Our own room!
I write this from Penang Island, in the northwest part of Malaysia, the 6th country of our trip. We arrived a week ago at our little 3 bedroom / 2 bathroom apartment that we will call home for almost five weeks. After four months on the road, having room to unpack our backpacks and spread out the legos feels luxurious. As a matter of fact, the first evening we arrived, the boys ran around the apartment screaming “This is a mansion!” And, after four months of living in one room hotel rooms, it does feel that way. We’ve enjoyed waking up and eating breakfast in our pajamas. We’ve stocked the fridge, and I actually have clothes hanging in the closet! (Ok, so it is just several tshirts, but still, I’m feeling pretty fancy.)
A kitchen of our very own.
This month, our plan was to catch up on some paperwork and planning. You know, paying bills, backing up photos, catching up on blog posts… fun stuff like that. We don’t really have any of the next several months of travel planned beyond a sketch of an itinerary so we hope to get some flights and places booked for the next few months. Our internet in the apartment is limited but it is free poolside, so I write this from the little room next to the pool. I know, rough life, right?
Online math
However, I sit next to Lorenzo who is working on catching up on some online math and other schoolwork left neglected these past few months. Another important part of this month’s plan is homeschooling which I am quickly realizing that I am not very good at. It sure makes me admire all the teachers and parents out there who teach children as part of their regular day.
On the trip thus far, we have included a lot of homeschooling and learning opportunities into our schedule every day, but we do it by exploring temples or caves, taking Thai cooking classes, figuring exchange rates, reading about the history of each area. We’ve taught the kids how to navigate a city map, we’ve gone snorkeling, volunteered with animals, and endless other day to day activities. I truly am confident that my kids are learning so much more than they would staying home. That said, the Type A part of me wants to actually feel some sort of completion of age appropriate material. You know, something to show for the learning. For this reason, we have lugged around school books, math programs and workbooks for the past 4 months. This month was our time to focus on it all.
Homeschool workbooks
On Day One, I had almost pulled out my hair. “This is too easy.” “ Too hard.” “ Don’t want to do it.” “This is boring.” “Can’t I do this instead? “ I find myself getting frustrated that they don’t realize just how good they have it. Come on, really? After four months of all sorts of fun learning, can’t you give me just a couple hours a day of some specific stuff so Mom doesn’t have to worry that there are big gaps in your learning? All right, all rants aside, I expect we will all fall into a grove his month, and as every other aspect of family travel (especially in developing countries), we will all learn to cooperate and become more flexible.
Today is Day Three and already it seems to be getting better so there is hope. For the kids, at least.
As for me, I have a bit more to learn.