Before school got started we got to go on our first road trip....to Chicago! Up early (3am) and on our way.
Chicago is beautiful. The buildings are amazing and the history is so interesting. Although we were there for such a short time (2 days) we tried to fit everything in. Walked down Michigan Ave (the magnificent mile).....much like 5th Ave in New York, couldn't afford to shop, but was really an experience to rub shoulders with the very rich! Spent time at the Museum of Science and Industry, Boat ride around Chicago, sat on the "beach" of lake Michigan, spent time at Navy Pier and ate Pizza at the most famous Pizza place in Chicago!!!
We left Chicago and headed for Indianapolis...to see our friends from Kei Mouth who moved there about 10 years ago. Rob and Wendy Lloyd. Cindy, Wendy's sister was there too, visiting from Dubai. It was so much like driving through Bloemfontein, I felt so at home!!! Mealie (corn) fields everywhere you look. We had such a stunning time. Rob drove us around the city and we got to see all the sights and then just relax at home with friends. The boys played themselves to a stand still. It really was a special time and made me extremely homesick to have a "braai" South African style and be around people who sounded just like me!!
We visited Cincinnati next, just for a day and a half, to go the the Creation Museum. What an amazing place. The entire museum is based on the Creation Story and refutes how "The Big Bang" is just so impossible.....scientifically even! Just how each and every organism was made in such a unique way, that it's functioning had to be preplanned and organised, otherwise it would not survive! It opened our eyes to so many truths, and the boys really learned a lot. They were not in a hurry to leave!
We bought loads of books and things at the shop......Ben found this Knight outfit, and decided he "needed" it. We couldn't resist!!!
Nathan and Josh both are enjoying their baseball so much and want to play more seriously. We found a Premier Club here in KC that is really serious and seems pretty good. The Major League team from KC uses their facilities to practice through the winter.....so they are GOOD!!! We went to trials and were so blown away by how professional and organised they were. No names, kids get numbers, and then get put through the testing in every area.....timed running between bases, speed meter for pitching, scoring on fielding and everything......mind blowing!!! Anyway, we were very proud of both the boys for trying out. It really wasn't easy on them surrounded by kids who have been playing this sport since they could walk almost....quite intimidating, but they did really well! Josh unfortunately did not make a side this time, so he is going to focus more on his soccer for a while. Nathan made the u14 boys AAA team. He was so excited, but we were told that it is going to take lots of hard work from him to get up to the standard of the other boys, but they could see his potential and were willing to work with him!!!!!! One practice down and they had their first tournament....Oh my word, this is very serious....i felt a bit lost on the side of the field because everyone was so quiet!!! I couldn't do my usual shouting and chirping.....mostly because I didn't really know what was going on, but also because everyone was soooooo serious!!! (I can't find my photos from the tournament, but will post when I do.....it was so cool to arrive at the first game and get handed kit with your name on the back!!!!)
School is in full swing now and the boys have all settled in well. Nathan and Josh are coping very well academically, we finding the English a bit tough though. It seems the level of language and grammar is much higher here. They are doing concepts that I don't even remember doing at school......ok, granted...my English was not fantastic, but this is stuff I have never heard of!!! So we trying to catch up there a bit but the rest is pretty much on par. The teaching styles are very, very different and quizzes and test are quite unique I might add!! It is very much a college/varsity approach. Textbooks and exam pads. The teacher practically talks through the lesson and you make your own notes. No handouts etc....if you don't listen in class and make notes, you are pretty lost. You have to read the chapter in advance often and have summarised notes prepared for the class yourself to work off of. We are adjusting to that and having to learn some new note taking skills, but it is life skills that we will one day be very grateful for. We also do what they call "Take Home Tests"......because we only school three days a week, the kids will sometimes get a test to bring home to write. So it comes in a sealed envelope, the kids can go over work as much as they want before they take the test, then everything must be packed away, parents open the envelope with them and then just monitor the kids while they write. When done, gets put back into an envelope and sealed, returned to school the next day!!!! Interesting!!!! Trust and honesty is a big part of the schooling here. The kids also get to mark a lot of their own work and then get a chance to do corrections before they hand the assignment in for grading. It's quite fun and we are enjoying the concept of staying home on Tuesdays and Thursday.....not to relax though...they get given plenty of work to keep them busy on "home school days"! And on a Thursday Nathan goes to an assembly from 8-10am.......funny story........in our third week of school we "Forgot" to take him to school!!!! How crazy is that!!!! We just woke up on the Thursday, had an easy morning, were in our pyjamas watching Veggie Tales with Ben and actually commenting on how nice it was to sleep in on a Thursday and just take it easy!!!!!! Next thing Neil gets an email on his phone..."Hi Nathan, we missed you at assembly this morning! Remember if you are sick to please call the school and let us know. otherwise there is assembly on a Thursday morning from 8-10am." We were hysterical!!! Of all the excuses you have ever heard in the world of "Why you did not attend school today?"..........I forgot!!! just doesn't seem to cut it!!! Anyway, we were honest with the school and told them, they had a good laugh and said we were not the only new people who had done it and they gave us grace!
Nathan and Josh both play soccer for the school. Nathan is in the Varsity team, which is the senior team, he is goalkeeper, and Josh plays in the Junior Varsity Team, which is actually for Gr 7-10, so he is quite chuffed. They are doing really well there. To get a bit of a run around they let Nathan play on the field in the Junior Varsity team, and in his first game he scored!!!! Whoooo, hoooo. Joshua was made one of the Captains of the JV team last week, they have 3. He is really playing good soccer and has scored some really awesome goals.
Unfortunately we have had a few injuries!!! Nathan dislocated his thumb a few weeks back and has been struggling to play with it, but after some treatment etc, he is ok......until this week. He had someone land on him in the box with their knee into his chest......he was taken to the ER as he was really struggling to breath and in quite a lot of pain.....just our luck, it is the one game I decide not to go to!!!! Anyway, he was Xrayed, and all is fine, he is just badly bruised and out of soccer for a week or two. Which means no baseball either...not good!!! But he is recovering well. Josh is really battling with his ankles, he is in so much pain after every game and practice. X-rays show there is nothing wrong....so we would appreciate any prayer for both the boys with their bodies and sport!!!
You know Ben, always wanting to be like his big brothers......and not to be outdone, he also started baseball this week. It is so cute watching these little ones chase the ball all over and run between the bases. He has had one practice and one game, but he thinks he is ready for the Major Leagues now!!!!
Neil and I are doing well. Meeting some really good people through school and the sport so feeling a little more like we are settling in to a community of people. I work at the school on a Monday for 4 hours each week, Grading English and Algebra 2. It is part of the parents partnering with the school. Every family invests 4 hours of time into the school various ways. This helps keep the costs down. Some work the reception desk, to maintenance and cleaning, grading, teacher assistants etc. I realise not that maybe I was a bit of a sucker volunteering for the grading thing........thought I was getting away from that, and here I am right back in the middle of it!!! Must be in the blood!!!!
Keep us in your prayers as we listen for God's voice and as He guides us in this new season of our lives. We miss you all so much and look forward to coming home in December and seeing lots and lots of familiar, friendly, South African faces!
