Happy New Year

Hello ,

Just wanted to send a bit of holiday cheer and wishes for peace and prosperity in the new year!  The best to you all!!  Also, I wanted to know how the transition home is coming along for some of you.  It has been a little hectic here; there were senior activities Amsara attended this week.  (She's been to school every day, even though the jet-lag has kicked in.)  Besides that, she's very quiet, observant and seems to truly be in the midst of culture shock.  I'm thinking it'll be a slow, gradual process.  The look in Amsara's eyes when speaking of her new "sisters" and "aunties" is priceless.  She has formed life-long bonds with your daughters and I look forward to the continued blossoming of their friendships.  I must admit that I too, have grown fond of your daughters over these months just through blog posts and photos.  I appreciated watching them grow together.  And as for TTS staff...In-cre-di-ble!!!  Let's all keep in touch. 

Many blessings,

Carla Holly   

   

p.s.- I'll be sending photos from the airport.

Coming Home

Hello All,

Thank you Marsha for the wonderful song. I downloaded it on ITunes! I am counting the hours and will likely not sleep much tonight! Mariel will be 16 one week from tomorrow...it seems impossible but it is here. I am so excited to meet the new person she is when she gets off the plane tomorrow.

Mariel wrote an article about Zambia which was just published in the Big Timber Pioneer Newspaper here in Big Timber, MT. The community has been so supportive and so many have commented on what a wonderful adventure and opportunity this has been for her...all asking how does such a thing happen here in MT only to find out the school is based in Bozeman!

I wish you all joy, blessings, great beauty, and family fun for this Holiday Season! Thank you for sharing your daughters with mine! That is the most incredible blessing of all!

Many cheers,

Kim Colvin

Under African skies

I was putting together a cd for Sarah’s return and came across this song by Paul Simon. It definitely sums up very nicely the African experience. I encourage you all to put it on the loud speaker in the office today as you tie up loose ends.




We got the envelope today and it is on her pillow.



Can’t wait.



Marsha



“Under African Skies”

Joseph's face was black as night

The pale yellow moon shone in his eyes

His path was marked

By the stars in the southern hemisphere

And he walked his days

Under African skies

This is the story of how we begin to remember

This is the powerful pulsing of love in the vein

After the dream of falling and calling your name out

These are the roots of rhythm

And the roots of rhythm remain



In early memory

Mission music

Was ringing 'round my nursery door

I said take this child, lord

From Tucson, Arizona

Give her the wings to fly through harmony

And she won't bother you no more



This is the story of how we begin to remember

This is the powerful pulsing of love in the vein

After the dream of falling and calling your name out

These are the roots of rhythm

And the roots of rhythm remain



Joseph's face was black as night

And the pale yellow moon shone in his eyes

His path was marked

By the stars in the southern hemisphere

And he walked the length of his days

Under African skies

Thanking and Giving...

Thanksgiving Day, 2009

* From a remote and protected stretch of coastline in South Africa where Loggerhead and Leatherback turtles come the lay their eggs every year, and where the TTS14 is fully immersed in inspiring academics and ocean-based adventures.*

Dear Parents,
Thanksgiving dinner was full of conversation about the midnight walk along the beach searching for Leatherback and Loggerhead turtles, the boat ride to snorkel in the Indian Ocean, and time spent napping on the beach after boogie-boarding in the waves. Thanksgiving in Rocktail Beach with the visiting parents was full of adventure! There were also stories of home and Thanksgiving traditions with families who were missed. One dinner tradition the TTS14 family enjoys is sharing our rose, thorns and buds of the day or week. A rose is a favorite, special, amazingly beautiful moment. A thorn is, well, an experience that may not have been so pleasant. A bud is something that we are looking forward to. Below the girls have shared their roses, thorns and buds from the second half of the semester. We have also included a little bit about what we are Thankful for. The visiting parents also shared their roses, thorns, buds and thanks with the group.

Enjoy the messages from your incredible girls!

-Genevieve, Leah, Shannon and Chrissie – who are all so thankful that you have shared your inspirational, strong, fun, and intelligent daughters with us this semester!

Allegra:
Although I still bare the traces from the blisters, I really enjoyed our Tsitsikama hike. Even though the days were long and hard, Tsitsikama showed me how far I’ve come this semester. Over the course of four days we hike over 30 kilometers in the heat of the African sun. My thorn is that this trip is nearing the end. My bud is that I am looking forward to the Drakensburg Mountains. Coming from Montana, I’ve missed the mountains.

I am thankful for being with a group of 15 other strong, independent women.

Amsara:
My roses have been sleeping under the stars and sticking my head out of the window to get a better view of the various landscapes. I have also enjoyed visiting the Sangoma (spiritual healer) and getting some great advice from her. I also enjoyed Ngwe’s (Chrispen) wonderful food and Ngwene’s (Japhet) insightful and hilarious talks. I have overall enjoyed Africa as my home. My thorns were the body aches and blisters from the Tsitsikama hike and the struggles of dealing with computers that cut off. My biggest bud is Thanksgiving! I anticipate the next few weeks and the joyful experiences that are to come with it. But over all I am anticipating to spend my seventeenth birthday on December 12th right here in Africa.

I am thankful for spending my Thanksgiving in Africa! I am thankful for the support from my friends and family. I am thankful for the beauty of the stars.

