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

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

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

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

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

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

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)