Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Landed!

Greetings TTS13 parents,
Greta has landed back in Bozeman! I think she is happy to be here. As she walked into the house with her backpack on she went around to each room and looked and smelled. Then she went to the kitchen sink and said, "Ah, water out of a tap, and I don't have ot treat it with anything!" And thus her awarnesses unfold as she looks with new eyes at the same old stuff.
As I was working (as a cashier) at our local food Co-op here comes the staff of TTS through my line and I bowed to them with great thanks for all they do for all our girls but also for all the other girls who have experienced TTS and those who will. An amazing group of people. Thankfulness and gratitude pours from my heart!
I also want to thank you parents that went on the parent trip and sent photos and videos of the kids. I was happy to see Greta on film and see what she looked like after a few months. That was really a gift. All the girls photos are on the fridge and know at any time all or one or two are welcome to our home as they grow and get out on the road on their own. Bozeman is a lovely place with a University, lots of snow,mountains, rivers, etc. So, keep us in mind if you want to come out on vacation. We are only an hour and a half from Yellowstone.
So I hope y'all have a fantastic summer and may our paths cross again and again.
Blessings. Alice Robison (Greta's ma)

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Isn't it nice to be home again....

Home and happy. That's all of us. Did the laundry, not too stinky except the shoes. Anna's in great shape, hope all your girls, the teachers and crew have had happy landings. Looking forward to hearing Anna's stories unfold.
Thanks for sharing this incredible adventure. Although most of us parents have not met, I feel we share a deep experience having our daughters become so close. Our home is always open to you for a visit if you head to the southern Maine coast.
All the best, Patty (Anna/Anita's mom)

Thursday, May 14, 2009

On Finishing Up

You guys (TTS) rock with this termination advice on how to ease the girls transition home. It is this level of attention to detail and thoughtfulness about the well-being of our daughters that makes this program so unique.

Last fall after I read the TTS manual, I was impressed with how well prepared you were for taking care of our daughter. From the security/safety rules to the description of the teacher/student mentoring system, it was clear to us that Charlotte would be in good hands.

As we told friends and family about Charlotte's upcoming TTS trip, we were often asked if we were worried about her safety. I told them that I have not felt that kind of anxiety - in fact, I am probably more worried about Charlotte's safety when she is out driving at night on our country roads.

It was also a privilege to have gone on the Parent Trip. Visiting the Earth Lodge/Lake Atitlan and meeting all of the girls/teachers now gives us some common reference points with Charlotte. I'm sure that these shared experiences will mean a lot to all of us when she returns. The trip also gave us more insight as to the underlying approach to the classes and other activities.

For example, as much as I thought I understood the program, I didn't fully understand how rigorous the experience was for the girls until I walked in their shoes at Lake Atitlan. After a day of kayaking and hiking followed by academic classes and then having a long walk back to the hotel for dinner, I was beat. Of course the girls still had to walk back to the hostel and have 1½ hours of study hall while I grabbed a beer and went to the hot tub instead. Charlotte has been clear from start of the trip that the academic component of the TTS program was more rigorous than what she generally experiences in her home high school.

It has been delightful for us as parents to see how Charlotte has risen to meet the challenges of the trip. Of particular importance was that the girls have been challenged about their perceptions of what constitutes poverty. I was very impressed when we first met the girls at the language school and were then taken to meet the host families in their homes. Back in the day, I spent a lot of time in the Chiapas region of Mexico and lived in small rural beach communities with families in very similar circumstances to those that the girls were with. Most tourists only see these small villages from a distance and are generally struck by what they see as their abject poverty. That our girls got to spend time and get to know these families was a powerful experience for them. The impact of the experience on the girls was evident later that afternoon when the girls said goodbye to their new friends – there were plenty of hugs/tears/laughter. From the later trip reports, it sounds like the girls have continued to expand their knowledge and understanding of how one can connect and become a part of a community that is different from their community of origin. I am grateful that they have had this unique opportunity.