Kendall:
My rose was the Tsitsikama hike with all of the girls. I can’t say I have had any thorns. My bud is to rock climbing in Waterfalboven. I am thankful for our incredible cook, Chrispen, and all of the good food here. I am also thankful for all of the girls here.

Laurel:
My rose has been walking barefoot in the sand under the starts searching for turtle tracks by moonlight. My thorn has been thinking about how fast this trip has gone by and how little time I have left to see Africa. My bud is enjoying my time here in this amazing place with these amazing people and making every single second count.

I am thankful for all the memories I will have forever from my TTS14 adventure.

Mariel:
My rose from our time since Cape Town has been being so close to the ocean – it is gorgeous! My thorn was when, in Eshowe, our dorm flooded and Buddy got wet. My bud is all the wonderful things we will be doing for the rest of the semester.

I am thankful for the opportunities I have been provided with in my life. I am thankful for every moment of each day that I learn something. I am thankful for the people who push me to do great things. And I am thankful for all the people who love me.

Phoebe:
My rose since Cape Town has been everything! Today was one of the best days of my life, but then again, yesterday was also one of the best days, too. Last night we went on a three-hour turtle walk along the berach and I got to see a mommy leatherback turtle head out to sea after laying her eggs. Watching her disappear into the waves was.... ahhh! I’m at a loss for words. This morning we went snorkeling which was so much fun. I really enjoy snorkeling and seeing all the different fish. A thorn since Cape Town has been missing my family, of course! I can’t wait to stop hand washing my clothes and I am excited to come home for Christmas and ski. I hope it is snowing at home! My bud is soaking up the rest of the semester and coming home. I have had the most enlightening, challenging and inspiring journey.

Margo:
Since Cape Town I have had so many roses with a few thorns. One of my roses was definitely surfing in Jeffery’s Bay and getting to play in the waves. I have also enjoyed the rain – we had a lot last week and it was awesome. But overall, just all of the fun we have had together since Cape Town has been great. I also had a great time with all of the activities we did in Eshowe such as the Sangoma visit, Shakaland, our village tour, and our AIDS talk with Paula. My thorn was probably the Tsitsikama hike because it was very long, tiring days of hiking which isn’t really my thing. But otherwise, no thorns, really! My bud would have to be going to Kruger. I am super excited to see animals again!

I am thankful for the opportunity to be on this amazing trip and to have spent the past three months with these wonderful girls. I am also very thankful for my friends, family and home in Kansas City, and thankful that everyone at home has supported me in this trip!

Morgan:
My rose was our hike at Tsitsikama. I was wonderful to get up in the mountains and do some good hiking with the girls. We also had a chance to witness some awesome awards and play some really good games. My thorn was the twelve hour truck ride in the rain. This was a long and tiring day and we were all very delirious by the end of it. My bud is our days rock climbing. This is something I used to do a lot when I was younger, but haven’t done in a while. It will be so exciting to be back up on the rock and make it to the top!

I am thankful for the opportunity to spend three months on this amazing continent, having classes in beautiful places, interacting with people here, and testing my limits. This has all been so much fun and has helped me grow in so many ways. I couldn’t have asked for more.

Alice:
My rose would be the Tsitsikama hike. We had a lot of fun up in the mountains and spending all day hiking. I also really liked having the parents come and visit us. My thorn would be how close the end of the semester is coming. I really don’t want it to end. Saying goodbye to Whitney was also really sad. My bud is that I am excited for Kruger National Park and having fun with the group for our last weeks together.

I am thankful for the ability to come on this trip and having the opportunity to experience what I have experienced.

Alexa:
My rose was the home stay in Cape Town. This was definitely one of the highlights of the trip. My other rose would be everyday learning something new. My thorn is being over stressed which has been making me sleepy. My bud is looking forward to the last weeks with the Traveling School and the last adventures we are going to have, especially the Drakensberg Mountains!

I am thankful for all of the support I have in my life at home and here. I am also really thankful to have had the opportunity to come to Africa. It has definitely changed my life.

Alexis:
My roses have been dance parties on the truck, Thanksgiving dinner and snorkeling in Rocktail beach. My thorns have been dirty clothes and the twenty-hour plane ride home leaving the girls.
My buds are rock climbing in Waterfalboven, completing finals,, and enjoying the rest of my time in southern Africa.

I am thankful for breathtaking African sunsets, great food and wonderful girls to share it with.

From the Parents:

Sarah Brookfield (Margo’s mom):
My rose is the opportunity to experience the beauty of the land, the history and people of Southern Africa. This has been like the bud of a rose as it opens and blossoms – unique, special and continually sharing its gift of joy. My thorn is the thought that there will be girls and parents exposed to the opportunity of TTS and will choose, possibly out of fear or discomfort of the unknown, to say “no” to participate in this unparalleled experience. My bud is the hope that I will always remember to keep my mind open to new ideas, cultures and people and to look at the world through multiple lenses.

I give unlimited thanks for the opportunity to spend Thanksgiving with my daughter in such an inspirational place like South Africa. Equally, I am thankful to share this day, and feast, with new friends which include the TTS14 girls and some of their parents and dedicated and superbly awesome teachers!

Shelly La Ferr (Allegra’s mom)
My rose is that I got to ride in the safari truck with the whole group and get an idea of what this semester has been like. My thorn is that it has gone by way too fast and soon we’ll be saying goodbye to TTS14.

I am thankful for the opportunity to be in South Africa, to be with all of the girls and to remember how fortunate each of us is.

