The close ups below show the stenciled artwork. Mine has the typical Privateers Sea Kayaking Club logo on it. Isabelle's has two of the motifs from here skin on frame kayak. I'm not sure I showed pictures of what the finished kayak looks like beyond the first time she took it out (see here). I may have to get on that.
As for me...it's been a learning experience. I have played sports at some very high levels. I have also coached some teams to provincials and other serious events. Coaching four and five year olds is a different game altogether, and coaching my own daughter has made me really dig deep. I certainly enjoyed stepping up as the assistant coach for the Tigers (Isabelle's soccer team) but when the going got tough it was hard to keep my perspective. It's not that all I care about is winning. After all these kids are four and five, they're here to have fun, learn a few skills, make some friends, and learn some of the basic rules. But when the other team's parents are being negative towards my team and generally not living up to the "parent's code of conduct" (like this one from the Dunesland Soccer Club) it's hard for me not to lose my cool.
Anyway, now that all of that is off my chest here is a great shot of Isabelle. This is how she plays most of the time with lots of spirit and energy. We'll have to see what she wants to do this fall. Maybe another season, maybe something else. Who knows? She's been talking about dance lessons. At least I know I won't be giving her any pointers there.
When we got back from Washington, Isabelle took her stuffed toy panda. I think the panda made a pretty big impression on her as she has talked about it quite a bit in the last few weeks. Here is a drawing she did of the panda and her home. This is her best work yet. Off course she labelled everthing so the rest of us could see what it was all about. (The image is cropped because it wouldn't fit in the scanner.)
Anyway, she's been really proud of her work but yesterday at dinner she anounced she'd given it away to the neighbor so that the neighbor could put it in "her" book of Washington. We were a little shocked and taken aback. I think Jane had thought of framing it for her room and I had hoped to post it here on the blog. Anyway, after diner I went over and aksed to have it back so we could save it for her. Now I have to make sure the neighbor gets a copy of the drawing. That Isabelle sure keeps us on our toes sometimes.
The grounds were lovely and we had a great day for it.
Next we stopped in Alexandria and walked around downtown. We stumbled upon a place called the Torpedo Factory. It was as it is named during the two world wars but is now a studio for visual artists. We came upon Allison Sigethy who had instructed me at the East Coast Canoe and Kayak Festival. This is her workshop.
You can see the kayak influences in her art below and at her website.
The next day was the National Zoological Park. Here is one of the entrances.
The big draw in DC is the panda exhibit. They were pretty active when we were there.
We visited the zoo with a friend of Jane's and his daughter. Here there are clowning around a little and seeing who is taller.
The girls had a cackle at one of the toucans.
The zoo was under construction in many places. The "John Deere backhoe" exhibit was popular with some of the younger kids.
This is one of two significant Michelin tires I saw. This on was in the temporary elephant enclosure.
Of course any zoo worth its salt has a pride of lions and Washington is no exception.
Later we went to the National Postal Museum. Not very busy but interesting. Note the Canadian post box at the end by the girls.
Jane looking over some of the exhibits.
Isabelle doing the same. Here is an on-line version of the exhibit.
Isabelle even sent a few postcards and cancelled them herself in the machine.
After the Postal Museum we headed for the capitol building. It's not as big as it looks.
Back at the hotel. It was very glamorous. We ate breakfast here every morning.
This is the restaurant we liked, just opposite the hotel. It's called Open City.
The subway was a big hit with Isabelle. I found it darker than most I had been in and didn't feel as safe as in others. The escalator to get to it near the hotel was the longest I have ever seen. It must have been over 150 ft. Some of the escalators in the system are even longer but nothing matches the world record holder.
Third day and we walked by the White House.
On Pennsylvania Avenue there was a work crew cleaning the tar off of the new pavement. They were using a high pressure street cleaner that made the new pavement look like it was 15 years old.
Now the Washington Monument. As you can see it isn't as big a some people think (in reality 555 feet). It was finished back in 1884.
The National Museum of American History was a little all over the place. In one section they had this display about the invention of Kevlar. Note the kayak paddle on the left.
I tried my hand a windsurfing with Isabelle...
and Isabelle got to do a neat science experiment with carbon dioxide.
Off course we went up to see Kermit the Frog, right next to Archie Bunker's chair, and Dorothy's ruby slippers.
Next came the Museum of Natural History.
Lots of bones, fossils, rocks, gems, stuffed animals, and other natural things.
I particularly enjoyed the Sant Ocean Hall.
This is The Castle, where the Smithsonian Institution is based. The institute was the result of a donation from an English scientist who never even visited the United States. The story of how James Smithson ended up in America after all is also interesting and has a Nova Scotia connection. Read it here.