Another great experience that Charlotte has shared with us was her time spent with the Peace Corps worker in El Salvador. That wonderfully wacky TTS teacher Dawn Card did an amazing job in setting up the surfing and Peace Corps visits. That time period may have been the highlight of her trip.

Finally, we need to acknowledge how much Charlotte has enjoyed her time with the other girls and teachers. There is no doubt that the quality of these relationships is the key to the success of TTS13. She has already told us that she wants to stay in touch with her teachers and that she could see herself following some of their career/life tracks. She has reported that her time spent with her mentors was very special and that many of the girls relied a great deal of their mentors to get through some of the difficult times that they all faced. As for the girls, Charlotte has always been positive in speaking about them and she is sure that they will all be friends for life.


Again, thanks for everything that the TTS staff has done for our girls. We can’t wait to see them tomorrow.

Fondly,
Rob McConaghy

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Well, less than one month to go. As Jennifer told me, what seems to us as slow time seems to them to be warp speed in the final stretch. I met a San Salvadorian teenager who got this longing look in his eyes when I told him about the group surfing on the coast. He said he dreams of surfing those waves. What a gift for the girls to understand Central America, our close neighbors who we, as parents, have not met this closely before. Our 18 year old son spent 10 days in Guatemala on a service trip and I worked in a medical clinic in Dominican Republic near Haiti. We lounged on Caribbean beaches long ago. Other than that, we are learning from our daughter and the group and look forward to their synthesis. Once back, we plan on giving our daughter plenty of space to process this great experience.
Patty

Friday, April 10, 2009

Thank you!

A big public shout-out thank you to Cam and Wendy for taking the time to include us stateside (and abroad) parents by writing about and filming the girls. Thank you also for bringing them some parent energy.
All the best, Patty and Alan, Anna (Anita)'s parents

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Parent Trip a Must do!







