Today, we wanted to get into St. John’s so we got underway fairly early, as it was going to be an almost four hour drive. A few unique things happened along the way, including a conversation with the police.
Video to come!
Morning
Last night, we got a much needed restful night’s sleep. Taking the ferry at night was hard on all of us, so we were quite exhausted after a day of driving yesterday. This morning, Ethan started the day with some Sudoku before a hearty breakfast to fuel up for the day.
Ethan has started making new Adventures of the Box books and was busy working on a new book this morning. When he gets into being creative, he just focuses on that one thing and keeps doing it. He gets that from Dong Eun, as she’s also very good at being focused on one thing and not being distracted.
On the road, we were again amazed by the varying landscape of Newfoundland. Everywhere you go, it’s different and impressive, from the scenery to the changing weather. I must have put on and taken off my sunglasses a half a dozen times within a couple of hours.
And we found time for some fun GIFs.
Afternoon
After a morning of driving, we were craving a snack and Robin’s Donuts were our target. We had some in Ontario and thought they were better than Tim Hortons so we wanted to try them again. They were good, but we felt that they weren’t as good as the ones we had before. Next time, it’ll be Krispy Kreme when we get to the US.
But one cool thing happened while we had our donuts… We met another person driving across Canada in a van; in other words, another #vanlifer. Paul was the second younger person we’ve met doing this, other than Krista from Burnaby (who’s now in NYC, last I heard). Paul and his wife Leanne, and their 14 year old cat, are from Red Deer, AB, and are driving across Canada in a 1979 GMC camper van.
Lucky for Paul, he’s a heavy duty mechanic so he’s been able to make impromptu repairs to their van, Van Morrison, while on the road. It was because he was waiting for a part that we met him. We hope to catch up with him and meet Leanne and the cat as we both continue our travels. Follow Paul and Leanne on their Instagram or Wix site.
Shower needed
It’s been just over a week since Ethan and I showered. Dong Eun was able to grab one a few days ago, but Ethan and I needed one now. So while enjoying the scenery along the road, we wanted to get to a local pool for a swim and shower.
But first, we wanted to stop at the local Costco in St. John’s to buy a roast chicken for dinner. Unfortunately, we got there just before closing and the chicken was sold out. Fortunately, while in Costco, we received an email from someone who saw Juju Jr. in the Costco parking lot and wanted to say hi. Very cool.
The pool was modern and had a great kids play area.
After getting cleaned up, we went over to the nearby Sobey’s to pick up dinner. We found a bunch of things on sale, including some local Newfoundland classics, such as a cold plate and cream crisps. Both were excellent and we can’t wait to try other local delicacies. They even sold Korean shin ramen noodles, so Dong Eun was quite happy to have some spicy noodles for dinner.
The Police Incident
We had our dinner out in the Sobey’s parking lot. We usually do this. We buy our food, then cook and eat in the parking lot of wherever we are. It’s usually fine. Until tonight.
Ethan and I had gone into the store to use the bathroom one last time, leaving Dong Eun in the van on her own.
When we were done and heading out the door, we noticed a police cruiser parked behind Juju Jr. and two officers talking to Dong Eun. I was worried that something bad had happened.
The police got back in their cruiser and left when we got back to the van. I found out from Dong Eun that someone had called the police and reported that some people were doing drugs… as in someone thought that us cooking and eating were consuming something other than a cold plate and Korean spicy noodles!
With dinner done and the police satisfied we were only eating in the van, it was time to go over to Walmart and rest up for tomorrow.
We plan on spending a few days in St. John’s so there’s no rush. And we heard the weather might clear up so that will be great when we visit Signal Hill.
If you’re just reading this blog for the first time, we are a family of three traveling across Canada (and likely beyond) in a 1994 VW Westfalia camper van called Juju Jr. Our son Ethan, age 9, is unschooling and so we want him to learn from being on the road and traveling. So he’s also now a roadschooler and we are documenting the trip and his learning on this blog.
Fantastic photos Ethan! I love the composition in this one with the matching V shapes. He has a wonderful eye!!
And this one has such incredible light and colour!
It sounds like he has great focus and the ability to attend to one project at a time. Can you tell me a bit more about what the Adventure of the Box are like? What sort of stories is he creating?
I am happy to hear he has had some break throughs with his writing lately. I imagine the FSA was challenging at times, he must be happy to have it completed.
Police incident:
Well I suppose it is fair for the police to come and check if someone reported something suspicious. How did Ethan respond? What does he know or feel about the police?
What sort of flash cards did Ethan make? I imagine he could make many sets for different subjects. You could let him know that people make all sorts of flashcards to study from foreign languages, to history, to anatomy etc. It is a wonderful study skill to have and it sounds like he already got some great practice at making his own set.
I really appreciate how you call yourself digital nomads. Learning ways to take learning and work with you anywhere. Self Design has been wonderful for me in that way. I feel connected to BC, my learners and can be anywhere in the world. Ethan is developing a skill which is increasingly useful in this day and age and probably increasingly in the future.
I notice from your blog that Ethan is quite a designer and and engineer, whether he is creating new origami shapes, building a bridge/pier of rocks he is learning by doing, trial and error and pure inspiration!
