Coming home...

A picture from the celebration dinner during the final evening in Cape Town.

I got a text at 5am this morning that read, "We are all on the plane on our way home." Thank you so much for sharing your daughters with us during the magic of TTS20. We will keep you updated through the next stages of this process, from the first hug back home, to the final Global Studies presentation, to the final academic transcript, to a lifetime together as an extended alumni family.

They are coming home...

With gratitude,
Gennifre and The Traveling School

Pictures from TTS20

Check 'em out. Lots of smiling girls. Ridiculously unedited to ensure you each get multiple shots of your daughters. They were absolutely lovely. Thank you for sharing this adventure with us.

http://travelingschooltts20.shutterfly.com/

All the best,
Gennifre

Happy Thanksgiving to all of TTS20!!!

I'm so grateful that I was able to travel to Africa and to see my beautiful daughter Megan S. and to meet all of her wonderful traveling companions.  What an amazing adventure you all are having.  And while I miss having Megan home, I am grateful that she is able to have this experience.

These young women will return marked by the beauty of Africa and the inner strength that they have found on the road.

Parents- it was a privilege to meet of each of your daughters and share some of their experiences and to listen to their stories.

Teachers- Thank you for you your round the clock caring, enthusiasm, and commitment to make this extraordinary trip happen.  The energizer bunny has nothing on you all.

Gen- thanks for the vision and the follow through to create this program.

And a big thanks to the TTS staff in Montana that work the magic behind the scenes.

Nancy L.  Thanks for being open to traveling with a stranger (me) to Botswana.  What a fabulous time that was and I'm appreciative of having had a fun traveling companion to share that leg of the trip.

And thank you to my husband who was willing to mind the store while I was out jaunting around Africa.

Mary S.

Hello to all parents of TTS 20.  We are recently returned from the parent's trip in South Africa.  To all the parents who where there, thank you for your companionship.  We want the thank Gen and all the teachers.  What they do is so amazing it is an inspiration.  It was an adventure that we enjoyed sharing with all of you.  For us, it was a truly awesome experience.  To those parents that could not go, I want to give you our take on the girls.  In a word, the girls are strong.  We had the impression that they had gained a good deal of confidence and strength.   This does not quite convey the full picture, however.  We had the overwhelming feeling that the girls felt that they could do anything they set their minds to.  And, I believe that to be true.   Many times I have been asked what effect the TTS has had on our daughter.  What I say most often is that it will be extremely difficult for anyone to tell her she cannot do something.  I think this may be the case for many of your daughters.  Add to that a new compassion for other human beings and a knowledge they are fortunate.  I believe this will result in some amazing and kind young women.   I also want you to know that in choosing the traveling school, you chose very, very well.  Best wishes to you all.   We all look forward to the coming return of our daughters. 

Bruce & Jen Wilson

MY VISIT TO ROCKTAIL BEACH

Parent Visit to Rocktail Beach

Greetings all.  I just got back from seeing the girls from Africa and as one of the first parents back, I wanted to give a quick summary of our time their, how the girls are doing and share some of what will be many photos and stories to come as the other parents come back and post too.

Of course it was great to see my daughter Francesca, it’s been too long and being able to see her there in Africa, hug her like crazy will be a moment I will always remember.  So how are they all doing?  Incredible is the word I would use. This is a group of wonderful young ladies.  A really close knit, powerful and wonderful team.  All of them were happy, thrilled to be at the lodge we all stayed at and shining from the fresh and appreciated showers and accommodations a nice reprise and upgrade from the camping, hostels and lesser luxuries they all experienced in Zambia and Mozambique. 

The days at Rocktail were full with activities and very well organized.  The facilities, tour guides and company was more than expected.  Over the course of the five days we got a taste of just about everything.  The girls even continued with class work during that time and the parents all got to participate as well.   All the girls had presentations during the four days to the parents and shared some of the work and concepts they were working on from science and literature classes they were taking.   The teachers and staff were all great as well.  It was nice to be able to meet and talk to each of them. 

In terms of activities we went whale watching and saw several hump backs on the way down the coast with several young ones in tow.  We also saw some amazing breaches as well.  It was almost as if the whales were putting on a show for us that day!  We stopped at a nearby reef to do some snorkeling in very clear water.  Afterwards we all had a wonderful picnic at the beach.  In the afternoon we got a taste of scuba.  Some of the girls were already certified.  For those of us new to the sport, their was a discover scuba class and ocean dive provided which allowed me and others a chance to try it out.  It was totally unexpected on this trip but a wonderful bonus and chance for most of us to get a real taste of scuba and the incredible views at a nearby reef.  I’ve always wanted to try and after this experience will certainly be getting certified to do this again with Francesca in the future.