Should your daughter decide to do another semester abroad with the Traveling School and you find yourself vacillating about doing the Parent Trip, don't think about it...just say yes! Jennifer and Dawn will, I'm sure, make it another unforgettable adventure. I believe I can speak for all of the parents that we would not have done it any other way. Wendy and I have traveled more than some and certainly less than others, but on more than one level this really was one of the best travel experiences we've ever had. As most of you know, Jennifer is the Traveling School chief liaison and administrator in Bozeman and Dawn was the team leader on last years Africa trip who is very fluent in Spanish. I cannot say enough good things about these two women. They absolutley bent over backwards to accomodate us and make this trip meaningful. Our accomodations were ALWAYS amazing and different and fun. They made this a MUST DO.
It was not just all about the girls, though of course seeing our daughter and your daughters was a wonderful roller coaster of tears, laughter, hikes, bikes, kayaks, food, shopping and oh yeah, finally back to tears again. The way Jennifer planned this trip allowed all of us parents to experience some of what the girls have experienced but on a manageable level. I cannot speak for any one's daughter but my own but I can assure you she is not the same girl we sent out 8 weeks ago. I can say without reservation that no way, no how would Merritt have wanted to/been able to shoulder a backpack as big as she is and hike 42 miles in 4 days. I of course wasn't there but I understand from the guides, they did it without complaining and I think a great deal of what carries them through is the support of the other girls with them. They have forged a really close bond with each other that I'm sure will survive for some time to come.
A last minute change to our itinerary was one of the highlights of the trip for me . Originally we were to stay, I believe, in a B and B in Antigua. Instead, we went straight to the Earth Lodge, the same place your daughters stayed for 2 weeks. Already, we were walking in their footsteps which will make it so much more fun to share stories when the girls come back home. Earth Lodge is both rustic and luxurious...in it's own way! Yes, there is a sauna, heated by wood no less. Some of the parents and, I believe maybe Jennifer and/or Dawn, enjoyed it that first and only night after a really wonderful vegetarian dinner. In the evening the volcanoes were mostly obscured by clouds but we were treated to the one active volcano periodically puffing smoke the following morning while we drank coffee and shivered (yes, it was quite chilly in Central America in the mornings and evenings at 6000+ feet). I can't talk about the Earth Lodge without mentioning lugging my roller bag down a half mile of rocky trail (though Jennifer kindly stepped in and carried it the last 12 steps as we entered the lodge grounds! Thanks Jennifer!) OK and then there was lugging it back UP that same rocky trail with a little help from Wendy (she had her own bag to carry but I think she figured it would be easier to help carry my 30 pound bag rather than my 200 pound body!) Jennifer forgot to add defibrillator to the packing list.
We spent the second evening in Xela (_____________) before we got to The Language School where the girls were winding up their home stays. I hear there were tears all around, even the girls whose parents didn't make the trip. I say "I hear there were tears" because Dawn, Wendy and I chose to go by "Chicken Bus" which is the local mode of mass transportation, converted school buses garishly decorated with chrome, bright paint and usually highlighted on the rear door with either a silhouette of Jesus or an occasional silhouette of a shapely pin-up girl! The one consistency however is they are all driven by NASCAR wannabes trained to drive roller coasters at Six Flags.
The packages you sent your girls were like manna from heaven. By the time we got there (an hour after the first group of parents arrived) they were still poring over the letters, pictures, etc., still a few tears. That's a lesson I have learned should Merritt or my other daughter Cammie decide to do a future semester, bring some goodies from back home. Wendy and I just really didn't think about it since we were bringing US! Merritt would have loved to have gotten some things from her friends back home. Oh well, next time.
Just about everyone has had a gastro visitor of some sort during this trip. They seemed to be weathering it ok. Their teachers have been vigilant about getting care for the girls when needed, but there's only so much one can do. I guess the girls will slip up occassionaly and use local water or when handling the little ones from the school, etc. It's hard to avoid exposure and they just have not been there long enough to develop any natural defenses against those bugs. To my eyes that's really been the only big hassle. For the most part they have simply persevered and pushed right on through. They are such a strong group of girls. We are SO impressed. You will be too.
We really enjoyed talking to your girls, laughing with them and getting to know some of them. Unfortunately we didn't get to talk to all of them as we would have liked but they really do seem to be having a fantastic time, learning a lot and growing a lot. You should take a few minutes to read in the Traveling Journalism blog (http://www.tts13tj.blogspot.com/) to get some 1st person impressions from a handful of the girls themselves. We tried to get pictures of eveyone but these girls are like gerbils!

I promise I'm not trying to be a cheerleader here but thank you Traveling School for a really good trip. I can't sign off without saying how much we enjoyed getting to know Clarissa's parents, Alan and Amanda and Cheese's ( Charlotte) parents Rob and Kate and of course Jennifer and Dawn. The eight of us traveled so well together it was amazing. Sometimes wedged into a microbus so tight we didn't need a seat belt, taking salsa lessons that we pray won't find its way on YouTube to bicycling circus-style with the handlebars on backwards! Hopefully we'll meet again.
I've attached a couple shots but on another email I'll attach more pictures and try and follow up with a short video where I tried (but failed) to get all of the girls. I'm not sure I can get what I want on this blog entry.
Adios

Cam and Wendy

Monday, March 16, 2009

Parent Trip Envy

We tried to fit in to the bubble-lined envelope we sent to Jennifer but we couldn't fit with the candy and news articles,etc. So here we sit at home wishing we could be in Guatemala with the crew and our Anna (Anita) just for one meal or two. Can't wait to hear the reports from the parents who went. Meanwhile, on the History Channel, there is a show about ancient warriors and where was our ex-Marine host but at Tikal playing ball in the very court the girls had had their class back long ago (seemingly) when they were in Tikal. Great to hear the academic reports. The 42 mile backpacking adventure sounded fierce and challenging in a great way. From Anna's email from Xela they are looking forward to the family stays.
Patty

Monday, March 2, 2009

A Voice from San Cristobal!