Now to my favorite. The National Air and Space Museum. I know I am going to book a long layover the next time I'm in Washington so I can visit the other site, the Udvar-Hazy Center. That's where they keep the really big planes. Below is the original X1, the first plane to break the sound barrier, hanging just inside the door.
Another Michelin tire, this one reproduced to be installed on an old plane that was on display.
This picture Isabelle took. She's getting better and more patient about taking pictures. The bomb is one similar to what was dropped on London in WWII.
This is an old airplane that is sort of featured in some children's books by Clive Cussler, my favorite author.
Here is a mock up of the Wright Brothers' famous airplane.
Off course no visit is complete without touching a piece of the moon.
Finally, after supper we headed for the National Mall. This is the Washington Memorial at night.
The relatively new National World War II Memorial with its illuminated fountain.
Finally we get closer to the Lincoln Memorial.
The Washington Monument again seen from the base of the Lincoln Memorial at the end of the Reflecting Pool.
And the man himself. The whole place was teaming with people. It was almost hard to get a good picture.
The last stop was the Vietnam Vetrans Memorial. We don't have pictures as it was so dark, but it was one of the things I really wanted to see in Washington. The other was Arlington National Cemetery. We drove in but didn't have enough time to see anything. I did catch a glimps of the Marine Corp War Memorial on the way out of town, another of the memorials I wanted to see. I guess we will have to do another trip.
Now we need supper and maybe a dip in the pool while it's still light out. It's an outdoor pool but heated, a good thing considering it's cool here. Tonight we may go out again to see some memorials or maybe get up early and do it tomorrow.
Jane is dealing with our pictures right now. We will post some as soon as we can.
Lunch was near the hotel and then we were off to the Postal Museum. Jane enjoyed it (obviously) and Isabelle and I had a good time. Isabelle made a few postcards and saw lots of neat stuff. A quick walk near the capital building and down Pennsylvania Avenue to do some shopping and it was time for supper. We did walk by the Verizon Center just before the hockey game. Supper was great. We ate at a spot right by the hotel. We may even break our rule (never go to the same place twice when visiting a different city) and go back tomorrow.
Speaking of tomorrow, well it should be big too. Air and Space, Natural History, American History, along with a walk by the White House and down the mall to the Washington Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial. I would also like to see the Vietnam Memorial. It doesn't look like we will get to Arlington National Cemetery but maybe next time. It should be a nice day, I hope it gets a little warmer though.
The drive up was OK. Isabelle was tolerable in the car and we saw Virginia in the fall. Not too bad for scenery. It is much like NS, just no ocean. We did Gunston Hall today, the home of George Mason. Until now the only thing I knew about George Mason was that the school, George Mason University, used to have one of the best Volleyball teams on the east coast. Now I hear this guy was buddy buddy with the other George (Washington) and really got a bum wrap on the whole founding fathers deal. He was there, just didn't sign. See the links for more info.
Other than that the big adventure was driving into Washington. Traffic was OK but they still don't know how to drive here. The real story is the scenery. Just driving in we went by the Pentagon (sort of by mistake), saw the Kennedy Center, the Washington Memorial in the distance, and some very lovely parts of the city, including the Potomac River and all the bridges that cross it. Washington and surroundings are obviously beautiful but also incredibly bike and pedestrian friendly, essentially what you'd expect of a capital.
We also walked Alexandria before coming in. Tomorrow is the zoo, or should I say the National Zoological Park. Isabelle is looking forward to it and is fast asleep, a major improvement over yesterday. I hope it goes well (or at least better) from here on in. Stay tuned. I'll probably post a little each day, if ther is time. We have sooooo much to try to do.....
The program interested me so I made a call to find out more about it. At first I didn't think much of it but then it became clearer this wasn't just an ordinary program.
The kids typically are selected because they need help with their motivation, their a attitude, and off course their grades. I was beginning to feel like I was in over my head. Don't get me wrong, I like kids, I've coached kids this age in sports, I just wasn't sure how I it would work out. I'm a white Canadian male living in the Southern US. The school is predominantly African American (is that the right way to say that?) and not exactly in the best part of town. I had visions of a tough, disrespectful, potty mouthed kid (irregardless of ethnic background) who just didn't want to be involved with the program. Add to that the fact I don't exactly make friends easily and am not that naturally outgoing and you can see why I was nervous.
So I did some research and learned a little about mentoring adolescents. There a few really good sites out there but most are very formal and organized. In our case the program coordinator promised some training but it seemed only logical that it would be before we took on this challenge. Instead it looks like it will come after.