In the evenings after dinner, we all had a chance to join the research efforts along the coast and join in the shifts up and down the coast looking for, monitoring and tracking both Leatherback and Loggerhead turtles. I’ve included a few photos of the turtles we got to see laying their eggs.  A really special and unique experience everyone really enjoyed.

On our last full day we all rode along dirt roads to a nearby Zulu village.  We stopped at a school along the way were the group was able to meet with the teachers and children.  The girls had an assignment where they shared certain prepared exercises to teach the kids principles on water and cleaning as part of a joint effort TTS has with an organization call Project WET.  We also go to join in some singing and playing with several of the classes.  We then visited a local clinic, enjoyed a lunch at a nearby traditional community gathering area and finished up at a local community center put together by a wonderful man Eugene.  He built the area for the kids of the village including a petting/observation area to learn about farm animals, a community hall and a dance area where we were all treated to a very special show of local dance by several of the students who had just got out of school.

On the final day as we call headed out of Rocktail, we got a chance to meet up with and see the girls’ Overland vehicle, their driver and cook.  “Big Blue” as they call it!  It was interesting to see the girls get so excited about rejoining their big bus that has carried them through so much of their journey.  It was like they were all coming home!  After giving the parents a quick tour of their bus and some final pictures, we all had our goodbye hugs, kisses and handshakes. 

It’s hard to summarize into a few words and pictures just how wonderful the trip really was.  For those parents who were not able to go on this trip, I want you all to know just how wonderful it was to meet your daughters and also let you know just how well all the girls are doing.  Like many of you, I have been worried and wondering just how my daughter has really been doing.  The calls and limited access made it hard to feel comfortable at times with Francesca being so far away.  After the trip and seeing her, getting the time to really catch up and talk to her and all the girls together, it was wonderful to see how happy, energized and really great they are all doing.  They do work hard and are challenged every day, but they are learning so much, have a great team around them and are truly in a special place.  I feel much more comfortable about the experience and glad to see everyone doing so well.  This is really a special group of young women and I am so glad to see them doing so well and really proud of my daughter and all of them for how well they have done.

I’ve attached a few photos of the trip and girls.  Many more to come soon.  Its was great to meet all of you who were there and will always be a trip I remember.

Warmest,

John C.

Your daughters are amazing...

Your daughters are strong.

Your daughters are letting Africa sift through their pores as they undertake this massive journey. They are traveling through rugged terrain - both geographical and personal. They are learning about technical academic facts - mathematical equations, historical dates of significance, and the parts of a thesis statement. They are learning about Africa - how colonization affects modern day politics, the influences of apartheid, and how to greet someone in Zulu. They are learning about each other - how to be a good friend, how to resolve conflict, and how to authentically support each other. They are learning about themselves - asking themselves, "why am I?" "Why does this matter?" and "How is it important to me?"

After spending a rich week with TTS20, I can tell you that your daughters are strong. They have learned to travel, to study, to explore, and to laugh. They shared their stories and their journey with us over long dinners on the Indian Ocean with the sea breeze in our hair. Your daughters are amazing...

Right now, I am on the last day of the Campus Visit and Parent Trip with the most supportive and open group of parents you could imagine. The returning parents will be sharing their photos and insights over the next week as we return to the US via different itineraries, and as the TTS20 girls slowly traverse South Africa en route to Cape Town. Enjoy what the returning parents have to share - and I will happily share my own photos when I return to Montana next week.

Lots of hugs to you all from the girls on this side of the globe.. and thank you for sharing your daughters with us.

All the best,
Gennifre

Pictures from Zambia and Mozambique

Wanna see some pictures?

Shannon brought one of Aunge's memory chips back to the office with her - and these photos are amazing! Please enjoy the smiles on your girls' faces and share these with your friends and family :)

Lovely!
-Gennifre

http://travelingschooltts20.shutterfly.com/

Board Member and TTS Alumni Parent Greets You!

Greetings to all!

I'd like to introduce myself to you all.  I have the great fortune of being an alumni parent to three Traveling School girls, each daughter with two semesters of TTS!  You can imagine how hard it is to carry on without another TTS semester in the future, so now I enjoy supporting TTS as a member of the Board of Directors.

I've been re-living the adventurous bliss of my own daughters' TTS experiences while browsing through these blogs and have to admit it brings tears to my eyes.   I love hearing how the girls are studying amongst the zebras...visiting the farm that they read about in their literature...eating the wonderful food ...sleeping under the African stars.  I also recall the phone calls that didn't seem to be quite often enough and my anticipation of how my girls would return and what changes that I might see in them.  And I smile, remembering how the photos, at first sparse and then, more abundant...took my breath away.  I know that Robert would like *more* photos...I always did!