Marsha Gaspari (Sarah’s mom):
Your daughters and their teachers and Crispen and Japhet are the most beautiful roses in the world. It has been pure joy to be around them and see them blossom. You should all be very proud. They are safe, curious, confident and having the time of their lives. The only thorn might be unexpected glimpses of snakes, lizards, overly hairy spiders and dung beetles. and I look forward to another long, hard, rib-cracking hug at the airport.

I am most thankful for the love you concretely feel all around these girls and this country of South Africa.

Mike Gaspari:
I am thankful for a daughter who has a wonderful sense of adventure and is willing to take a chance on what life has to offer. Like her, I had a dream of visiting Africa some day. Without her decision to turn her dream to reality, I may never have seen Africa. Thank you, Sarah, for making a dream come true for me.

Caroline (Alice’s mom):
As a parent on this trip, it has been an enormous please to meet everyone, be warmly accepted and feel part of the adventure and learning that TTS represents. I am so thankful that these girls have been able to be part of such an amazing, thought provoking and life changing experience and would wish that many others would have the courage and vision to do similarly in the future.

Thank you Caroline

Dear Caroline,

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful photos with the group. It was so nice, after so long, to see Mariel and the other girls on their journey and with the parents. I appreciate your thoughtfulness and I hope that you had a wondeful time and your journey and that your visit with Alice was all you had hoped for.

Take good care,

Kim Colvin

Hi everyone, I can't believe the girls will be home so soon!! It's been a week since we heard from Morgan and I'm ready for another update.

It was so nice to get Marsha's card the other day. What a thoughtful way to help us all feel a little closer to our girls. Best wishes to you all as we continue to support the girls upon their return. I know the experiences they have had, and the realtionships they have built will shape
the context of their lives

Enjoy the Home coming
Kathy Wilson.

Durban

Hello All,

I got a call from Mariel tonight and she says they are in Durban and just picked up Jennifer and are having a great time with her.

Take care,

Kim

Tsikama Trail and the Whales

Hello All,

I had a nice visit with Mariel tonight. She says they are camping for a few days by the ocean at Jeffries Bay and just returned from a hike on the Tsikama Trail. They hiked four miles the first day and stayed in a cabin. There were showers at the cabins and they had to put their food inside as there were baboons. They then got up early and hiked 9 miles the second day to another cabin. The third day they hiked 9 miles again and then 4 miles on the last day. She says it was beautiful and looked a lot like Montana without the trees. The first night they stayed near the edge of a beautiful gorge with a waterfall. She says the day they started out on the hike there was a whale that breeched right next to the campground to send them on their way. A couple of the girls got a little ill from some water and were taken to the doctor but they have medicine and will be okay now. She says she is drinking the water from the truck and filtering to keep from getting the grumbles. She says when hiking they are doing their school work at night. I personally don't know how they do it all and keep going. Amazing girls! Take care! Kim

A Compilation of Travel Journalism Articles

While in Zambia we traveled to a rural area named Sinazongwe and then to Livingstone; it was our home for two weeks. Through our adventure in Zambia, as The Traveling School (TTS) we immersed ourselves in the culture and bonded with the people, gaining a better appreciation for our lives. Visiting the Sinazongwe village we walked on dirt roads, danced with the women and played with the children. The people wore torn clothing that did not fit, children walk miles to go to school and water is treated like gold because it does not flow freely through the faucets of their thatched roofed homes. (Amsara)

As the air conditioned truck bumped down the potholed road, I watched the Zambian countryside pass by. Among Baobab and Acacia trees, children with threadbare cloths hanging off their jutting shoulder blades chased after our truck, smiling and waving. Heat waves rose off the melting pavement ahead of us and I felt thankful for the cool air conditioning washing over my sweaty body. This gratefulness immediately turned to guilt as I saw a girl no older than seven trudge down the potholed road, a baby in one arm and basket bigger than she was balanced a top her head precariously. Here I was, air conditioned, fully clothed and being rushed to a clinic for nothing more than a few stitches. (Phoebe)

There is also a lack of transportation in Zambia. Driving down the street of a local village or even a paved main road, I see women, dressed with billowing colorful skirts and carrying some laden objects atop their head. Men walk too, with heaps of fire staring charcoal held in the crook of their arm. They walk barefoot head up with a smile and wave for our vehicle as we zoom past.

My mode of transportation is bus with a 45-minute ride to school, including several stops along the way. I take the same route every morning for nine and a half months out of the year and extremely dislike it. However I wouldn’t trade my bus, and its persistent jolts, any day to have to walk five to seven miles to the nearest school morning and night.

For Zambians this is the inconvenient truth. After talking with my Zimbabwean driver Ted I was informed that his kids travel a long distance on foot to reach and return from school every day. I imagine for this reason that students find some enjoyment in the classroom and from learning. (Kendall)

While in Sinazongwe we visited a school. Meeting the bright eyed children I paid close attention to their environment. The school consisted of cement one-roomed buildings. Stepping into the roomed I noticed the cracked glass windows, leaning desks and squeaky door. Through multiple questions and answers, a student told me something that stuck and smeared like maple on a tree. He told me, to us as U.S. citizens their lives were hard, but to them as Zambians in Sinazongwe it was a daily process. During school hours some teachers would not appear, leaving the children with nothing to do in the classrooms. They did not have running water in their homes; a grocery store to walk or drive to and some couldn’t afford education. Yet it was not something to complain over. Whereas if I were in that type of predicament I would feel like my life was losing its value and purpose, not able to handle it. (Amsara)

We arrived at the school that morning to the sound of the Zambian National Anthem bobbing through the open windows of our truck. We watched through the right side windows, quietly packing against each other, pressing ourselves against the glass and listened to the unfamiliar tune.

