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Penguin

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Everything posted by Penguin

  1. (Not that I am bothered by new replies, but the original post is about a year and a half old.) Helena, I hope you are feeling better now :) Your homeschooling ideas have inspired me many times.
  2. bumping for the update in post #1 2014 Subara Impreza. Woot!!
  3. Yes, I did read the book. I thought it was funny. I agreed with her on some things, not so much on others. We lived in a city center, but the biggest difference between us was life phase. We went there with a 10 yr old, a 17 yr old, and a 19 yr old.
  4. When we moved overseas, we were not homeschoolers. I put my then 5th grader in the international school, and I was emotionally crushed by how bad bad bad the school was for our family (standard disclaimer...not necessarily a bad school but absolutely a bad fit). Well, it was the only international school in the city. And that is how we ended up becoming a homeschool family. Luckily, it is legal in Denmark and I had that option. So for anyone moving overseas with dreams of your children attending an international school, let me be your cautionary tale. Have a Plan B if there is only one local international school!
  5. I have been wanting to read McCullers for years (maybe decades). I really loved it, but Flannery O'Connor and Eudora Welty are two of my favorite authors, so I would have been surprised to not like Carson McCullers.
  6. Denmark could be good for you, but not if you want sun!!
  7. Thanks for the welcome. I am sure Odinsbarn (Odin's Child) will eventually come out in English. Only the first book of the trilogy is out in Danish so far, but the books are coming out in various languages. They are wildly popular in the YA Scandinavian market. The 15 yr old protagonist, Hirka, lacks a tail. This sets her apart as an other. She grows up thinking that she lost her tail to a wolf, but discovers that she is actually a foundling with mysterious origins. There are powerful ravens, stone circles with secret entrances, and all sorts of appealing fantasy elements.
  8. Hi. A few days ago, my account went glitchy. I can only post or reply from my tablet and phone. If I use a laptop, there is no text box to type into. I have tried two browsers on my laptop, and I have also tried a different laptop. Help, please :)
  9. I have never posted in this thread before, but I am feeling brave today :) I don't read nearly the volume that most of you manage but I am setting myself a goal to read more. I used to read all the time, and I have to rebuild the habit. Last week, I finished The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers. I read that because I wanted to. I am about half-way through Tolstoy's The Cossacks. Reading that one for homeschool. I am about half-way through Odinsbarn (reading it in Danish), a young adult novel that is not yet available in English. It was originally written in Norwegian, and has won several Nordic awards. The main character is a 15 year old girl, and the story is rooted in Norse mythology. It is wonderful, but I am a really slow reader in Danish. We have been listening to The Disappearing Spoon for school, and I am really enjoying it. It is a great mesh of chemistry and history.
  10. Penguin

    Refugees

    The group that I worked with used this guiding principle: We do things WITH refugees, not FOR refugees. Some of the volunteers were refugees who had been in town for a bit, and wanted to help the new arrivals. We cooked together in a community kitchen, played board games together, organized outings and soccer games and talked talked talked. I have helped with various practical matters, but our group was more about creating a place where refugees would want to spend time. And growing friendships.
  11. We have been in temporary housing and living out of suitcases since September 28. This week, I get to pick up the keys to our new place, but still do not know when we will be able to move in. Our stuff is still in transit from overseas :(
  12. CONGRATS!!!!!! Thanks for sharing such great news, 8. My 10th grader started with Julia Denne in August, and we could not be happier with her tutoring. (I am sending you a PM. DS is curious about the competition.)
  13. :grouphug: :grouphug: So sorry for your devastating loss.
  14. The notion that traveling is, at best, a waste of time and money.
  15. If I only think about economics for a moment, I still remain completely unconcerned about increasing the number of refugees in the USA. Yes, there will be costs. But, on average, refugees are extremely resourcesful. I have confidence that they will become self-sufficient. Just think for a moment how incredibly difficult it is to flee. But I only say this to address budgetary issues, which in my opionion should not drive the policy of a country as wealthy as ours.
  16. My son and I spent the last year and a half volunteering weekly for an organization in Scandinavia that works with refugees, about half of whom are from Syria. This was probably the defining experience of my five years overseas. I taught English to some, but mostly we all worked together to build a sense of community. So that newly resettled refugees would have a social outlet, a place to find help with all the bewildering aspects of being plunked into a foreign city, and a chance to practice their new language skills. I am grateful to have met so many amazing young people, and they were fantastic role models for my son. I certainly count them as friends. Saying goodbye was so hard for me. As for the original question, I think that yes, we should take in more refugees. What is happening in Syria is a humanitarian crisis, and it is beyond heartbreaking. ETA: As soon as I get my family situated again, I will figure out how I can help here at home. I have started researching local opportunities.
  17. Thank you for asking that. I just moved back to the USA after five years in Scandinavia. THE casual female "uniform" where we lived is black leggings. It is rarely warm enough for bare legs, even in summer. Teens wear them under short shorts. Women of all ages wear them under skirts and dresses and tunics - makes cycling way easier. I have replaced my jeans with them. Some reach my ankle, and some go to mid-calf. I have been known to wear them for yoga. But are they yoga pants? Sincere question.
  18. If she has to pay, how will you feel if she declines to go on the vacation because she wants to spend her money differently? I think you have to be ok with her saying thanks but no thanks, and not be pouty about it. (I would pay for all three. Not saying you should, though.)
  19. Absolutely. The NC /SC border area got far more flooding than was anticipated.
  20. My mom lives on the southern coast of NC, and there are a lot of flooding reports. She is safe inland, but even there the power is now out.
  21. Well, if menopause defines middle age then I was thrust into middle age at 41 by cancer treatment. By that definition, Angelina Jolie is also middle aged.
  22. Vegan Richa is probably my favorite food blogger, and many of her recipes are Indian food. Her cookbook is also great. http://www.veganricha.com
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