I well remember the yearning to  talk with my girls and waiting for the phone calls. Those short talks were like jewels to be treasured and I remember when my oldest daughter, Erin, called for the first time, my husband and I almost had a fist fight trying to secure that telephone!  Although she denies it now, she had a few moments of home sickness--I could tell.  As the first semester for my youngest daughter, Ali, progressed, I mentioned to second oldest, Rachael,  that the phone calls seemed to be getting less and less since Erin's first semester.  Rachael smiled and said, "Mom...when I had the opportunity to call...there was the alternate opportunity to explore.  What do you think I wanted to do...?"  I wanted to talk with Ali, but I laughed and took comfort in knowing that she felt secure enough to forgo the phone call and soak in her surroundings.  All my girls were different and all seemed to find their own inner resources.  I think the hardest part for me, was allowing them to draw on those resources and take flight.

Truly, nothing has impacted our daughters lives more than their semester of hands-on learning with TTS.  It's wonderful to be able to continue to support TTS as a board member and I would like to extend the invitation to use me as a resource as the semester progresses, should you desire an experienced, parent's eye view.  Ask me questions here or email me at:   laurab@imt.net

I'd love to hear from you!

Laura Johnson
Bozeman, MT

Goodbye Girls!

It was a privilege to be able to go to DC and meet the the teachers, parents and other girls traveling. I was left feeling that not only was my daughter in capable hands but that she was in the company of awesome women teachers and a great group of young women. I left DC feeling comforted and excited by the opportunities ahead for TTS20. Looking forward to the blog posts from Africa!!

Pictures from DC!

Thanks to all of the parents who were able to make it to DC to join us for the evening of preparation and getting to know each other. The girls are still in the air en route to Africa... and here are some pictures from the last few days!

Thank you for sharing your daughters with us - the adventure has finally started!

All the best,
The Traveling School (in Bozeman and with your girls and TTS20)

To see and/ or upload additional photos from DC, please go to our TTS20 shared photos website at Shutterfly: http://travelingschooltts20.shutterfly.com/

Hello to Brooklyn.
We are so proud of you to take this wonderful adventure.
Looking forward to hear and see pictures of what it is like over there.
We Love you a lot :)

Sandra and Dave Newcomb

Watch This!

Hi ladies-



As we are all looking forward to meeting each other in DC, I'd love for you to take 15 minutes and watch this news piece from 60 minutes. We have been invited to visit this park during our semester. Aunge's sister works with Gregory Carr and his foundation, which sponsors this park and contributes to the restoration of the area. In addition to visiting the Park, we are exploring the possibility of having our TTS20 group participate in Environmental Educational activities with the Community Education Centre.

A video to introduce to you Gorongosa National Park


After watching the video, you'll understand how special this highlight will be as part of our journey.

How exciting!

All the best,
Gennifre & the Traveling School

Why is this blog private?

You’ll note that this blog is restricted to blog authors. That means that no one else can read or post on it during the semester. Why?

The reason is simple: safety. We care deeply about the girls and their adventure. We want to live vicariously through all of their escapades.  It is wonderful to read about Algebra midterms under the shade of a mango tree, or about a surf lesson that went awry. And we want to enjoy these stories with the girls and share in their adventures.

But, we don’t want the world to share in their adventures, just yet. The world is a big place – and with the online world, it is even bigger.  So, you’ll notice that we err on the side of caution with The Traveling School. We write about general regions and areas. We don’t include specifics. Why? Because the story is just as strong without knowing the exact location of the event.

And, we ask that you do the same to protect our girls and their adventure during the semester. If TTS20 is doing a service project with Ninos Elementrary Escola in Vilanculus, Mozambique during the third week of November – we ask that you share that she is on the coast of Mozambique doing service. Of course, you can always offer specifics to your relatives and friends in personal emails – we just request that you are aware of omitting specifics for all social media. You’ll notice that the girls won’t “tag” each other in photos during the semester, for the same reasons.

We teach the girls to use their status updates to promote social change and to affect their worlds. We can all do this during the semester. Please – talk about The Traveling School and encourage people to visit our website. Please – talk about the issues the girls will be studying this semester, including malaria, human rights, and the happiness index. Please – connect with other people in the TTS world to better understand how this all works. And, please – keep specific locations off the radar.

After the semester, this all becomes public and we open the blog for everyone to see. But, during the semester, let’s give the girls their own adventure which is reserved just for them!  

Packing Panic!

Hi all-
 
We’ve talked with several of you this morning – and it seems that a lot of you spent the weekend trying to figure out how to cram a lot of stuff into a floppy duffle. Before you give up – here are a few suggestions to help you get your gear in your luggage – and get you to DC to meet us in a few weeks!

First – check your duffle size. Did you buy one that is big enough?

One large duffle bag:  We suggest a large duffle bag, between 4,500 - 5,000 cubic inches. It is helpful if the duffle bag has duffle-style handles and haul-handles on each end. This will make it easier for loading and unloading from the truck. Also, it is helpful if the duffle bag has shoulder straps which can be used for carrying the bag for short distances as a backpack. Double-zippers allow you to lock your possessions.  The duffle bag should be constructed of water- and abrasion resistant fabric to withstand the abuse of travel. Please do NOT bring one with wheels or a telescoping handle.

