Serendipity

I haven't use this word in quite awhile...well, since we've been to PEI.
I guess I've overlooked some serendipitous moments in our school year, just so we could "get 'er done." Nevertheless, we have had a huge serendipitous homeschooling moment...and I mean it with a BIG CAPITAL BOLD S :)

Tuesday night, we had the pleasure of meeting a couple ( Manon and Kurt)  who traveled to Bhutan twice for holidays. My good friend Judi arranged, our pen pal "club" to spend a touristy evening learning all about Bhutan. We were more than generously welcomed into their home, and what a treat.
We once again sampled Bhutanese food, learned how to put a "gho" on,  learnt about Bhutanese culture, and watched an amazing slide show of their travels. It was honestly the next best thing to actually being there. The kids all read their letters which we wrote to our Bhutanese counterparts, and hopefully sometime next month we'll get a response back.

I can't gush about this opportunity enough. The last little while, we have just been going through the motions for school. Finishing workbooks, lacking motivation, just getting it done to meet objectives. My lack luster performance as class cheerleader has not helped. I think I've been more like a drill sergeant in the past few weeks.  We are tired, cranky and just want to be done. ( There...I said it!)

Sitting there Tuesday night watching my kids, with their peers, absorbing ALOT of info like sponges,was invigorating, not just for me, but for my crew as well. They were genuinely interested, and curious. THIS is what homeschooling is all about...these moments of serendipity...moments which just fall into our laps. This was a huge reminder for me, why I'm doing what I'm doing....
The one thing it doesn't change, is the fact that there are 2 more arduous weeks ahead of us before we can just breath :)  (Geez...did I say that out loud?) Until then we'll  try to  keep calm and carry on.

Here are some pictures from the other night. Enjoy!

Treasures from Bhutan

Masks are a big part of their festivals

Bhutanese grains/rice. I love th bright colored sacks.

Kurt showing off his "gho" It's like a bathrobe :)

These are handmade..woven silk.

These are worn everyday in public. The picture doesn't do the color and the weaving justice.

Reading our letters

Our Bhutanese pen pal gang