The children were standing shoulder to should in a circle much resembling a half deflated beach ball, around a lonely looking metal flag pole, unaccompanied by a flag. The teachers all stood together and gave warning looks to the smaller children who were curiously gawking at our big blue truck, abandoning all attempts at being discrete. The older kids did much better with hiding their wonder by staring blatantly at their feet or looking around without letting their eyes rest on anything at all. (Mariel)

Roughly fifty children smiled back at me as they sung happy birthday in attempted English. My birthday was different from any other average American girls birthday. I wasn't showered with presents or given a fancy cake but rather serenaded by a group of children who come from a population in which only 20% of all children are educated in secondary school. I am spending the fall semester of my sophomore year in high school traveling around Southern Africa with The Traveling School (TTS). We had spent the morning plastering the walls of a four-room schoolhouse belonging to a group of school children on the outskirts of Livingstone, Zambia.

We arrived in our big blue truck and were immediately rushed into work, with the job of mixing concrete. The rickety shovel squeaked as we hauled large mounds of concrete into a wheelbarrow. Leaving three TTS girls to keep mixing the concrete, the rest of us entered the school pushing the wheelbarrow that looked as if it would break at any moment. (Alice)

I was handed a shovel, the handle worn and the color faded. Around me a circle of traveling School girls dug in their shovels and mixed sand. We clumsily added water and continued with our strenuous work. Behind us, school children peered over windows and from behind corners, as we mixed the cement. Our teachers had informed us that we were helping to build a school on the outskirts of Livingstone, Zambia. We were working with a program called Happy Africa. The program went into local communities to see what would benefit them. Since only 20% of Zambian students attended secondary school, Happy Africa had decided that a school would be beneficial to the community.

We were greeted by a man in a suit that must have once been blue but was covered in a layer of dust, so I couldn’t be sure. By the end of the morning our shirts would look the same as his. Once the cement was mixed we were handed a trowel and a flat piece of metal with a handle. Staring down at the instrument I couldn’t name, my inexperience became tangible. I wondered how many people could name the tool in my hand? Or how many had used one? The numbers grew smaller in my head as the sad truth dawned. In our complex fast paced world little details were getting lost. (Allegra)

Although it was hard, the work we did, and similar projects done by others, are important in countries like Zambia, where, according to CultureGrams, 24% of all adult men, and 40% of women can not read. As a person who grew up in a nation where literacy is, for the most part expected, I find this statistic startling. Although, when comparing colorful classrooms where names are printed on the desks and the ABC’s line the walls, to musty, half-built schools with minimal windows, and teachers who may or may not be present, its easy to see how these numbers are so high. Unfortunately, in my experience, many of the people who sat behind labeled desks do not appreciate their ability to read as much as those who sat between windowless walls. Much of this, most likely, is due to the fact that the colorful schools are free and mandatory, and the possibility that the child who went to the school with no teachers was the only one of his siblings to attend because their family couldn’t afford to pay for more. Imagine going to school knowing that your younger brothers or sisters won’t have the chance. (Mariel)

Walking towards the school, kids small and large congregate. Their clean white shirts stand out against their dark complexions. Bright eyes and wide smiles welcome us; laughter and words of foreign languages reach my ears. All of my attention is drawn to the bustling, energetic school kids until, out of the corner of my eye, I spot her. Standing alone at the edge of the schoolyard her vibrantly colored dress and bare feet draw my attention. Her eyes penetrate mine – wiser and older than her overall physical appearance. Long bony arms and legs, her dress sits on her sharp shoulders like a bag draped over a stick. A few moments pass as my teen-aged eyes lock with hers. Eyes of a child who has experienced much more hardship than I might ever see. I will never be able to understand her life completely. Growing up in different environments it’s like I am wearing yellow tinted glasses and she is wearing ones tinted with blue. The best we can ever see of each other are through lenses tinted green. Before I can even smile she turns and starts to walk away, showing the weight she carries on her back. A small bundle strapped securely on with a single piece of fabric, a sleeping baby.

My childhood was focused around the number of stuffed animals I had and the play-dates I attended. From what I observed in visiting the first through eleventh grades school in this small town, on the edge of Lake Kariba, childhood involves a lot more than what I experienced.

“At five kids go out in the bush taking care of cattle, goats and other livestock. Girls by ten know how to cook sadza and run the household, laundry, cleaning, all of it.” Japhet our driver replies, with a laugh, when I ask him what his kids’ as well as his own childhood was like, “we do not spoil our kids like in the US.” How true, it’s almost a tradition to give your children all they want in the States. We talk more, exchanging laughs and wide grins. “We teach and work our kids young so that when they grow up they will be prepared and can handle anything.” (Laurel)

After we finished applying the rough plaster, we had a few moments to interact with the children who attended the school. At one point I found myself in a circle of girls who were fifteen – my peers. Physically, they all seemed so much younger than me, having the statures of twelve or thirteen year olds, but their dark chocolate eyes and rough calloused hands told stories of hardship and hunger far beyond our years. I did not have much more than enough time with them than to exchange names, but as the tires of our truck turned on the dusty road, away from the diminutive cement school, there were many different thoughts on the minds of my classmates. The one wandering through mine was “What if I had been one of those girls? Or rather, what if one of those girls, had been me?” (Mariel)

More Global Studies detail

We’ve been able to talk with Sarah a lot while she was in Cape Town. Two of the things that struck her the most were the healing memories speaker (she videotaped his speech to the group) which Whitney also talks about in her update. Below is the website and an overview. Sarah said it was one of the most powerful speakers she had ever heard.

http://www.healingofmemories.co.za/introduction/ihom_history.htm
Through his own experience of living in exile, losing both hands in a parcel bomb explosion, and listening to the stories of the survivors whom he counseled at the Trauma Centre, Fr. Lapsley realized the importance of giving people a space in which their experiences could be told and acknowledged. He became a driving force in developing Healing of Memories workshops as an alternative form of providing support for victims and survivors of apartheid violence.