Second – check the weight of your bag

As you can imagine, we are used to flying with a lot of luggage. When our teachers leave Bozeman, we all have multiple duffle bags, both personal and for group gear. We arrive at the airport well in advance of our flights and weigh bags, shuffle items, and eliminate last-minute items before getting on the plane. We also mail boxes to the hotel well in advance. So, we are very familiar with the packing list and the luggage restrictions.

 Checked Baggage for Economy flights:

·         First checked bag: $25 when paid at the airport / $20 when pre-paid using EasyCheck-in Online at United.com within 24 hours of your flight

·         Second checked bag: $35 when paid at the airport / $30 when pre-paid using EasyCheck-in Online at United.com within 24 hours of your flight

·         Maximum Weight: 50 lb/23 kg total

·         Maximum Size: 62 linear inches/158 cm

 Overweight Baggage Fees

·         Fee for any bag weighing 51-99 lb for economy passengers: $100 per bag

·         Bags weighing more than 100 lb/45 kg will not be accepted. If a bag is both oversize and overweight, passengers will be charged both fees.

 Oversize Baggage Fees

·         Fee for any bag between 63-115 linear inches: $100 per bag

·         Bags with a single dimension more than 62 inches, or overall dimensions exceeding 115 linear inches will not be accepted. If a bag is both oversize and overweight, passengers will be charged both fees.

 Specific Traveling School Suggestions

·         Put your Crazy Creek/ camp chair outside of your duffle, and strap it on the outside. When you check-in at the airlines, request a plastic bag for the outside of your bag.

·         Wear your hiking shoes.

·         Carry-on your jacket.

·         The place where girls usually go over is in the toiletries department. Remember that you can re-supply during the whole semester – there are grocery stores, markets, and drug stores where you can buy a second tube of toothpaste or a new bottle of shampoo.

·         Ensure your sleeping bag is in a compression sack – and cinch it down tightly! If you want to watch someone compress their bag – Teton Sports has a good how-to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GolE9gg3GRo

·         And, make sure you have rolled your T-shirts, and packed as many items as possible in other bags. This video promotes Eagle Creek, and while some of the Eagle Creek products work well for us (the packet folders do not), the video has some good suggestions about utilizing your space well:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_DlYkuvBak

Packing Duffle Bags and Travel Packs – A few more words of advice…

Soft sided duffles are great for expanding around a load, but they are usually one big compartment that gets packed in one position and carried in another. Things tend to move around inside, and the larger the bag, the more likely it will be that smaller items will become lost in the pile. And, as you are living out of this bag, you want to ensure that you don’t dump the whole thing upside down in your tent every time you are looking for your math homework! Get organized!

As I mentioned above, roll your clothes into cylinders when you pack. That isn't the most wrinkle-free method ever devised, but wrinkles are really part of life at The Traveling School. The next trick is to make gravity work for you to keep everything in place. Pack heavier items - like shoes - at the bottom of the duffle (the bottom when it is being carried). Remember to label your bag on the inside, as well as on the exterior luggage tag, and sew on your Traveling School patch!

 And, we are going to help you learn how to organize and pack your bag – so just concentrate on getting it to DC, and we’ll help you from there!

 

If you are still stuck…

Text me a picture of your bag and your pile of stuff - I’ll see if I can help!

 Good luck!

Gennifre and The Traveling School

Welcome to the TTS20 Blog!

Dear Parents, Students, and Friends:

Welcome to the blog for the upcoming Traveling School semester to Southeastern Africa! This blog will be a place to read updated notes from students and teachers as we study and adventure through South Africa, Mozambique and Zambia. This blog will be updated with a variety of information. The teachers will provide academic updates for each class, as well as updates on academic activities, outdoor adventures and beautiful cultural interactions. Students will also update this blog throughout the semester. They will share their experiences through their own words.

The teachers (Aunge, Jen, Shannon and Ariane) and Gennifre and Jennifer have been preparing all month, and we are all very excited to meet everyone in Washington! While in Washington we will begin the process of building the TTS20 community, getting to know each other and preparing for our long overseas flight. Some parents will be joining us in Washington DC, some will not. For those of you who will not be there, we will send updates on the blog and pictures from orientation. Regarding communication, when we land in Africa, Jennifer in the home office will send an email update. For the first few weeks, students will be out of phone communication, however the home office will keep you updated.

Once again, we are all very excited to meet you and to begin our adventures together! A quote for the beginning of our journey: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." -Lao Tzu

See you soon!

The Traveling School

In Bozeman: Gennifre, Jennifer, Jim and Price

In Africa: Aunge, Jen, Shannon and Ariane