It was a wonderful day at the Smail house in Fairview, North Carolina! We finally got to talk to Merritt and for a whole 15 minutes! The only other time we heard her voice since they left was on the 2nd day and then only 4 scratchy words in an otherwise inaudible voice mail left on my cell phone. We had also gotten ONE short email from her but we knew she was fine. She had exchanged a number of Facebook encounters with her sister Cammie and that was good enough for us. Between these sisters, absence has truly made the heart grow fonder! And for this we are very grateful.

It would be hard to describe with words the excitement and enthusiasm in her voice. She is without doubt having a glorious time and you can already tell this experience is growing her mentally, emotionally, maturity-wise and physically. Merritt had been away from home for 2 years at boarding school so we knew what it was like for her not to be in the house every day. She was used to being gone and we never really had any worries about her being homesick. But her school was local and we could at least talk to her regularly as well as see her pretty frequently. Being a couple thousand miles away with no possible way to even force a communication was a bit tougher to get used to however! So getting the call today was Chicken Soup to be sure!

She could barely contain herself as she rattled off the many different animals she had never seen in the wild before and the spectacle of seeing not one and not two but THREE volcanoes at once in the same vista and one of them was smoking. Then of course the hike up one of them and seeing the lava flow. The sight of the thousands of fruit bats flying from the mouth of the cavern at dusk was apparently pretty magnificent. Apparently the rafting trip was a big hit. Merritt was particularly glad she was on the raft that turned over, as in "You know I really liked that part, Mom!" She was very impressed with the motorized canoe trip up the river traveling from Guatemala to Mexico.

She absolutely loves the girls she is traveling with and adores her teachers. We got to speak to Cara for a couple of moments and she assured us Merritt was doing absolutely great. She very much enjoys her classes and was crowing about learning time management, a major obstacle in Merritt's academic life. We suspect the absence of text messaging, Facebook, Instant Messaging and the cell phone in general may play a big part here! Really one of the compelling reasons for sending her on this adventure. We have never heard enthusiasm when it came to academics, so this was a welcome first! She announced she didn't even want to come home because she loves being with all these new friends and adventures, except she misses us. At least she's saying the right things!

Probably one of the most interesting observations she made was seeing the Guatemalan and Mexican children exhibit real responsibility. "Mom, you wouldn't believe how responsible these little kids are. They're maybe 5 and 6 years old but they are actually carrying their mom's babies around and taking care of them because they HAVE to. And they do it because they know it's their job and responsibility. Or a six-year old chopping wood with his dad or a little girl washing their clothes down on the river. Not like when you ask me to do something just for the sole purpose of TEACHING me responsibility." A six-year old is teaching my 17 year-old. It doesn't get much better than that!

I've gone on long enough but just want you to hear from us how well our own daughter is doing and bet yours are doing the same. We sure hope you are getting communications from your girls and we'd love to hear their stories too!

Cam and Wendy

Monday, February 16, 2009

Hi all:

Chris and I just got back from Taos, NM and were happily greeted with an email from Robin our 3rd daughter of four. She sounds fantastic and extremely busy. Her two highlighted events were playing futbol with some little boys at the school they visited and visiting the women's cooperative. Her comment was "It has changed my life!" She went on to say that everyone is getting along great, that they were on the move and that she was looking forward to her homestay to "really put her Spanish to use." Oh, she also "saw real lava." It all sounds like an adventure and learning experience that is an opportunity of a lifetime. We are so fortunate to have our girls in a place in their lives where they can experience the global environment that they will surely grow up to live and work in. My how things have changed!! I am looking forward to her next descriptions of their travels and getting to know your daughters through her. It sounds like they are a true fit with no strife and a true willingness to explore eachother's interests and viewpoints. A rarity this day in age. Can't wait to hear what you all have heard as well. Have a great week.
Mari and Chris Bauman

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Central Guatemala

We had an email from our daughter as you may have had from yours. Sounds like so far, so spectacular. We have the Lonely Planet guide to Latin America and have been able to get the sense of their journey. This site is in Spanish but asociasionasiqmuc.guate.ws gives some feel for the area.
Regards, Patty

Friday, February 13, 2009

News from Guac-a-mala

The phone call home yesterday was sheer joy - on both ends. Getting settled on the avocado farm in the earth lodge has been 'amazing', according to Charlotte, who also reports that she has genuine affection for each of your daughters. Well done, parents; you're raising wonderful young women.