The other thing she talked about was learning about Amy Biehl. See the link and summary:

http://www.amybiehl.co.za/about-amy On August 25th, 1993, Amy Biehl’s life was tragically cut short in an act of political mob violence in the Guguletu Township outside of Cape Town. Four young men were convicted and sentenced to 18 years imprisonment for her murder. When the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established, the young men applied for amnesty. Determined to honor Amy’s love of South Africa and her belief in the truth and reconciliation process, Amy’s parents participated in the Commission’s hearings and supported amnesty for the youths; the four were granted amnesty and released from prison in 1998. two of these men now work for the foundation and spread Amy’s message of social justice.

What strikes me is how much healing and forgivessness is going on over there that the girls are being exposed to and what a valuable lesson that is for them.

A science tidbit for the really nerdy that I learned today while listening to a TED talk (http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/juan_enriquez_on_genomics_and_our_future.html
White Europeans suffered the most from the Black Plague. Those that survived, their next generation had a gene mutation that someone made the race more resistant to this kind of disease. In Africa, there was no black plague and they never got the mutation. This is one of the reason that AIDS is spreading so fast across Africa and not as fast in Europe since they never had that gene mutation. Whoa. My head hurts. I need to get a glass of wine after that.

Parents going to Africa

Hello everyone,

Kendall's mom here. This is my first post and I am happy to report that we have heard from Kendall frequently since they arrived in Cape Town. I can hear in Kendall's voice her enthusiasm for this city and how much she is enjoying herself now. In previous phone conversations she has sounded a bit homesick but she has now clearly moved past it. Kendall has asked if any of the parents who are meeting up with the group in Cape Town would be willing to carry a few small tapes for her video camera and a few letters for her. Apparently she cannot find the tapes she needs in Cape Town and she has letters that we were given a little too late to send. I will check this blog for responses if anyone is able to help with that. Thanks so much.

Amy

Thanks so much for sharing the photo, we were curious where it came from. Has anyone else received photos? I'm sure at some point the girls will be able to upload, and there will be lots !!! No word from Morgan since sand sledding, "dirt and sand are a part of me now", so it is great to hear from Mariel, thanks Kim.

Are any of your girls blogging? If so I would enjoy following the blogs of others, if you care to share how to access them. Morgan's is ... morgangoestoafrica.blogspot.com .

On to Cape Town.... Kathy

Photoshopped Namibia group photo

First let me say that I think Shannon took this photo and I thought it was wonderful. It's got the rule of thirds, everyone is off the ground, and you just smile when you look at it. I played around with it in Photoshop using different filters and below are the results. I've had them blown up to 20x30 and they look great. If you would like to order some, you can go through Shutterfly (though I can't speak for their quality) or you can email me and I will do the reprints through Costco and mail them to you. Their prices are: 4x6 .13 5x7 or 4 wallets .39 8x10 or 8x12 $1.49 111x14 or 12x18 $2.99 16x20 $5.99 20x30 $8.99. Contact me for any details as marshag@carolina.rr.com

Thanks.

Namibia TTS14

Click here to view these pictures larger

Orange River

Hello All,

I had an opportunity visit with Mariel today! Yeah! She says they are at the Orange River and are doing their language mid-term today and will be doing their history mid-term on the river. She says that Swakopmund was wonderful and she wants to spend more time there before college. The group spent the night near Dune 45, got up at 4:00 am and hiked to the top of the dune to watch the sunrise. Mariel said it took her breath away and that after that she is convinced that Africa is the most beautiful place in the world. She says the dunes go right down to the sea in places with no beach. They were at the Fish River Canyon yesterday and got to walk around there. She was able to explain the way the Canyon was formed by two plates of the earth moving and then the center piece sinking down in the middle then the river washed through. The river comes through about every five years with great force. They have been camping and working on their school work. Her new totem is the Eland. She says she thinks the girls are all doing well. They are looking forward to Cape Town and talking about how that will be the 1/2 way point and how it will go very fast after that. She feels she has learned a lot about herself, life, women, and friendship. I hope you are all doing well. Cheers, Kim

what they are up to now 10/12

Here's our latest update from Sarah: okay i think this is actually going to be the last email for a while. we're in Ludwitz right now we just saw a ghost town leftover from the mining industry here. It was really creepy the sand dunes had like invaded the houses and we could barely squeeze under the door frame there was so much sand, but it was fun! We just drove through the most beautiful landscape in Namibia. i want to come back here with you guys later! okay we're off to fish river canyon tomorrow, and then midterms on the orange river (ah!) and then cape town so i will talk to you then!

