We try to eat well every day, especially while on the road, as it’s easy to fall into bad habits. We’ve been eating a bit of chips and even had poutine for breakfast, which was pretty awesome, to be honest. But sometimes, you just have to go with the flow and enjoy local delicacies, especially if you know that you may not be in that place again. Today was one of those days.
Video below!!
Morning
The morning started with some crisp, fresh apples we picked up from Walmart. Surprisingly, they have good apples and we’ve been enjoying them during our trip. Ethan likes having apple first thing in the morning, as he sometimes wakes up hungry.
We didn’t want to eat much in the van, as we were heading to the Boyce Farmer’s Market, one of the must see places in Fredericton. We just so happened to be here when it was open, which is only on Saturdays.
Ethan was excited about visiting the market because he knew we were going to the science centre afterwards. But once he got to the market, he was more excited because of all the food! And because we didn’t have breakfast, and it was nearly lunchtime, Ethan got to have a real sausage hot dog, rather than the typical store bought ones. The sausages from one of the vendors was made with real meat and no preservatives or additives, so we were fine with him enjoying one. In fact, it tasted similar to the sausages Dong Eun and I had when we were in Germany during our honeymoon.
Dong Eun had a couple of the famous samosas, while I had a schnitzel burger. I should have gotten the sausage like Ethan because mine was the only one that wasn’t that good.
One thing that Ethan has found interesting about the markets we visit are the arts and crafts. It’s most likely because he likes making things that he finds what other people make interesting, too.
Afternoon
After enjoying lunch and looking around the market, we walked next door to Science East. Again, we were able to use our Science World membership to get in for free at another science centre. But this place quite different.
For one, it was housed in what used to be a jail up until 1966(?) and even had bathrooms that used to be jail cells. Second, most of the activities and exhibits were more analogue based, rather than just machines. Finally, they even had outdoor exhibits. As usual, Ethan loved all the activities.
At the outdoor chess board, a couple of kids were playing a match. Ethan loves chess, so he went over and started giving the other kids tips and advice. He’s really not shy about approaching other kids and joining them in whatever activity they are doing.
It was now time to leave Science East and go for a swim, which means it was also shower time! We’re all getting quite used to going 5-7 days in between showers. Dong Eun has the most issues, as her hair starts getting itchy after 5 days, but Ethan doesn’t seem to care at all. Anyway, it was nice to finally get cleaned up and head towards Moncton, NB.
Leatherman found!
When we were getting our stuff ready to go into the pool, Dong Eun found Ethan’s leatherman in the main cupboard, on top of a pot lid. It had been placed in the drawer and had somehow fallen down. We knew it had to be in the van, and Dong Eun found it. He was obviously very happy. Thank goodness for mom’s special way of finding things.
The drive to Moncton was beautiful, as the scenery along the river was awesome.
On the way, Ethan worked on a new necktie and decorated this one with one of his favourite things…smilies.
Along the way, we came across a local farmer’s market and had to stop, as the number of cars in the parking lot told us that this was a good place. Ethan was happy because they had a playground, as well as animals to feed and pet.
We bought a pack of locally made peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies to have for a snack. The cookies were amazing. A little more sugar than we normally like, but still very good.
We had to keep moving, as the sun sets pretty quick nowadays. Hard to believe we’ve been on the road for more than a month, but we’re loving every minute of it. And sometimes, when the view is spectacular, we just have to stop.
Ethan kept himself busy by picking a daisy and blowing it. He then found a sort of porcupine that got stuck to his pants and shoes.
Evening
We rolled into Moncton a little after 8pm and got dinner ready. Ethan worked on his paper airplane designs on the way here.
Dinner was a delicious spaghetti dish with broccoli and carrots from the farmer’s market topped with a sunny side up egg. Awesome!
And to cap off the evening, Ethan told us that Juju was hugging him before going to bed.
And tomorrow, we try for Prince Edward Island!
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LC Response
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I have been thinking of ways to make the observations more manageable and tailored to Self Design. Perhaps you could edit out some of the descriptions and photos of all the meals both cooked and bought which you are having. I realize food is such an important part of daily life and I know Ethan is learning a lot about how to cook and budget for food on the road. Maybe limit it to one or two highlights in which you observed some significant learning for Ethan around food.
I think you have to simply could edit a bit more from the incredible blog you are doing for this trip. Just select highlights from the week and maybe leave out all of the details of where you camped for the night etc.
I really enjoy the new GIF’s they are awesome! I love hte ones of the fall leaves in the air. Is Ethan learning how to make GIF’s? I actually have no idea how to. From your descriptions I read that Ethan is a wonderful teacher. Perhaps he would be willing to do a small video or description for me of how to create a GIF step by step. See if that interests him at all.
The Science East museum, the one in the old jail, looked so hands-on. I really appreciated seeing the photos of what Ethan built. It must be so great for him to have these larger spaces to create in supplied with hands on materials. He is travelling with relatively little so I imagine he is quite grateful for these hands-on opportunities.