Speaking of origami have you checked out the library resources on this topic. There might be something there for him:
https://selfdesign.learning.powerschool.com/selfdesignlearning/library/cms_page/view/34841354
and ways to make useful origami such as boxes etc:
Can you think of what useful items you might want to create using origami?
“Origami that is useful! Whether you’re organising stationary, looking for a pencil pot or need to store ribbons or wires, you can find many useful origami models here!”
You may want to check out Paper Kawaii for some inspirational ideas on useful items that can be made using origami. “
https://www.paperkawaii.com/all-origami/useful-origami/
At this particular spot was a memorial dedicated to those who served and gave their lives so that we could enjoy these views and the way of life we have here in Canada. These messages always cause me to reflect and be grateful for living in Canada. I always read these messages to Ethan, but I’m not sure the weight of the message gets through. I’m sure it will as he gets older and perhaps looks back at these photos and blog posts.
As remembrance day approaches he might ask questions again as he sees people wearing the red poppy pins. He might remember some of the sites you have already visited.
How to Explain the Importance of Remembrance Day to Kids
by Craig Sutton • November 02, 2016
Teaching kids about the significance of Remembrance Day (also known as Veterans Day) is very important. Not only will children be inquisitive about what all the poppies they see at this time of year but also because it is one of the most important days in our history. Depending on your family history, you may have had a family member or two serve your country and defend our freedom.
Obviously, considering the graphic nature of war, it’s also important to teach kids about Remembrance Day in an age appropriate manner.
Tips for Teaching Kids About Remembrance Day
Choose the Content You Discuss Wisely
The age of your children will ultimately dictate how you discuss Remembrance Day. While a 3-year-old may wonder what the day is about and why people are wearing poppies, older children can learn more about the history behind the great wars and other present day conflicts. How much detail you go into will depend on your child’s maturity level.
If your child is really interested in learning more about Remembrance Day and its history, talk with their teacher about what is taught in school for their age level and use this as a guide. You can also go to your local library and talk with the librarian about which resources would be appropriate for your child.
Focus on Honoring People
A great approach, and one that is appropriate for all age levels is to focus on the importance of honoring those who served in the war. Talk about the dedication and sacrifice that people made to ensure our freedom and safety today.
Talk About Your Family History
Another great way to teach the kids about Remembrance Day is to talk about family members who were in the war. Tell them what you know, where they traveled and, if you have them, show the kids photos of family members in uniform. You may even have a neighbor who served and, if they are willing, they could answer questions and share stories about when and where they served and why it’s important to honor the veterans.
A fun activity you could do with the kids is researching the history of a family member who served in the war. See what you can find out about them and the contribution they made to the war effort.
The Key Message to Share
“You can best honor them by using this day as a way to teach kids about both the honor and courage these people displayed in the course of performing their duties, as well as the valuable lessons they have taught us (namely, that the fighting of any war comes at too high a cost). In the end, Remembrance Day can provide an excellent way to instill your children with an understanding of the ramifications of war and give them a reason to work towards a more peaceful world.”
- Sarah Danielson on parentscanada.com
Why We Wear Poppies
Poppies are worn to pay tribute to those who gave their lives in war because poppies grew on the battlefields, especially on the Western Front, before and after World War One.
While serving in Ypres in 1915, the flower inspired Canadian doctor John McCrae to write his famous poem ‘In Flanders Fields’.
Ways to Help Children Remember
There are a number of ways that you can help kids learn about the significance of the day:
Have a conversation
One of the simplest and most effective ways to help your kids learn more about the day is to set aside some time to talk about it and answer their questions.
Wear a poppy
Wearing a poppy is important, but also explaining the reasons why you are wearing it will help kids gain a deeper understanding and respect for the day.
Attend a Remembrance Day ceremony
Make it a point to attend your local Remembrance Day ceremony. Giving the kids a first-hand chance to see veterans and be part of the celebration will encourage them to ask questions and learn more.
Attend a speaking engagement
If a veteran or member of the armed forces is holding a speaking event, consider taking the kids.
Watch documentaries
Perhaps an activity that is best suited for older kids, documentaries provide vast amounts of information about the history of the day, while also adding audio interviews and visuals that will add to your child’s learning experience.
Talk about the contributions of women and minorities
The Veterans Affairs Canada website offers great information on some of the often overlooked contributions of Aboriginal-Canadians, Women, Asian Canadians, and Black Canadians
Conclusion
Remembrance Day is a significant day in the world’s history. With fewer and fewer living survivors, it’s even more important than ever to remember the sacrifice these people made for our country. Teaching our children about the importance of Remembrance Day will help keep the memories of these soldiers and brave individuals alive now and in the future. While it’s great to have fun and educate your children, Veterans Affairs Canada provides us with a reminder of what is important:
“Never forget the contributions and sacrifices of the men and women who have served Canada in times of war, military conflict and peace—especially those who did not return.”
One of our main reasons for unschooling and choosing SelfDesign was to allow Ethan the opportunity to express himself in his own way, and to write or think within the limitations of traditional schooling. Hopefully, this sparks some additional creative writing; in fact, he wrote a new Adventures of the Box book right after finishing the assessment.
Yes!! Removing the limitations of the four walled classroom opens up a world of possiblities:
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