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I was having a quick look at the school that Senor Onion will likely attend in September. (we aren't 100 percent sure yet where we will live as we will have to find a house to rent and so we could live anywhere between Clovelly and Bude) It is where one of his cousins goes (though he will be starting secondary school next Fall) and Mr. Jenner and his brother went there when they were children. Regarding admissions it linked me to somewhere else and that is where the confusion began. So it seems that one has to apply for a place (of one's preference) now? Of course we don't know yet if we will live there and then there is information for people who are coming from abroad. I understand that things need to be overly complicated in some situations when there might be a larger population and further competition for certain schools. I admit freely this is new stuff for me. Where I grew up you just went to the public school or one of the two private schools. It was fairly simple stuff. (mostly done in the Spring)
Senor Onion is five, (he will be six at the end of November) so I guess as soon as we know where we will live, then we can apply. (I think for year one?) So much paperwork. Then there is the business of filling out stuff for my visa. (in addition to making sure the kids have their UK passports lined up -and oh my gosh the whole process for that makes me think that Yes, Minister was not a sitcom but a god damn documentary) I absolutely adore the questions asked of me. Have I ever been involved in war crimes or genocide? I joked to Mr. Jenner that I would have to check my LJ for that information. Usefully though, because I have had my LJ for nearly eleven years and the nice people at the Home Office want to know what other countries I have been to in the last ten years -there is a pretty damn good record for that. I was a little disappointed that they didn't ask me if I was a member of the Nazi party between 1933-45. (BEST question for people applying for visas/greencards/US citizenship) You would think the UK authorities would ask that because of Dr. Who. But maybe not enough people have been a companion to the Dr. to bring that up. And hey, any ancient nazis -no awkward questions about what you did in the 30s if you want to move to England. "I um... was on a really really long gap year. In Eastern Europe. Yeah. That's it. Did a little local work."
And of course as the UK understands the cultural differences of some of its applicants, (and to root out anything hinky in the under-aged marriage category) they asked if our marriage was arranged, if we had met before, and so on. The only way that the marriage could have been arranged was if I was Flora Poste. Alas Mr. Jenner lacks a twin belisha bat called Speed Cop II. So we had to come together on our own.
Thankfully I don't have to take a test to prove that I speak some form of English, though at some point I will have to take an exam about British things. I took a practice test and I got a fair number of the questions right. Can't I just show up and say, "Tardis, David Cameron's dumb face, Telegraph Obits, Dad's Army" and then share my opinion about Master Chef and lament the lack of a true Summer. and go on my merry way? Suppose not. Not enough paperwork.
Senor Onion is five, (he will be six at the end of November) so I guess as soon as we know where we will live, then we can apply. (I think for year one?) So much paperwork. Then there is the business of filling out stuff for my visa. (in addition to making sure the kids have their UK passports lined up -and oh my gosh the whole process for that makes me think that Yes, Minister was not a sitcom but a god damn documentary) I absolutely adore the questions asked of me. Have I ever been involved in war crimes or genocide? I joked to Mr. Jenner that I would have to check my LJ for that information. Usefully though, because I have had my LJ for nearly eleven years and the nice people at the Home Office want to know what other countries I have been to in the last ten years -there is a pretty damn good record for that. I was a little disappointed that they didn't ask me if I was a member of the Nazi party between 1933-45. (BEST question for people applying for visas/greencards/US citizenship) You would think the UK authorities would ask that because of Dr. Who. But maybe not enough people have been a companion to the Dr. to bring that up. And hey, any ancient nazis -no awkward questions about what you did in the 30s if you want to move to England. "I um... was on a really really long gap year. In Eastern Europe. Yeah. That's it. Did a little local work."
And of course as the UK understands the cultural differences of some of its applicants, (and to root out anything hinky in the under-aged marriage category) they asked if our marriage was arranged, if we had met before, and so on. The only way that the marriage could have been arranged was if I was Flora Poste. Alas Mr. Jenner lacks a twin belisha bat called Speed Cop II. So we had to come together on our own.
Thankfully I don't have to take a test to prove that I speak some form of English, though at some point I will have to take an exam about British things. I took a practice test and I got a fair number of the questions right. Can't I just show up and say, "Tardis, David Cameron's dumb face, Telegraph Obits, Dad's Army" and then share my opinion about Master Chef and lament the lack of a true Summer. and go on my merry way? Suppose not. Not enough paperwork.
