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| A Mother's Day Greeting from Nicaragua |
May 12, 2013
Dear TTS21 Parents,
The scene at our Little Corn Island house has been an odd mixture of writing research papers, heading to the SCUBA dive center, and sleeping just about anywhere to recover from a whopper of a virus. Our final week of TTS21 has clearly held its highs and lows. Last Saturday, the girls were literally breathless as our panga, a local ferry boat, jumped and splashed its way across the turquoise waters taking us to our tiny island getaway. Today, the girls proudly discuss SCUBA terminology and the colorful life of the coral reef.
While they have all been extremely busy attending dive classes or snorkeling, the TTS veterans never let their studies fall behind. The girls are now professionals at time management, and are succeeding in meeting assignment deadlines while still making time to catch an extra dip in the Caribbean to cool off or hold a sunset photo session. The camaraderie shared amongst this group of young women is awe-inspiring. Their love is touching to witness, in each of the small gestures seen along the way each day. It's in Eliza's arms as she stocks the fridge with Powerade drinks to keep electrolytes up, or in the sincere cheers for Mimi as she tears up over seeing bioluminescence for the first time. Each of the girls is fully accepting of one another's unique differences, so that together they are an incredibly strong family. It is this closeness that is undoubtedly causing mixed emotions to surface as our conversations are beginning to focus on the transition away from the TTS family to life back home.
As final deadlines end, we are talking more and more about what it means to actually be returning home. Three and a half months ago, living abroad with a group of strangers caused both excitement and anxiety. Now, those same emotions are present in your daughters as they discuss how their family and friends will perceive their newly developed global awareness. Your daughters feel very closely connected to Central America, and are nervous as they struggle with how to create the clearest picture about how Central America fits into each of their hearts. They are unsure of what it will be like to return to a stationary classroom in a familiar building and walk with peers through school hallways. Still, they are each counting down the seconds to their first hug from you and their first night's rest in their own beds! They discuss what the reunion moment will be like, and each beams with bright smiles over whom they will see first and whether they will cry or not. Many have painted a vivid picture of their first days at home and the first meal they hope to have.
Over the next few days, we will practice handling the inevitable question, "So, how was your trip?" We will address the fears related to returning to school and peer groups, and discuss how to again find their place in teenage life. Of course, we will spend plenty of time laughing, crying, and then laughing again as we revisit our favorite moments from the semester. I am sure your daughter has already hinted to you about how she feels regarding her upcoming TTS graduation on Sunday night. I encourage you to email your daughter congratulating her hard work in these final days of the semester and for her accomplishments these 15 weeks overseas. I also encourage you to ask your daughter about her preference or vision for her first few days at home. She may want a large party with family and friends, or perhaps you may be surprised to find out she wants some quiet time at home with just family. Either way, she will need some time to process her experience, to look at pictures, or sort through souvenirs and laundry. She may want to do that immediately on her first night home, or perhaps hide it away for a several days.
This has been an incredible journey, and I cannot picture this experience without your daughter. She has amazing strength and charisma, and I admire her sense of self and love for the people around her. I will miss each of your daughters and am thankful for all the adventures we have shared. I will look back at this trip and admire each young woman that transformed TTS21 into a family of singing, laughing, and questioning borderless girls. Kathryn's leadership and language prowess, Mimi's fondness for the world around her, Mikaela's combination of eagerness and smiling hesitation as she talks to someone new, Ruth's love for science and observation of minute details, Ava's passion for band and music, Abby's spunk and love for Dolly, Simone's endurance and optimism, Maggie's determination and vivid writing, Eliza's jump reflex after tripping and friendly hugs, Anna's smile and appreciation for experiencing life, and Annalise's laughter and quick humor all made this expedition more than just an academic semester program. With the love and guidance of four dedicated teachers, this family of passionate learners enthusiastically approaches any challenge or activity they come across as one cohesive unit.
Thank you for sharing your daughter with The Traveling School. I can't wait to see the next steps she takes, each one being one more step in her extraordinary path in life.
