I’m wondering if I should ever post again. The longer I go without posting, the more comments I get on my last post. My comment number is now impressively high for me (and yes, I realize it isn’t for most of you. Whatever). The comments are also long and thoughtful, and I am planning a follow-up post that incorporates a lot of them.
I have been working on my book this week, the one I was going to write this year and haven’t actually gotten around to, although I have a few chapters now. (The title of this post is actually the title of the chapter I just finished. It’s about my experiences at the University, as I’m sure long-time readers have already guessed.)
This is the worst possible time to work on it, of course. We are hoping to celebrate Donn’s parents 50th anniversary in California this summer, and the best time to go is the first two weeks of June. That means that we have 2 ½ weeks to finish school, and about 5 weeks worth of school to finish in that time (more in Spanish and Arabic). So we’re a little stressed.
Ok make that a lot stressed. The kids are really looking forward to doing school on Saturdays, as am I, but insha’allah this will pay off when we are FINISHED. Oh how I want to be finished with this correspondence course. I will never do this again. I am in awe of all of you who home school. It sure hasn’t worked for us. I suspect that I am the reason for this; I’m thinking of adding “Failed Homeschooler” to my resume. I keep praying that maybe it could be April again, and that I could just have another, extra month to do everything in. Wouldn’t that be helpful? It would for me; I don’t know about you.
It was a busy week in other ways as well. All our friends are kicking into the “wait! You’re leaving soon!” mode and inviting us out for dinner, so I would like to ask all of you to please quit posting about dieting and losing weight. It depresses me.
I took Abel to see the doctor this week. He’s not sick, although he has had this rash for a while now. It didn’t seem like anything to me, so it was a bit disturbing when the doctor said it was a bacterial infection and put him on antibiotics. The main reason we were there was so that the doctor could sign a health form, required for their new school. Of course the form was in French, which I obligingly translated. He wasn’t thrilled, but he agreed to sign it.
Life is going to be crazy for a while. I’m trying to figure out another trip to see my mother, but am worried as I don’t see how I take any time off with the kids’ school. Evenings are booked, although I’m willing to cancel here and there if it means I can go see her. But the problem is, of course, CNED. So don’t worry if you hear from me only sporadically.
And of course, I may be stressed, but some people have real problems. I can’t believe the news out of Burma (or Myanmar, depending on your news source) and China. Keeps it all in perspective for me. We may weep real tears over Arabic (Question: Why is Arabic the language of heaven? Answer: Because it takes an eternity to learn), but it’s a much nicer problem to have than losing your family and everything you possess to the overwhelming waters.
Planet Nomad
news from a sparkling planet
14 comments
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May 14, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Kelly @ Love Well
I can’t believe your time in the U.S. is nearing an end.
Do you want to come over for a virtual dinner. No calories, I promise.
By the way, what do you do when a goat eats your homework?
May 14, 2008 at 2:32 pm
cce
‘Tis the season when we all feel the crush of tasks and responsibilities still left to accomplish. The fact that you’ve got homeschooling on your plate just slays me. I bow down to your excellence. I just could not do that.
May 14, 2008 at 3:47 pm
angie
I don’t know how homeschoolers do it. I don’t know how you are doing a coorespondance course with your children in MORE than ONE language. I’m so glad that I found your blog. I’ve really enjoyed it. Sending you a calorie free dinner……wait, make that 2. I want one too!
May 14, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Rebecca
I’m thinking about homeschooling, although the idea does make me want to drink myself to death. That’s a good sign, right?
The international news has just been heartbreaking this week. I can’t even begin to take it all in.
May 14, 2008 at 7:47 pm
shannon
I may have to home school one of my children next year as the overpriced international school in Frankfurt has turned down his application. It’s that or put him in German public school (he’s not doing so well in English can’t imagine he would do better in German)) My husband (who gets to go off to work daily and deal with adults) thinks this is an absolutely WONDERFUL idea. I get a stomach ache every time I think about it. I don’t know how anyone home schools much less how you did it in FRENCH?!? while also teaching/learning Spanish and Arabic. I can’t even seem to stay awake while using my Rosetta stone program for German. On the upside I have found the solution to insomnia, computer language courses!
