In February this year, I moved to a new neighborhood for my children's education. Relocating to a new region meant living far away from my parents and long-time acquaintances. On top of being in an unfamiliar place, the weather was so cold in the winter that I curled up both physically and emotionally.
In March, after her first day at her new school, my daughter came home and said, "Mom, there's a kid in my class who looks just like the kid next door." It turned out that the neighbor's child was in the same class as my daughter, and her younger brother also attended the same kindergarten as my son. Both families had a boy and a girl with a similar age gap. It felt like a surprising and delightful connection.
Having a classmate living next door made it much easier for my daughter to adjust to her new school. On days when their schedules match up, they go to the library or play board games together after school. They have been getting along well.
on top of - in addition to something
acquaintance - a person whom you know but do not know well and who is therefore not exactly a friend
올해 2월, 아이들의 교육을 위해 다른 지역으로 이사했다. 새로운 지역으로 이사한다는 것은 부모님과 오랜 지인들과 멀리 떨어져 살아야 한다는 것을 의미한다. 가뜩이나 낯선 곳인데 겨울 날씨까지 추워서 몸도 마음도 움츠려 들었다.
3월, 새 학교에 첫 등교한 딸아이가 집에 와서 “엄마, 우리 반에 옆집 아이랑 똑같이 생긴 애가 있어”라고 말했다. 알고 보니 옆집 아이는 우리 딸과 같은 반이었고, 그 아이의 남동생도 우리 아들과 같은 유치원에 다니고 있었다. 두 집 모두 남매에 나이 터울도 비슷해서 신기하면서도 반가운 인연이었다.
같은 반 친구가 옆집에 사는 덕분에 딸아이는 새 학교에 훨씬 쉽게 적응할 수 있었다. 시간이 맞는 날에는 방과 후에 함께 도서관에 가거나 보드게임을 하며 잘 지내고 있다.
- Parents sacrifice a lot for their children’s education. / I started studying myself, for my children’s education.
- I was exhausted, both physically and emotionally. / Exercise is both physically and emotionally beneficial.
- I don’t know who lives next door. / They live next door to my parents.
A: I’m so grateful for my next-door neighbors sometimes.
B: Oh, it sounds like you get along well with them.
A: Our kids are the same age and go to the same school.
B: Oh, I see.
A: Since I’m working, they often look after my kids too.
B: Wow, they must be really warm-hearted people.