Hugs and love from Nicaragua to all of you amazing parents,
-Jen, Caroline, Heather & Liz
The scene at our Little Corn Island house has been an odd mixture of writing research papers, heading to the SCUBA dive center, and sleeping just about anywhere to recover from a whopper of a virus. Our final week of TTS21 has clearly held its highs and lows. Last Saturday, the girls were literally breathless as our panga, a local ferry boat, jumped and splashed its way across the turquoise waters taking us to our tiny island getaway. Today, the girls proudly discuss SCUBA terminology and the colorful life of the coral reef.
While they have all been extremely busy attending dive classes or snorkeling, the TTS veterans never let their studies fall behind. The girls are now professionals at time management, and are succeeding in meeting assignment deadlines while still making time to catch an extra dip in the Caribbean to cool off or hold a sunset photo session. The camaraderie shared amongst this group of young women is awe-inspiring. Their love is touching to witness, in each of the small gestures seen along the way each day. It's in Eliza's arms as she stocks the fridge with Powerade drinks to keep electrolytes up, or in the sincere cheers for Mimi as she tears up over seeing bioluminescence for the first time. Each of the girls is fully accepting of one another's unique differences, so that together they are an incredibly strong family. It is this closeness that is undoubtedly causing mixed emotions to surface as our conversations are beginning to focus on the transition away from the TTS family to life back home.
As final deadlines end, we are talking more and more about what it means to actually be returning home. Three and a half months ago, living abroad with a group of strangers caused both excitement and anxiety. Now, those same emotions are present in your daughters as they discuss how their family and friends will perceive their newly developed global awareness. Your daughters feel very closely connected to Central America, and are nervous as they struggle with how to create the clearest picture about how Central America fits into each of their hearts. They are unsure of what it will be like to return to a stationary classroom in a familiar building and walk with peers through school hallways. Still, they are each counting down the seconds to their first hug from you and their first night's rest in their own beds! They discuss what the reunion moment will be like, and each beams with bright smiles over whom they will see first and whether they will cry or not. Many have painted a vivid picture of their first days at home and the first meal they hope to have.
Over the next few days, we will practice handling the inevitable question, "So, how was your trip?" We will address the fears related to returning to school and peer groups, and discuss how to again find their place in teenage life. Of course, we will spend plenty of time laughing, crying, and then laughing again as we revisit our favorite moments from the semester. I am sure your daughter has already hinted to you about how she feels regarding her upcoming TTS graduation on Sunday night. I encourage you to email your daughter congratulating her hard work in these final days of the semester and for her accomplishments these 15 weeks overseas. I also encourage you to ask your daughter about her preference or vision for her first few days at home. She may want a large party with family and friends, or perhaps you may be surprised to find out she wants some quiet time at home with just family. Either way, she will need some time to process her experience, to look at pictures, or sort through souvenirs and laundry. She may want to do that immediately on her first night home, or perhaps hide it away for a several days.
This has been an incredible journey, and I cannot picture this experience without your daughter. She has amazing strength and charisma, and I admire her sense of self and love for the people around her. I will miss each of your daughters and am thankful for all the adventures we have shared. I will look back at this trip and admire each young woman that transformed TTS21 into a family of singing, laughing, and questioning borderless girls. Kathryn's leadership and language prowess, Mimi's fondness for the world around her, Mikaela's combination of eagerness and smiling hesitation as she talks to someone new, Ruth's love for science and observation of minute details, Ava's passion for band and music, Abby's spunk and love for Dolly, Simone's endurance and optimism, Maggie's determination and vivid writing, Eliza's jump reflex after tripping and friendly hugs, Anna's smile and appreciation for experiencing life, and Annalise's laughter and quick humor all made this expedition more than just an academic semester program. With the love and guidance of four dedicated teachers, this family of passionate learners enthusiastically approaches any challenge or activity they come across as one cohesive unit.
Thank you for sharing your daughter with The Traveling School. I can't wait to see the next steps she takes, each one being one more step in her extraordinary path in life.
Hugs and love from Nicaragua to all of you amazing parents,
-Jen, Caroline, Heather & Liz
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| Surfing in Guatemala |
Safe travels to you all.
ReplyDeleteSafe travels to you all.
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