Natalie started Kindergarten in August 1997. She went to a Swiss school, where they only spoke Swiss German. They start Kindergarten at age 4 1/2. She made several friends at school (who do not speak any English). They shared some words and did a lot of pointing and grunting. Once a week after school she had a Swiss German Language class. She came home with new words all the time and taught us.
This is the path through the park going to Natalie's first Kindergarten. Mommy and Franziska are leading the way.
(We have no idea why that branch grew like that, Daddy had to duck every day.)
This is Natalie in front of her first Kindergarten, named Beckenhof.
After we moved to the village of Zollikon, Natalie made a bunch of new friends. She also started to speak Swiss German very well, no more pointing and grunting. She just chattered away with her friends. Several of our Swiss friends told us she spoke quite well with no English accent. She has a few Swiss German songs that she sings too.
Here Natalie has her birthday party at the new kindergarten, she got to experience all the Swiss birthday customs which treated her like a princess.