It is now to October and many would admit it is well past the end of summer. To determine though whether or not you
have reached the end of something, you really need to have a definition of what
that something is. Here overseas, we will often refer to
time periods by the four seasons enjoyed in the States. This works well within our
family and with other American ex-pats, but not with everyone else. Our neighbors only know the dry season and
the rainy season. We have a friend from
Australia whose summer occurs during what we consider to be winter time. Beyond the weather or season, how would you
define summer? Our boys would say, “No
school!” Others might define it by the
increase of outdoor activities or by more large scale vacationing.
This year our summer was marked by the
study of both art and science, remaining inside to avoid large crowds, and
canceling all trips. The end of August
did bring the full scale of multiple subjects for our regular homeschooling,
but we also just returned from a weeklong vacation in the big city. In contrast, as fall began in the States, many
children still remain at home, pursuing distance learning. Though the weather is beginning to cool down
in the States, people are anticipating very different celebrations of
traditional holidays this season. Now
October, we continue here in Barat with HOT weather and the absence of familiar
holidays. So, for us, and quite possibly
many of you this year, “summer” was not what we expected, nor has the end of
summer been as marked as in other years.
Though our children became quite
stir crazy after months inside, we were able to focus on many other
activities...
We enjoyed art.
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| Painting with homemade paint. |
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Painting upside down like Michelangelo.
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The boys picked up more chores, to
their chagrin, as we cancelled our cleaning lady during this pandemic.
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Washing dishes.
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John and I have been to
continue to our main activities, translating stories into the local language for John and language study with two of my closest neighbors, for me Erin.
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We temporarily converted our dinner table into a ping-pong table!
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The kids read a lot!
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We celebrated two birthdays!
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| Evangeline turned four. |
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We celebrated with her favorites: unicorns and...
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| Peppa Pig. |
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| Caedmon turned twelve! |
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We celebrated with a piñata, inside.
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