but it doesn't cost extra).  A major downside is the school is a half an hour away and in Sweden there are no yellow school buses, children and adults share the mass transportation and Alex and Ben have now experienced a new independence that I could have never imagined letting my kids do in the states...

Alex and Ben on the first day of school. 

A week before their new adventures began, a friend of mine generously loaned her son for the afternoon to teach me and the boys the ins and outs of commuting to their new schools. (Alex is at what they call the "senior" school, while Ben is at the "junior" school so they are in different location).

           (Aidan pointing out the bus)

Teaching the boys to read a bus schedule...
The easiest commute for Alex is a 15 minute train ride into the town and then a 5-10 minute walk to his school, no problem...only the train is less frequent then the buses so there is more waiting around which I can only imagine will be really cold in the winter...

Ben, however, has 2 choices...1) a 15 minute train ride, then about a 10 minute walk into the center of this city, (I think it was about 5 city blocks away) then 1 final bus to take him to the entrance of his school... or 2) about a 35 minute bus ride into the center of the city, then a short walk across the street to pick up the next bus to the school.

(Aidan and Ben on the train together)

Thomas and/or I have been bringing them to the train/bus station in the AM and picking them up after school.  They seem to really like it and both have expressed that it is a great time to relax. (I am crossing my fingers that Ben doesn't fall asleep and miss getting off sometime)  Ben has 2 friends luckily that are in his class and came from his school last year that are commuting each day with him, so there is comfort knowing they can help each other if needed.

It is just so bizarre for me to wrap my head around the freedom/independence that I have just given to my 9 and 12 year old...They both have their phones handy and text me to let me know they've made it and they have figured out what to do if trains are running late or buses change, etc. without getting frazzled.  It really is an experience for them to be able to gain this independence in a safe environment such as Sweden.