Wordless Wednesday: Grasshopper

Photo taken 7 July 2012

Travel Tuesdays: Suburban Life vs Adventure

When we were in Italy, I met an American college student at the emigration museum on Salina. Among many other things, we talked about his plans once his internship at the museum ended. He planned to return to the states to complete his college education, but then what? He expressed concern that his mother wanted him to get a "real" job- like in a bank. He feared this meant a path would be laid out for him that he didn't want- a wife, kids, white picket fence, responsibilities- in essence a suburban life with no adventure.

Of course, I can't know if a job in a bank is right for him but I CAN comment on the part of him that fears a path he didn't want would be predetermined. Certainly, the path he described happens to many people- some because they choose it, some because they move along through life without really thinking and then they suddenly realize that's what happened.

I told him he could have that life if that's what he wanted, or he could choose to have a different life. I understand his need for adventure. My husband and I both wanted to travel, so this is one reason we were married for 11 years before deciding to have children. We had plenty of adventure in those first 11 years. We went on a camel trek in the Sahara. We hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. We rode bush taxis in Niger. And we flew over the vast open spaces of Alaska in a bush plane.

And, here's the exciting thing: we continue to travel with our kids. Sure, the kinds of trips we take have evolved, but we still have fun adventures. We visited Stonehenge, rode bikes on the carriage paths in Acadia National Park, attended a wedding in India, and, most recently, walked among ancient ruins at Agrigento, Sicily. We've "mucked about" plenty with our kids both here and abroad.

My  main point to this college student was that he gets to choose the life he wants. Sure, there will be bumps and adversity along the way- such is life- but he doesn't have to follow some predetermined path. Even if he takes that job in the bank, nothing else about his life is determined. He can get married or not. He can buy a house or not. He can live in a city or in the 'burbs. And he can choose to travel if that's what he really wants to do. And, most importantly, if he chooses one path and later realizes he doesn't like the path he chose, he can change directions- find a new job, move to a new place, find some new adventure. Unlike previous generations, there is no expectation that we'll work in the same job at the same factory until we retire with a company pension. Sure, that comes with new challenges, but it also means we can choose the life we really want.

This is the part we can model for our children. Do you have the suburban lifestyle and hate it? Maybe a change is in order. On the other hand, do you love it? If so really embrace it and don't worry or complain about the small stuff. Do you have kids and want to travel? Figure out how to make it happen. Make it a priority. And don't feel pressured to take the trips everyone else is taking. If you love Disney World, great! Go to Disney. But don't feel like you have to take your kids to Disney because everyone else is doing it. I've heard this as a reason for not taking a trip to the Grand Canyon- "We had to take the kids to Disney so the Grand canyon had to wait."

Decide what you really want so you can make the life you want.

Do you have the life you want for you and your kids? What's holding you back? What can you change to get the life you want?

You might also like:
Travel Tuesdays: Affording to Travel
Travel Tuesdays: Top 10 Tips or traveling With Children
Travel Tuesdays: Top 10 Items to Pack When Traveling With Children

Community Mosaic Project: Tree of Learning

Back in June, I blogged about cultural enrichment programs in schools. In that post, I described a project that had just been started at my kids' school- a large mosaic mural dedicated to the school's retiring Principal, Jay Ryan. I was excited about the project at that early stage, but that was nothing compared to how I felt once we began the installation.

Joanne Smith, the art teacher, had asked for parent volunteers to help install the leaves and trunk of the tree. Jim Bowen, mosaic artist, would guide the whole process. I signed up immediately!

(Students, parents, staff, etc. had been invited to provide small items for the mosaic. Small leaves and the larger trunk pieces were created in the art room in the weeks leading up to the installation. Everyone had an opportunity to help glue the items-plus various pieces of pottery- onto leaf shaped pieces of mesh.
We would then install those mesh pieces on the wall in the school's entryway. To learn more, please read Jim's blogpost about this project).

Jim and I started by roughing up the paint finish with fine sand paper.

Then, another parent named Ilana (sadly, no photo of her working!) covered the back of each piece with thin set, handed it to us, and we mounted them on the wall. 

And here's where the community part of the mosaic got fun. We started grabbing people as they walked by and asking them if they wanted to hang one of the leaves. Of course they did! They had a chance to help create a permanent piece of art in our school. Before we knew it, the word was out and we had a line of people waiting to hang a leaf. It was so fun to see everyone participating in the process. As classes walked by, we'd hear things like, "Whoa! That's awesome!" or "You're doing a great job!" I had so much fun I ended up staying two hours longer than I was supposed to. I couldn't pull myself away. 

