I'm really sorry I haven't been in touch more often this fall. Suffice it to say, I am in awe of the amazing semester that Ellie and the other girls have had - what a privilege for all of them. I know the trip reports and photos probably don't do justice to the reality of their experiences, but you have brought so much to us as parents through them. We have been so grateful to hear about their travels, activities and academics in such thorough and sensitive reports, and the continual feedback about Ellie in particular is very much appreciated.
Gennifre, you were with Ellie at the beginning of the trip and Jen, you saw her towards the end - I heard such a "transformation" in her voice starting around the homestay. She turned a corner (I think treating the ear infection helped?) and hasn't looked back, as far as I can tell! In fact, she has said how difficult it will be to come home and "leave what has become my family". Believe it or not, this is music to my ears because I know she has blossomed and is full appreciating and soaking up all that your wonderful school has to offer.
I can't thank you enough for making this experience possible for these lucky girls. The time and care you put in to every aspect of the program - from the schoolwork, to the training, to the activities, to mid and final term comments and grades, and so on - is nothing short of remarkable. I cannot wait to see Ellie and have her back at home, and I will have even more to report to you after she has been home for awhile. (do you have any advice about "re-entry"? I think this is going to be very difficult for Ele...)
Thank you, thank you again - I look forward to reading the final (sob!) trip report and mentor comments/grades. I know they will be similarly thorough and thoughtful, so very helpful to this mother.
Fondly, Cordy
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Counting the days!
To Other Parents Counting Days All Over The Country!
I know that Brian Walker Molly and I are counting days with happy hearts. Our adventurers are probably (hopefully!) thrilled to come home yet I imagine some heavy hearts at the end of their journey. I cannot wait to see and hug and listen to the person that I see come down the escalator at the Minneapolis airport.
To get me to that day I created a photo album for Maggie. I keep hearing that it will be hard for the girls, and thought that if she had hard copies of photos to share immediately that she would not have to do all the talking. Family and friends could get an idea from the incredible images that we received from Gennifre and Dawn through Snapfish and Kodak Galleries. I ordered numerous photos from both sites. They came within a week.
Here is what I did. I bought a sketch book - simple and inexpensive. (Maggie has told me that she does not think she can even walk in a Target again....and always has a sketchbook.) I went to our spray paint supply and found a chocolate brown and blue (like their bus!) and randomly sprayed the cover and pages. I double stick taped the photos in - leaving room for her to comment and caption. I added a few e-mails and other text that came from TTS. I am not a scrapbooker. This was easy, therapeutic, and will be something that she can hold on to and may help her adjust! (is this where I add that this is the first photo book I have made for her in 16 years - the rest are in boxes!) I also had 5 X 7's framed two groups of 3 for her bedroom wall. My favorite is the back of the boots as the they are looking out the bus windows. I think that Maggie is in there!
I know that she is coming home with more photos and we can print those - make a slide show - whatever she wants. Truly I am sending this to hear how other parents are doing and hear about any communication that others may have recently received. I know that Maggie is going to need her space and re-entry is not going to be easy. I would love any tips advice or thoughts that anyone has to share! This journey has been incredible to experience from our part of the world in Minnesota. I cannot even imagine what we are about to hear when our traveler comes home.
Keep in touch!
Marsha Burgeson
I know that Brian Walker Molly and I are counting days with happy hearts. Our adventurers are probably (hopefully!) thrilled to come home yet I imagine some heavy hearts at the end of their journey. I cannot wait to see and hug and listen to the person that I see come down the escalator at the Minneapolis airport.
To get me to that day I created a photo album for Maggie. I keep hearing that it will be hard for the girls, and thought that if she had hard copies of photos to share immediately that she would not have to do all the talking. Family and friends could get an idea from the incredible images that we received from Gennifre and Dawn through Snapfish and Kodak Galleries. I ordered numerous photos from both sites. They came within a week.
Here is what I did. I bought a sketch book - simple and inexpensive. (Maggie has told me that she does not think she can even walk in a Target again....and always has a sketchbook.) I went to our spray paint supply and found a chocolate brown and blue (like their bus!) and randomly sprayed the cover and pages. I double stick taped the photos in - leaving room for her to comment and caption. I added a few e-mails and other text that came from TTS. I am not a scrapbooker. This was easy, therapeutic, and will be something that she can hold on to and may help her adjust! (is this where I add that this is the first photo book I have made for her in 16 years - the rest are in boxes!) I also had 5 X 7's framed two groups of 3 for her bedroom wall. My favorite is the back of the boots as the they are looking out the bus windows. I think that Maggie is in there!
I know that she is coming home with more photos and we can print those - make a slide show - whatever she wants. Truly I am sending this to hear how other parents are doing and hear about any communication that others may have recently received. I know that Maggie is going to need her space and re-entry is not going to be easy. I would love any tips advice or thoughts that anyone has to share! This journey has been incredible to experience from our part of the world in Minnesota. I cannot even imagine what we are about to hear when our traveler comes home.
Keep in touch!
Marsha Burgeson
A note from Namibia
Hello, parents! This is Grace's mom, and I'm sitting in an Internet cafe in Windhoek, Namibia. We left the girls yesterday near Etosha National Park, and they are all doing great! Mallory's dad and grandma, Dave and Amy, joined Jennifer Royall and I on this trip and it's been a blast! Thanksgiving was so wonderful. We all worked hard in the morning at the Cheetah Conservation Fund, and we got a lot accomplished there. We had a 'traditional' Thanksgiving dinner, thanks to (teacher) Emily's parents, who brought many of the fixings. The girls participated in a poetry reading after dinner, and it was so amazing to hear what some of these incredible young women shared. We were moved to tears more than once.Your daughters are wonderful, every one of them. I didn't get to know all of them as much as I'd have liked, but the 'groupness' of these kids was apparent the entire four and a half days that we were with them. The teachers -- Dawn, Emily, Rhea, Leah, and Shannon -- are all fabulous women and truly love our daughters. I was able to sit in on some of the classes, and their enthusiasm and knowledge base was impressive. They are so integral in making TTS what it is!I could go on and on. The words to express what the TTS experience really is escape me -- as a writer, I hope that I can come up with them some day. If you send your girls on another semester with TTS, please do try to make the parent trip -- it's worth every penny to get just a glimpse into the amazing world that our daughters are living in.Take care and God bless.
Laurie Stopher
lrstopher@yahoo.com
Laurie Stopher
lrstopher@yahoo.com
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