A Special Visitor

We heard from Sarah last week who told us that Ginger Mauney (family friend) got a chance to visit and speak with the girls in Swakopmund. She is a documentary filmaker now living in Namibia who has made films about baboons, African Bushmen, and the elephants of Etosha. She is also c0-author of the book: Best of Friends:Two Women, Two Continents, and One Enduring Friendship. See http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/15/books/review/Byer-t.html for a synopsis and review. Her part of the book talks alot about Namibia and her work there. She spoke about her work and what's it's like to be an American in Namibia and took their questions. A direct quote from her: The girls asked thoughtful questions and laughed easily - two good signs - and the teachers are very nice.



Love the Namibian Salt pan photo.

Greetings from the Holly family

Hello all!!  This is Amsara's mom and dad, Carla and Obi, and we are very excited about making our first post on the blog.  We are so grateful for our daughter having this life changing opportunity!  Also, we're very pleased with the way all of the girls appear to be bonding and engaging in their instructions.  Thanks to your great parenting and open-minded world view, our daughter now has new friends and experiences that will stay dear to her heart for years to come.  Next blog, we will discuss in more detail what Amsara has shared with us thus far.  We've only had two phone conversations and were ecstatic to receive two letters from her.  Her journey thus far has been "beautiful".  Until next time...peace and love to all. - Obi &  Carla Holly

News from the coast

Hi everyone, we had a phone call from Morgan this morning.....all seems to be going very well. She said they would be sandboarding today, they have seen seals and they were smelly(the seals), and the pizza was great. The A frames they are staying in are nice and they have a real bed!!! She was planning on washing her clothes in a real washing machine. The weather has been cool and she seemed to be happy to be wearing her socks and long pants. Hope all is well with everyone - Kathy

Mailing costs

I went to the post office today to get an estimate on the cost of mailing and it is as follows (keep in mind this is from Charlotte): 4 oz. is $5, 8 oz. is $9, 12 oz. is $13, and 16 oz. is $17 so that pound of candy can be pricey. You also have to fill out a customs form. They might also like to get your local magazines and local high school publications if there are any. I might be tempted to make her a t-shirt that says, "I survived the Chobe Chuckapalooza" as she was one of the ones spending the night in the 'loo.

Hi everyone,

The night before last, 2:30am, the phone rang here. Before my feet hit the ground Gary said "it's Morgn". Hooray, we had a great talk with a clear connection. She shared some of the same information you have heard from your girls, and said the Salt Pan was the highlight of the trip so far. She has also updated her blog, where she talks about singing songs with the guys who poled the dug out canoes. On the phone she said she got to try and pole the canoe and it was very difficult. The guide in her boat gave her at totem, which she explained as a special name or designation in the Shona culture, her totem was dik dik...a very small antelope.

We did hear some about the "chobe chuck fest" At this point it was cause for more laughter than distress.

She shared that she and Mariel already have plan to take a road trip around the country to visit "TTS girls" after they are home. "We'll either have a southern trip or western trip" :) ... How exciting it is to see them becoming independent, confident women in the world.

The videos are awesome. Alice's birthday makes me cry every time!! - Thanks to all for sharing.

Kathy

Maun

Hello All,

Well all the photos, videos and Gennifre's poem made me tear up several times! What a beautiful thing to see. I spoke with Mariel yesterday and today! What a miracle! She says they are having a great time in Maun after their trip to the Okavanga Delta. She was most impressed with the zebras they saw yesterday morning on the way back from the delta. She says the Merecats are much smaller than they look on TV and really friendly. She has decided that Baboons are really dirty nasty creatures at times! Mariel says they had a wonderful night out on the salt flat at Planet Baobab sleeping on pads and that they did a wonderful ritual together where they all held hands at night in a circle then they all turned around and faced out then broke the circle and walked as far as they had to into the darkness to not be able to see another person. At that point she says it was miraculously quiet and wonderful with a beautiful sky filled with stars. She also says the the sun looks different there. It is not like the sun from America. It is a huge disc and you can look almost straight at it when it sets and rises. She has taken many pictures of the sunrise and sunset. Also, she says Baobab trees are incredible and that she took photos of all the girls in a tree that is over 4,000 years old.

Mariel says she has lots of homework and is learning that her capacity for organization is more than what she thought and that classes are fun and going well. She espeically loves her languages of Africa class. She says all the girls are healthy right now and that they will be going to Namibia tomorrow. They have a new truck driver, PaPa. He will be with them the rest of the trip. She says the food is outrageous in that the have plenty and for all of you who have vegetarians on the trip like she is, there are vegetarian selections at every meal. So that's the Maun report from Mariel! Take care all, Kim

News from Maun

Alice had a lot to tell us yesterday about what they had been doing since we talked from Livingstone. She had one of "the best birthdays ever" at the school, being with the children, helping with the plastering, and then the children sang Happy birthday and threw a bucket of water over her...a tradition apparently, which she said was just what she needed at the end of a hot day!!
Another great highlight was the salt pan "the size of Switzerland", where they slept under the stars all bundled up in extra warm bedding as it was freezing cold. It was SO quiet, the stars SO bright, the sunrise stunning, "It was magical".
They did a walking safari which was fascinating as they got a completely different perspective from being on wheels, footprints, scat, insects and always the excitement of what might be around the next corner!!
Seeing the elephant, hippos and of course the lion eating an elephant carcass was "so cool", but then Alice's love for anything on 4 legs surpasses all else!! The stomach bug did not feature much only that most of them had spent one night on the floor close to the "loo"..."it was the best place to be"
It seems that all fun, busy and cool with the girls, they seem to make friends wherever they go, i hope all is well with all of you.
Caroline

A poem for the girls...