Here's the man of honor, Principal Ryan, hanging a leaf.

The tree after mounting all of the pieces. 

 Jim Bowen, Joanne Smith, and Jay Ryan.

All photos courtesy of Joanne Smith

I'm looking forward to seeing the final product- it wasn't grouted before school ended.  I'll be sure to take a photo and add it later.

This project brought together our entire school community to create something lasting and beautiful. Cultural enrichment indeed!

(For those wondering how this was funded... the PTO Cultural Committee covered the costs. Our school is fortunate to have very supportive parents and community members).

How might you bring a little cultural enrichment to your schools?

Related posts:

Cultural Enrichment Programs in Schools

Drum to the Beat

Wordless Wednesday: Mama Spider

And while I was photographing her, a lovely ladybug wandered by in the same shot...

photos taken 7 August 2012

Travel Tuesdays: When Things Don't Go as Planned

Many times during travel there are bumps along the road. Sometimes those bumps are dangerous or serious. Most of the time they're just annoying.

During our recent trip to Salina and Sicily, we had two annoying bumps.

My family was enjoying a quick dip in the Mediterranean when my daughter was "stung" by a jelly (fish). She had two angry slashes across each ankle and was screaming her head off. Here in Massachusetts, I know about local jellies. There, in the Mediterranean, I had no idea. We sought medical attention and learned we needn't worry. The doctor applied lidocaine and gave us a prescription for more. My daughter's crying stopped and we went about our vacation.  

Our second doctor's visit occurred about 5 days later. My daughter had some sort of rash or bug bites that were getting worse. Within a few days, all of us had symptoms. We were itchy as all get out. So off we went for more medical attention. We learned it was nothing dangerous or contagious and followed medical advice about treatment. (Quick aside... this visit was made easier when the owner of the apartment we were renting helped us see the doctor and translated our communications. We had been interacting with him daily and knew he was a kind man. The lesson: Don't be afraid to ask nice people for help. I'd help a stranger in my town who needed it. Wouldn't you?)

Now, I won't tell you I wasn't worried or concerned as these incident were happening. We've all heard about deadly jellies. And mysterious rashes while overseas are no small thing. But as soon as we realized there was no danger, I let it go.

The other owner of our apartment kept telling us how sorry she was that our holiday had been ruined by the rash. (We really were itching non-stop. I won't pretend it was fun). My response to her was this: "No one is in danger. It's an inconvenience. At least it's better than almost dying in West Africa." (This was an exaggeration, but only slightly. I was referencing the time my husband and I almost didn't get out of Niger. First, our car broke down in the bush. Then, there was a near crash in a taxi. That same driver then almost hit a military guy holding an huge gun- an AK47 maybe. That was followed by a heated discussion and much yelling on the part of the military official). Seriously, a rash? No big deal!

I say this jokingly, but I mean it. Unless you suffer a serious medical need or are in real danger, try to keep travel inconveniences in perspective. And, just think of the stories you'll have to tell when you get home!

What's your funniest/scariest/ hardest travel story? Please share it!

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Photo Montage: Western Sicily

The old saying "a picture is worth a thousand words" is repeated so often because it's true. Today, rather than write about our trip to Sicily, I thought I'd share some of my favorite scenery photos. I like some for the quality of the shot, others because of the subject. I think they give a good overview of what the western side of Sicily has to offer. I hope you enjoy them.

Agrigento, Valley of the Temples

Scala dei Turchi

Locals told us Sicily is the "Wild West" of Italy. Indeed, we experienced the different interpretations of laws in Sicily than on the mainland. Sicily also has stunning natural beauty like the western part of the US. Sure the landscape is different, but it's breathtaking in places. 

Have you been to Sicily? What do you think? 

Related Posts:

Travel Tuesdays: Communicating When You Don't Speak the Local Language

Wordless Wednesday: Palermo Sicilia

Wordless Wednesday: Caper Flowers

Wordless Wednesday: Dragonfly Caught in Spiderweb

Photos taken 22 July 2012

If you like these photos, check out Rebecca in the Woods' post from Monday. She has a fantastic still photo and video of a spider wrapping up a nice dragonfly burrito!