They are moving on soon and hope to have access to the internet at the next stop. Gennifre is heading back to Bozeman, and she will be taking notes and/or letters from the girls to send home. I can hardly wait for Gennifre's photos from these first two weeks.

I was one of the parents who went to Houston for the big 'send-off, wondering if it was overkill, too cling-y, or just prolonging the 'adios' (She is our only child). After meeting the teachers, Gen, some of the other parents, and the other girls, all of the feelings of angst and concern went out the window; we said our goodbyes with excitement and happiness .. no tears, just positive anticipation.

Rob and I plan to go on the parent's trip. We are looking forward to this next rendezvous, hoping also to see some of you there, too.

Cheers ... Kate McConagthy

Friday, February 6, 2009

news from Alice

Greetings to you all,
I just got home from work and had a a great time reading all about Houston, seeing the photos, and hearing from Gennifre. THANKS for keeping in touch. What an awesome group of kids! I was glad to hear that there is a variety of age groups because they can learn so much from one another. When I taught in one room schools that was very true whether in academics, emotionally, or socially. So that is great.
Houston sounded like fun. We heard from Greta (junior from Bozeman) on Monday before she got on the plane and then on Tuesday I was home cleaning the house and I got 2 very static filled calls, so I knew it was her, and then she got through pretty clearly. She said Antigua was "amazing" and that she was well and school would start Wednesday, and the Earth Lodge was great and the food was awesome. Then she said talk to you in two weeks. I am not worried at all because all the girls are in fantastic hands with strong and good boundaries and an excellent staff. No news is good news at this point.
I can say it has been strange to come home and not hear that teenage voice say "Leave me alone I'm in my room!" or "Don't talk to me now." or "Hi Mom can I use the car?"
It is awfully quiet as she is our only kid but we know she is growing into her own person and I am so very grateful to the teachers for being guides and mentors to her.
I hope this finds you al well and that we will get to all meet someday. Fate has it we are connected and for that I am grateful. Be well all and keep in touch. Best. Alice

Thursday, February 5, 2009





Teachers during orientation


Hello Parent Bloggers,
I wanted to share with you a a photo of the teachers during orientation in Bozeman last week. You'll be hearing all about them as the semester progresses from your daughters, so I wanted to give you a picture to go with the stories. The teachers from left to right are: Cara, Rhea, Thea and Emily.

I'm excited to see that you have begun to use the parent blog as it is intended -- a place to share information, ask questions and to talk to one another about your daughters and their experiences.

If, for some reason you are having trouble posting on the blog, let me know, it may be your invitation has expired. Enjoy each other's company. We'll upload photos of the girls as soon as we get some.

Jennifer

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Waving Goodbye

Sunday was a very traumatic day, watching our "little" girl (she is the youngest in the group) disappear through security at the airport... I was so thankful that McKenna's family was there as well! It was like a pleasant outing, keeping our minds off of what was really happening.   I think all the preparation for that day  was so consuming that as the day has come and gone, we are still waiting to do something to prepare for this journey. Does anyone else feel that way? It hasn't really hit me yet, but I know it will. I feel  like a deer in the headlights...

Now that they are assembled in what sounds like a beautiful spot and we have all heard from our daughters, the reality of it is settling in. I so appreciate the posts that you have sent because it does create that all important connection imagining where they are and what they are doing.  Thank you so much for that and I know we all look forward to many more!
Can't wait to see some pictures! 
anxiously awaiting,
Shirley 


Hola from Guatemala!

Hello from Guatemala!

