A World without walls
everyday life while homeschooling overseas
There are two things that I'm really loving about Jordan. The first: The sun ALWAYS shines! Yes, I miss the rain sometimes, and it's dusty everywhere all the time, and I could use a good thunderstorm once in awhile, but, oh how I love LOVE LOVE the sun! I love the brightness, the warmth, the knowledge that I'm not going to freeze when I go outside, and the energy it gives to my mind and body. The sun is sheer awesomeness!
The other thing I love about Jordan: The call to prayer. Ok, so that sounds weird, but I love it. I love the sound, I love the fact that these people love to pray, I love that it reminds me of where I am... It's a beautiful, almost ethereal sound. I love it. In other news, we are STILL waiting for our shipments. So frustrating. Our air freight (UAB) arrived here in Jordan on the 20th of August, and it is still not released to us yet. I suppose I can continue to do without it--I've done without it for months now--but since I know that it's here, I just want it in my house now. I want to know that it's safe and that it isn't lost or being looted. That is my concern. Our HHE and our car....who knows? Devin's gone in a couple of times to the shipping office and politely asked about where it is and they tend to brush him off: "Oh, everything is on schedule. No problem." And the UAB? "We are waiting for the Jordanian ministry to return the papers, and then it will be the next day!" But they can't keep bugging the ministry because they want to 'keep good relations'. Hmmm...I'll show YOU good relations.... Regardless, I would just like to be able to move completely into my house so Peter will stop asking me when we're going to our real house. Any time would be good. We were spoiled in Finland, as our stuff all arrived 2 DAYS after we arrived! In Africa, it was 3 MONTHS before we got our stuff. A happy medium would be nice.
1 Comment
_I'm normally not one to think 'outside the box'. I've usually been one of those 'go with the flow' people. I've always seen that it makes things a lot easier if you just try to be like everyone else and do things the way everyone else seems to think is normal.
I've noticed lately, though, that normal is not so good for me anymore. Watching my kids in school and seeing them wilt, be labeled, become frustrated and feel dumb... Who wouldn't want to change that? While many people feel they should change the teachers, or change schools, or just make a big fuss to the administration, I've decided after being through many different administrations, to just take matters into my own hands. It's a scary thought, taking on all of my children's education! But how could I refuse this opportunity?? Yes, I'll be going against the flow; I'll be constantly thinking outside the box; People will probably look at me strangely and cluck their tongues and tell me I'm ruining my children's lives--oh, but I know that that's not true! I believe with all my heart and soul that this is the BEST thing for my kids! We don't need to be 'normal' to be happy--just to be themselves! And school is definitely not a place that has made my kids feel very happy or normal. It doesn't work for them. It works for many, true, but it doesn't work for our family. I'm SO grateful that there are other options!! In my search for the 'perfect' homeschool curriculum, I've done quite a bit of research lately. I've looked over online schools, and find they fall short of what I want for my kids. While it would be really nice to have the whole school years' worth of stuff dropped in my lap, the whole reason I'm homeschooling is not so I can take on all of their work, but so we can all learn together in the best way possible, so the kids will learn that life is all about learning, and so we can have fun together and make the most of each day! If I have 3 kids' entire curriculum packets in front of me that I HAVE to finish each and every day, that will NOT be fun, nor will it really be conducive to learning in our house! Funny, huh? So, I've been researching and organizing what I personally want to have them learn, plus I've asked them what things they would like to learn or things they'd like to become stronger in. It's been interesting. And very exciting!!! But the best part about all of this is, as I'm talking all of this up, the kids are getting excited! They're getting a little sparkle back in their eyes. They're smiling and hugging more--and they look forward to learning! Now that is a step in the right direction! |
Who Am I?
As a Stay At Home Mom of 4 wonderful children, I have the amazing opportunity not only to home school them, but to do so in many different places! I am married to the most amazingly wonderful (and handsome) man in the whole world! Together, we seek out, every day, that Joy in the Journey that makes life exciting! Archives
November 2020
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Emily's books
by Dan Brown
I like that the plot twists and turns a lot...and it makes you think. However, I don't appreciate Dan Brown's endings in his books. I find the endings incongruent with the rest of his stories--why make it a romance for the last chapter...
by Shannon Hale
I loved this book. I'm a sucker for fairy tales/fantasy. This was so well written! I can't wait to read all the rest of her books!
by Shannon Hale
I'm reading this one again. I liked it the first time I read it. I'm still liking it for the second time around. I like all of Shannon Hales' books.
**Still lots of fun the second time around! I do like this book for a comfortable...
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