I once had a student who loved to make domino runs all over his house. Has Ethan ever done that, I see from the photo that he built one. Here are some incredible ones I have watched over the year. I am having trouble loading Youtube videos for some reason on this online connection. I am currently in San Francisco for two weeks helping my mom pack and sort her things. Hopefully I picked some good ones….when I find the one I am thinking of I will resend. I can only imagine the amount of person hours it must take to set these up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0jeohWnmAQ
I also love how he was able to play chess outside with huge pieces and once again he took the opportunity to connect and teach others.
I believe those burs that got stuck on Ethan which you called porcupines are thistle seeds, they can be quite nasty and prickly indeed. However, the seeds are actually quite medicinal and good for the liver.
Though the entire plant has liver protecting properties, the seeds have the strongest effects on the liver. Milk thistle seed contains silymarin, a compound shown to protect the liver, and to accelerate there generation of liver cells. As an antioxidant milk thistle can help reduce oxidative damage to the liver. Used as a liver protectant and healer, to treat spleen problems, to protect the kidneys, as an antioxidant, and to protect the system from heavy metal damage.Milk Thistle blocks toxins entering the liver and cleanses toxicity out of the liver cells, a good (temporary) process during any cleanse and detoxification process. Milk thistle raises levels of SOD, interferon, and T-lymphocytes. Leaf tea used for skin problems, rash and tuberculosis. Root tea used for bowel issues like worms and diarrhea. You can make a lemonade from thistles.Juice or blend, strain out prickles or pulp, add lemon and optional honey. As for pure food, the root is the easiest survival food. Bull thistle for example has a pretty hefty root. Can be eaten raw or cooked. Young plants are best. Unopened flower buds, raw or cooked.
From this bot of thistle research I came across an interesting book called from Thisle Burrs to Velcro.
Learn how thistle burrs inspired the invention of Velcro.
Nature inspires so much design. Do you notice ways in which the environement and all of the new places you are travelling to inspires Ethan’s designs?
I really appreciate how Ethan is learning to let go and not accumulate things (like sticks) and just take a picture. I am trying to do this more and more in nature. When I was roadtripping along the west coast of Ireland we got to a beach with the most incredible rocks. I fell so in love with this one palm sized pure white smooth one. I held it for a long time and realized it was happier there with all of its rock friends by the ocean than on my shelf at home. I am sure the sticks are happy to stay outside rather than be driven all around in the VW.
You looked for whales often, did you ever get a sighting even just the spout of a whales exhale through its blowhole?
I am quite touched by how a deeper sense of gratitude is developing in Ethan on this trip. He is really seeing and valuing events and his family, this is such an important lifelong developemnt which will only bring him more happiness and compassion for others. It is so interesting for you to observe what emerges from Ethan in new environemnts and without many toys at all, see where his own creativity leads him:
One thing that Dong Eun observed is that since Ethan has almost no toys with him, other than a couple of Rubik’s Cubes, he seems to be appreciating what he has and being grateful for those things. He is also always saying thank you to Dong Eun almost every night. We think that he might be more grateful for little things and experiences, rather than the material things he was so used to having around back home. We’ll see.
On the way to the view point, Ethan picked some flowers for Dong Eun. He’s always doing little things like this for his mom, which is really sweet.
I am so impressed that Ethan is already on his fifth book of Harry Potter!. It is fortunate that he does not get car sick and can spend so much of the driving time reading and creating origami etc.
Please tell him the French videos he is making are awesome! How long does it take him to make one on average?
By the way Quebec City is gorgeous! Now I really want to go visit. It looks so much like western Europe. I enjoyed Montreal when i was there, but Quebec City is just so scenic.
Dong Eun made some very profound and insightful observations of the overall theme of beginning new each day and being open to all that it has to offer. I am so curious to see how this stays with Ethan or is integrated into his life back home. I imagine you are going to continue travelling for a while perhaps you will head South into the US as winter approaches?
Dong Eun said that because we are in a new place almost daily, it means having to fit in and figure things out in a different set of circumstance every single day. Things we take for granted back home, like where to play, where we sleep, what we eat, people we meet and a kajillion other things aren’t available to us on the road.
Every day is a completely new start for us. For example, before we arrive in a new place, we need to search for places to free camp. When we get there, we then need to figure out what that location has in terms of facilities and opening hours, because we need to plan out how we’ll spend that time.
We also adjust our routine a little bit each day, depending on where we are and what we need to do.
This experience for Ethan has probably been the biggest and most consistent learning. We each have our priorities and we’ve had to find ways to meet those needs.
He enjoys the time that he has with them, then he lets them go when we have to leave. Sometimes he’ll naturally be a bit disappointed, but he gets over it very quickly and moves on.
He’s adapted surprisingly well to the unknown of each day, and he has been thriving.
What a joyful person he must be to travel with, so accepting and present as well with change as it comes along.
This place was one of those times where we turned the negative of no propane into a memorable experience.
It’s our reaction to circumstances that we also want Ethan to recognize and learn from. We’re not perfect, of course, but we do our best to react in a positive way.
We always have choice in how we react in every situation. You are modeling to accept what is and look on the “bright side of things”
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