We too are inundated with requests for one more get together before we go, trying to get everything ready to be packed up and shipped to another continent, make arrangements for the cats during this transition, set dates to visit every friend and relative while we are in the states this summer, finish school, find employment for our beloved staff (Oh I hated having staff when we first got here, now contemplating doing all the house work, running around, laundry, home schooling, shopping, cooking, with no staff, in Germany…I think I need a drink) I try to live in the here and now and enjoy everyday, but somedays I just want it to be August, to be in my new house, to begin the process of making a house a home, and to be experiencing the joys of discovering a new place.
You are right to remind all of us to count our blessings, because if we are reading this we have computer access, some source of power, and the time to indulge in a little blog surfing. Life isn’t so bad after all!
May 14, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Linda
Maybe you could do most of the homework yourself? Just joking but I bet it is tempting.
May 14, 2008 at 11:08 pm
ShackelMom
Um, as for home schooling, I think the problem is your correspondence school, not home schooling itself. I can see doing it (correspondence) while in the US if there is no other way for your kids to re-enroll when they get back, but if it were me, I would do it ‘my way’ for the year I was not in the country with French and Arabic, which would mean a more American curriculum (since they could be going to public school, right) taught at a pace that fits the family. Your kids are smart, they like to read, you are a teacher, and a creative lady. Chances are, even if you did ‘nothing’ but let your kids read and go to the library and check out books to read, they would learn tons of new stuff, all of which they would remember because they wanted it know it in the first place! Add to that journaling, an occasional creative writing assignment, some follow up in scientific questions that arise and a math book, and your kids would probably be just fine, a pick up where they left off in their school abroad.
I frankly have been feeling very sympathetic reading about all you and the kids are having to do for school, wishing you had chosen a less stressful path, but then, maybe this path is strictly required by the school you want them in next. Anyway, That kind of correspondence school gives home schooling a bad rap!
May 14, 2008 at 11:40 pm
meredith
Ha! I like Linda’s answer.
I am kind of hoping my girls will choose Arabic as one of their options in “college”. It just seems so useful here….plus I wouldn’t mind learning along with them.
I, for one, can’t wait until you move to Rabat. I have hope of seeing you there one day
May 15, 2008 at 2:57 am
Steph
Yes, we are also wishing we had “one more month” to finish everything that we need to finish in 16 days before we move.. I think the thing that stresses me out the most is that tony & risa, and michele are farther along in their packing than we are and they still have 2 months!! Of course, every day seems like it switches as to whether we ARE moving June 1 because of the news, or having to think about delaying!! I am starting to see that I am not as “flexible” as I should be. Is it too much to ask to KNOW if June 1 is moving date…?
May 15, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Lonie Polony
Amen to your last paragraph. I think as long as everyone remembers that, I can still carry on about all my unimportant problems, assuming that it goes without mentioning there are much worse problems, but let’s talk about some more light-hearted things for a while lest we all become depressed and mired in despair.
May 18, 2008 at 7:09 am
Inkling
Rats. I have now missed my window of opportunity for meeting you, I bet. It was a nice thought! Know one of the very nicest things about blogging? I can’t say I’ll miss you, because you’ll still be right here!
May 19, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Shalee
Your comments always tops mine. I’m okay with that.
I have a degree in education and I don’t want to homeschool, mainly because I want my kids to like me and I’m not sure that I could stick with the time schedule.
I promise to not write about dieting, exercise or losing weight. (I should be able to keep that promise because I don’t write about them anyway!)
Yeah, when I take the time to look out of my box, I realize the I really have it good, even when it’s bad. I’ll say a prayer for you now, for everything to slow down for you, for you to be able to do all the things that you need to do and for you to enjoy your remaining days here.
May 19, 2008 at 5:32 pm
ShackelMom
I am in complete sympathy on the final weeks thing… We leave tomorrow, going the other direction. Last minute errands to run, people dropping by, moments of panic, weighing suitcases, lists, eliminations, decision fatigue, and that nagging feeling we are forgetting something really important. Once you are on the plane, it is done, finished or not.
I hope Abel is feeling better and you get to go see your mom!
May 22, 2008 at 12:05 pm
allrileyedup
I often think to myself ‘if I leave it up long enough, I’ll get more comments.’ But even when I do that, I still only get a few… sigh. Someday, I’m going to post something really rude and obnoxious just to get comments. I think I’ll target Scientology.