I wrote this poem for the girls and read it to them on the truck in Zambia before I got on the plane home...

Getting on a plane and flying away,
is so very difficult, but knowing you'll stay
to play and to learn and to love and to grow,
and fall in love with this place I love so...

Whitney, your leader, so loving and strong,
Chrissie, with confidence - helping nothing go wrong,
Leah, so thorough, so kind and so quick,
Shannon, so happy - being here is a kick.

You've already done so much in such a short time,
tents, money belts, full backpacks and synched time.
Learning the cadence of this daily life,
understanding how to deal with poverty and strife.

Margo, so sweet and open to all,
Mariel, so gentle and standing so tall,
Nicole, asking her great questions with a quick grin,
and Laurel, quietly smiling while taking it in.

How to tell people back home about what you see?
Naughty monkeys? Laughing children waving with glee?
Eating breakfast on the Zambezi enjoying your bread,
while a mighty elephant crashes through trees with its head.

Alexa, the free spirit, with positive feeling,
Alexis, her passion will break down the ceiling,
Sarah, so open and kind to us all,
Kendall, so thorough and watching it all.

Alice, so helpful and such a good friend,
Morgan hoping the semester won't end!
Phoebe so strong with her super happy grin,
Amsara, our diva, taking each experience in,
and Allegra engaged in each moment she's in...

And so many adventures still left to do...
Elephants, kayaking, perhaps a cheetah or two?
The journey you're on is completely your own,
and when you return - your mind will be blown
with all that you've learned and now want to share
since you'll have just been in African air.

And know that I'll miss each of you so much,
and I hope that you will all stay in touch...

(Thank you for sharing your daughters with us - they are amazing!)
-Gennifre

Photo Reflections

Hi everyone,
I agree that the pictures were wonderful. I find myself revisiting them regularly. We have not heard from Morgan for about a week. Her last communication was a blog that outlined animal sightings.... we continue to hear words like amazing and incredible.....I don't know about the rest of you but I check this blog and e-mails daily(at least). I think it gives me a way to feel connected and I appreciate everything that folks are sharing.

We continue to track the group's progress with maps and through internet searching whenever we get specifics about their location. Multiple generations of our family are learning about the world as we follow the girls. Morgan's Grandma reported that she spent over an hour in Chobe National Park the other day!! Good wishes to everyone. Kathy

Being Independent

The photos were wonderful and reassuring. Mariel had a huge smile several times and I loved seeing them all working together to make things happen. Mariel has not communicated much as she is trying to be independent (a point she made to me when she left, nothing personal Mom) She did say she got through the virus quickly and that she is doing wonderful. Hopefully, when they are in Maun I will hear more. I do know she is working hard and having a great time. I think for her, at least, when she has these types of experiences she holds them close and things come out over time as we live together again. So I always look forward to spending time with her when she returns. I hope you are all having a wonderful fall and enjoying the colors wherever you are! Kim

Wasn't it fantastic to see our girls in Africa! Wow! Alexa is doing well, except for that virus and a little missing me. Most of her emails contain "it was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen".The pictures really connect for me "what" she is doing. I would love to hear how your daughters are doing. Be well, Kathy aka Alexa's Mom.

For those who thirst

Actually, I just wanted to get Sarah's photo lower. I didn't realize it would be so big. I was just trying to help people connect a name to a face...

I found it helpful to read through some of the TTS12 parent blog to get an idea of all the things they did and how they changed.

News from Livingstone II

Thank you for the details Caroline, Alice was much more detailed. Sounds like they are seeing so much. Glad to know about the orphanage etc. Mariel says she is doing wonderful and that her roommate who was bitten by the monkey is dong fine. She said they had a 6 hour truck ride to Livingstone and asked about her brother then had to get off because they were using someone's cell phone and there was a long line of girls. A quick I love you and off she went. No e-mails from her either so I was glad to see why they have chosen not to do that in your note. I was so happy to hear the lilt in Mariel's voice and to know that she is wonderful is all that is important. Take good care!

Kim

News from Livingstone

I feel sure that everyone must have heard from their daughters by now; Alice was very concerned that we didn't talk for too long as there was a queue of others needing to use the phone too!! Alice was positive about everything, Lake Kariba, seeing the animals (elephant, Hippo, crocs, impala and the fish eagle "I got a photo of it for you Daddy, but it was quite far away"), the camping, the truck, making toast on the fire and even the school work, "because we are learning about where we are"!! Everyone and everything was "cool"! We couldn't have had a happier and more enthusiastic voice down the phone.
They were off to Victoria falls yesterday and to visit an orphanage on Monday, which she thought was going to be a perfect way to celebrate her birthday, apparently two others on the trip have birthdays this week too. She said the internet access was slow and expensive...no time for that...boring, so no emails for the time being from Alice!!
Alice's first impressions "Africa is amazing"
Caroline

Communication

Hi All,

I just spoke with Jennifer about past parent communication protocol as I don't want to be stepping over any bounds and she really encouraged me to just use the blog. I am sorry about the reply all messages on e-mail as I do know, like me, many of you have work e-mail, many may not use e-mail at all etc. Thanks for your patience.

Some news form Africa...Jennifer said she had talked with Leah today and that the girls had a great cultural exchange at the school they visited and that everyone was feeling up and getting ready for dinner.