I am sitting in the main dining room of the Earth Lodge listening to your daughters enjoy their first day of classes. They are in Spanish class right now. Cara just led the entire group in a call-back Spanish-language dance and they are all diligently taking notes in the sun.

The Earth Lodge is spectacular. We are nestled in a series of cabins and dorms along the edge of the mountains high above Antigua. Yesterday was windy, but this morning we awoke to a clear sky and a stunning view of the two volcanoes on the other side of the valley.

So far, we have taken small mini-busses from the airport to our current home, unpacked {and some exploding} our backpacks, and started to get to know each other. Yesterday, we went to town to change money and call home. The girls were in great spirits and enjoyed sitting in the central plaza and people watching. We started our first class day this morning and we have a hike planned for this afternoon. All of this combined with orientation, games, a movie, lots of laughter, and delicious meals. We are here during the avocado harvest and have been feasting on home made guacamole every meal!

Tomorrow we are going to a local elementary school to help a local Sponsor A Child project photograph 250 children. The TTS girls will be in charge of orchestrating the chaos! We will also be hiking during the afternoon through the local villages, and ending the night with study hall. Friday is a full day of classes... and we'll be mountain biking Saturday morning through the local villages and visiting a women's co-op. I'll take lots of pictures of the girls patting tortillas with the local women. We are planning a wood fired sauna post-biking...

We are doing well and enjoying the sun and the process of learning about each other and TTS. I'll update you soon... I wish there was a way to upload the sound of their laughter on the breeze.... Thanks for sharing your daughters with us. They are wonderful.

All the best,
Gennifre

Fun in Houston and safe arrival

Wendy and I (Merritt's parents, we're the ones from Asheville, North Carolina) also made the trek to Houston. We went a couple days early and enjoyed the Texas hospitality. Lots to do there but it sprawls like Los Angeles and believe me, if you don't have a car you may as well be in the Mojave! Everything is big and spread out Texas-style.

We were absolutely delighted to finally meet Gennifre and the other teachers Emily, Thea and Cara. Energetic, authentic, animated and inspiring. These are the kind of role models we seek for our girls and are excited to be a part of this adventure. We also were amused by the laughing and giggling and immediate cohesion that seemed to be taking place. The walk to Fuddruckers was a gem. The parents got a chance to converse and get to know each other as well as the teachers. The girls were so enthusiastic by the time we were half way there, they had us speed walking to keep up with them. The morning departure was quite early with the first group departing at 6:30AM and the 2nd group departing at 7:00AM. Wendy and I took advantage of the 7:00AM shuttle to get to the airport as we had a 10:15AM departure. We assumed the girls would get let off at Concourse E and we would be let off at our Concurse and have plenty of time to cruise to their gate for a last minute goodbye. As luck would have it, our gate was at the end of Concourse A- the opposite end of Houston International! Houston International was of course built to Texas-style dimensions so there was no way to get to their gate. So we had to be content with the anemic goodbye as Merritt departed the bus. Oh well.

As I'm sure the rest of you did, we got home and waited on the phone call on Monday that wasn't to come. We knew the plane landed safely so we weren't worried but still wanted to hear that voice. But alas we had to wait till the next day. Unfortunately the designated phone Merritt was to call malfunctioned right at the time it turned out she called! All we got was a voice mail, but it was welcome anyway! The other frustration was there was so much static on the line I couldn't make out anything she said with the exception of the words "I love you guys". I guess those were the most important ones anyway other than "I'm alright" but I already knew that was the case.

Did anyone else have transmission quality problems? We'd love to hear anything your girls had to say about the trip, Guatemala City, the trek to Earth Lodge, lunch, dinner, etc!

