I took Chiq to her Gymboree class today. We go twice a week for one “gym” class and one music class. I really enjoy going to these classes and I think you can see the benefit the kids get from it, physically, musically, intellectually and socially. And for me its a good chance to practice my Spanish. I used to take Guerita to Gymbaroo (the Australian equivalent) when we were living back in Australia for a while and it was very beneficial for her particularly since she was not that physically confident or adventurous, partly due to her nature, I guess, but mostly I think because she was born with clubfeet*. She spent the most part of her first 18 months in full leg plaster casts (the first 6 weeks) and then foot splints. She was a late walker and never the first to climb, run or skip. Gymboroo changed that and now you would never know that she had any problems with her feet – she runs, jumps, skips, and dances everywhere. Anyway, let´s just say, I am sold on the concept of Gymboroo/Gymboree. The Gymboree teacher here is the loveliest lady and in Chiq´s current clingy-separation-anxiety-only-wants-Mum-or-Dad stage, she is one of the few people she will go to happily with a smile and a squeezy cuddle.
So we head off to our music class today and sing a few songs, shake the bells and dance around a bit. Then the teacher says “Today, we´re going to listen to some songs from around the world”. Being away from home, I´m much more attuned to things that define Australia, that you can say are categorically Australian, so I´m immediately thinking about what you would use for a typical Australian song. Waltzing Matilda? Advance Australia Fair? Land Down Under? Great Southern Land? It´s all hypothetical since I´m not expecting them to have an Australian song – Australia´s not really on their radar.
So, I´m quite surprised when, after the Japanese song and the African song, the teacher says “This next song is from Australia“. My ears prick up, but I´m a little confused when I hear the rollicking beat. Doesn´t sound like a song I´ve ever heard. Hmmm, what language are they singing in? It doesn´t sound like English and I don´t think its Spanish, but sometimes its hard to tell in songs. Then that ummistakable tuba starts up with its “Oom-pah-pah Oom pah-pah”. The first thing that pops into my head is an image of Chevy Chase in liederhosen trying to dance the ländler in National Lampoon´s European Vacation, and I suddenly realise they are singing in German. A traditional song from AUSTRIA.
Common mistake.
*I´ve linked to the Wikipedia article on clubfeet which lists one of the possible causes of clubfeet as being the use of ecstasy in pregnancy. Just for the record – I didn´t take ecstasy while I was pregnant with Guerita (or at any time for that matter) and in fact none of the causes listed apply to her. The reality is that its the most common birth defect and in most cases (as in ours) they don´t know what causes it. Just so you know!