Take care,

Kim

The begining of the adventure

Here are a few photos, especially for those who were not in Washington, of the girls and one of parents/sisters looking on!! The teachers did an excellent job of making some apprehensive faces smile and laugh and now they are on Lake Kariba...what a transformation!! As others have said, Google earth does give some idea of where they are, but other than this we'll have to wait a while.

Caroline

Kaiba Error

Hello!

My friend who had been in Zambia and told me about the power not being generated from the dam at Kariba just wrote to say that her info is outdated and that power is now being generated there. So correction noted.

I hope all are well on this fine Sunday.

Take care,

Kim

Google Earth is Fun Too!

Hi all,

Gary and Kathy are right you can find all kinds of things on the internet. I used Google Earth to look at the lake. It is huge! You can zoom right down to the shore line and see small houses or villages.

It was such a pleasure to meet all the wonderful girls on this trip in Washington DC. They were all so excited and full of life. A few tears were flowing but in general everything was terrific. The teachers were great and I truly enjoyed meeting all the other parents that came. If anyone would like to visit please feel free to e-mail me.

I am just so thrilled that all of our girls get to build a community to learn and grow in together!

Cheers and blessings to all,

Kim Colvin

Bird's eye view

Hi Folks, Gary and I have been having fun looking at satelite images of Lake Kariba . We used Virtual Globetrotter and were able to find the airport in Lukasa. We then scanned south and found the lake. You can get a good look at the shoreline. We were also able to see Victora Falls. Pretty amazing !!!

And They're Off

I just watched your girls as they made their way through security at the airport. They felt a mixture of eagerness to set out on their new adventure and trepidation to be taking such a big step away from what's familiar. Over the course of three and 1/2 months, we will all be traveling vicariously along with them. If you have news from the group, please share it here. The other parents will be grateful. Meanwhile, I'll keep you posted.

Thanks for sharing your daughters with us at The Traveling School.

Jennifer

Here we go!

Hello Fellow TTS Parents and Students!

I am Mariel's mom, Kim. She and I are so excited to meet everyone in the coming days. Today she is busy sewing on her patches and we read through and looked at a beautiful book about Namibia lent to us by a friend. The animals and landscapes are incredible!

We plan to go to Washington DC a few days early to take in some of the government sites and monuments, so we will see you at the hotel on the 1st instead of the airport.

I am living in an loving my parental separation anxiety as both of my children travel the globe. My son, Tanner, who just turned 18, is backpacking with a friend around Japan for three weeks and, of course, Mariel is flying off to Africa. With that said, I am watching the shifting boundaries of parenting and trying to honor all involved as we move through and into our new relationship landscape. I very much appreciated all of the material in the handbook as it helps to hear from experienced outdoor educators about what to expect from our daughters as they find themselves, new relationships, and community.

I have felt enormous gratitude for this amazing opportunity that has come into Mariel's life. TTS has given a small town girl who is bursting at the seems to be the big person she is an opportunity to be in the world in a way that embraces her whole being, sets healthy boundaries, and encourages responsibility in the learning process yet also encourages freedom of thought and movement.

So with great love and care I wish all the girls and their families safe travels to DC and beyond!

Cheers,

Kim Colvin

Just for you

Parents,

This blog has been created as an opportunity for you to communicate and share with each other. There will be days when you miss a phone call from your daughter and days when you hear all the news. Please use this blog to pass the word along about your daughters. It's just another avenue for communication.

Enjoy!

Advice from a mom who has done this before

I thought I'd pass along a few things we did (or wish we had done) before leaving last semester that made communications easier (long, but hopefully helpful):
1.) Discuss whether the first call on any given day should be to mom's cell, dad's cell, home, work, etc. Sometimes the girls only have a few minutes to call. Hitting voicemail is frustrating for all and takes precious minutes from any subsequent call, if one is even possible.
2.) Encourage messages if she hits voicemail or when she has the opportunity to call but knows you're not available. "Hi, I'm having a BLAST!!!" is much better than waiting another week to hear her voice. Plus, you can play it back over and over and over. :-)If your daughter will call more than one place (mom's house, dad's house, older siblings, etc), let her know those of you back home will communicate with each other (she repeats less; you get more updates). And, she won't be as likely to pass up making any phone call because she doesn't have time to make two phone calls.
3.) Discuss time differences and best times to call (but know they may not have options and call when the opportunity presents itself).
4.) Write down your daughter's calling card number and pin so you can check available minutes and reload before it runs out.
5.) Have your daughter create a blog so she can post news and stories for people back home. Although Jenna was only able to post twice, I added a few of her emails and photos the teachers sent.
6.) Create a separate blog for friends and family to post news from home, photos, etc (we made this by invitation only). This provides a single place for her to read updates when Internet time is limited. Jenna said Facebook and MySpace don't work as well.
7.) Make sure your daughter adds all email addresses to her contact list, and if possible, creates email groups (family, friends, teachers, etc) to save precious email time.
8.) Share what you hear from your daughter on this blog -- other parents will love you! Not all girls call or email at the same time or share the same stories.
9.) Know that no news is good news -- if she's homesick, sick or hurt, you'll hear (hopefully none of us will hear any of these things).
This all said, know that you will ache for the next phone call and email, and no matter how often you hear from your daughter, those calls and emails won't be as frequent, as long, or have as many details as you'd like. But, when you do hear from her, oh, it is wonderful!