Thanks
Cam and Wendy

Monday, February 2, 2009

Up, Up and Away from Houston

Hello fellow parents of incredible daughters! We are back in Maine from Houston, our daughters and their teachers are safe and sound at their destination. To the parents we met and didn't meet, we are so glad to be sharing this adventure with you.  Our daughters were a beehive of energy with each other. Some of the teachers met each student at the airport, delivering them back to the enlarging group at the hotel. My husband, Alan and I were in the room next door to theirs and we could hear the buzz of conversation and giggles. After emptying their substantial bags, editing the contents and repacking, we all walked to Fuddrucker's for hamburgers, etc. It was a great group walk for chatting and learning about each other. Upon our return to the hotel, we met to learn about each teacher, the flexible itinerary, ways to be a savvy traveler (knee length bottoms, tucked in money belts, etc). The teachers put on a skit to make these points in an effective, humorous way.  Emily, Thea, Cara and Rhea (in absentia, the front-person in Guatamala) and Gennefre really are remarkable women combining love of teaching and adventure with  a sure-footed but flexible mind-set that left me able to trust my daughter to them. The back-up from the Bozeman office sounds secure and well-planned for every contingency.  This morning, we all ate breakfast watching Punxsutawney Phil the ground hog coming out to find his shadow. The girls were eating at 6 AM, then on the jitney to the airport for their 9:30 flight. Unbeknownst to us, our flight out happened to be several gates down from theirs so we got to see the plane taxi out to the runway. We left feeling the right combination of peaceful and excited. So now I'm going to try to upload some photos for you to see.  Wish me luck and stay in touch if you hear from the girls. I'll take a guess that we'd all like to hear their stories if you wish to share them on this site. 
Patty (Anna's mom)

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Hi Patty and all other TTS13 parents!Our daughter, Greta, and my husband, Tom , and myself (Alice) just met all four teachers, Emily, Cara, Rhea, and Thia here in Bozeman where it is a balmy minus 20 below zero!! What an awesome, intelligent, brilliant, artisitic, talented group of teachers. Since we will not be in Houston and happen to live here Gennifre arranged for us to meet. They answered all our questions. Greta got to show them the journals, notebooks, supplies she is planning on taking and they were ok'd. The message is for academics: BE ORGANIZED! So use whatever system you want if it keeps you organized! Greta asked about not being able to understand fast speaking Spanish and the response was :"You won't be alone!" I asked about mosiquito netting and there is some but the key is wearing long pants and shirts in the evening and in the a.m. when mosquito activity is high. Tom asked about governmental issues and the military but so far things seem calm. They monitor that all times. The teachers are in contact with Jennifer all the time so if we have questions we get a hold of Jennifer and she with us! Yea Jennifer!It all sounds so great and we are so excited for the teachers and the kids. Plus Emily (a teacher) got to go to the inauguration and her stories were so moving!It has taken us months to get Greta ready to go and I talked with a Bozeman mom whose daughter was on the first group that TTS ever took out and they got her ready in two weeks!! How in the hell did she do that????? Well, I guess you do what you have to!Tom and I will be in Houston in spirit and you will get to meet my sister, Mari Bauman. Greta's first cousin, Robin, for NM is going to. Say hi to her when you see her. She is awesome! Good luck sending the kids off and write and tell us all about it.Lots of admiration to all of you. The girls are in excellent hands. Remember no news is good news! Love, Alice

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Hello fellow parents of TTS13 kids,  
With one week to go we feel like we are on a scavenger hunt:  find a stuff bag, mole skin, DEET, something small and light from Maine to give host families, figure out phone cards, etc. When we have everything together, we will board a plane and meet in Houston!  The prize is spectacular!  An educational trip to Latin America! We are filled with that combination of excitement and jittery anticipation.  My husband, Alan and I look forward to meeting all of you and connecting over our daughters' journey with TTS. I realize, too, that this is part of our journey as parents--the great letting go. I'm not minimizing that but focusing on the expansion in the girls' lives as they step away and explore LA with each other. 
Patty  

Monday, January 19, 2009

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):

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Discuss time differences and best times to call (but know they may not have options and call when the opportunity presents itself).
  • Write down your daughter's calling card number and pin so you can check available minutes and reload before it runs out.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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!