Anyway, the first meeting was last Friday. I packed a lunch and headed to the school around 12:00 for lunch with Marc (not his real name). I was prepared for the worst but wasn't sure what to expect.
The lead in wasn't great. I met the school secretary who passed me off for the vice-principal. He seemed a little put out that I was there and certainly wasn't enthusiastic about the program. He kept an eye out for Marc and his homeroom teacher. In hindsight I suppose it's a good thing he didn't know Marc very well, at least he must not spend too much time at the principal's office.
The session went well enough. I introduced myself and asked a whole lot of questions of him. He seemed cordial enough and was likely less nervous than I was. In the end he agreed to meet with me the next week so I'll see him again on Friday. The first little while we will be just to getting to know each other. Eventually we need to get to the serious stuff and talk about goals and grades. I've heard this is a good experience for both the mentor and the mentee. I hope it turns out that way.
The changes just keep coming though as we adapt, and grow up, and get older, and all those good things.
My work seems to be steady and I'm finally comfortable with it. The role is certainly challenging but I don't worry about getting blindsided by other people over things I should know or have to deal with anymore. My travel schedule isn't too bad and I get to go back to Nova Scotia every few month. Ireland is great, France was beautiful, and my one trip to Mexico, even though it was short, was lots of fun.
I still feel weird about the culture sometimes and have to consciously be careful about some things. The drivers are one thing, but I'll leave that for another post. The food is another. Politics is a dangerous subject, even for a Canadian, and health care is getting lots of press these days. Religion is out as a topic of discussion, although it's still everywhere, but not as in my face as I thought it would be, most of the time. Now we still pray at the Y after cycling class and before Isabelle's soccer games but I can live with it. Sports are crazy, and football is king. Take your pick of high school, college, or pro, just don't cross anyone's team.
That pretty much describes the transition from the Southern part of Nova Scotia to the Southern part of the United States.
The latest transition sometimes feels like we've moved to the South of France. As most of you know Isabelle started at L'Ecole Francaise Bilingue last month. We knew it would be a big change but I had not prepared myself for all the other things that go with it. You see the school is mainly made up of French expatriates here working for Michelin. There are a few others who are either French from other companies or from mixed families (French mom/American dad, English mom,/French dad, etc... although no mom/mom or dad/dad) who take advantage of the school for their kids too.
A few things became very clear right off. The school only has about 70 students and has a very close, family feel to it. Everything is done by the students, the teachers, or the parents. Bake sales, dances, field trips, all are organized from inside. It means everyone knows everyone, and of course the language is French. It's not a cult or anything, its just how things have evolved. The parents, particularly the moms (and the one dad) who drop off and pick-up the kids (no buses) always hang out in the parking lot and catch up and plan the next activity and share the latest gossip. Jane has jumped right in taking part in the discussions, reading in the library, going to the PTA-type meetings (mainly because they are during the day), and participating in the bake sales.
The bake sales are interesting for two reasons. First of all, its just a way of getting money out of the parents to pay for activities and such. I don't disagree with it. Its much more fun than just donating money since each mom (and dad) makes all sorts of cool pastries and desserts for the sales. So we, but mainly Jane, will get to have all the goodies at school when she picks up Isabelle. Also she’s been getting into making neat things for the sales herself. In an effort to not be outdone by the other parents (I think), as well as to combat the aforementioned homesickness, she put together a Gâteau de Crêpes à la Florentine for the pizza sale. It sounds like it was a hit.
The other thing that could work in my favor is that each family in Isabelle’s class (seven in all) are asked to supply a snack for the kids on a rotation. Our turn has been fairly easy up to now. We’ve done cereal and milk, yogurt, and bread and jam (homemade bread). The latest challenge was crème. That’s essentially crème caramel. I’m don’t know about you but this is not a regular occurrence in my house. I can remember making it once. Otherwise I’ve had it a few times in some of the better restaurants that I try to frequent.
As for Isabelle she seems to like it despite only having one other girl in her class. Because of the size of the school it seems like the big kids look out for the littler kids. As for her French it is much better. Let me explain. When we first interviewed the principal at the school he assured us she would fit right in. He had no reservations about how she would adapt. He figured about two or three months and she would come home one day speaking in French. He thought once she had saw that her new friends and teachers speak French all the time at school that she would see it wasn’t just her weird old dad. Boy was he wrong!
It only took about a week for me to notice the difference. Now she actually puts complex sentences together and makes an effort to keep up with my French. I won’t get into the fact that she’s correcting my pronunciation and vocabulary. I can live with that for the sake of the big picture. I can only guess that the principal didn’t know how much French she already had in her. Either way its great. I’m very proud of her even though she speaks with a proper French accent. Although, I still have her throwing in some Acadian now and then. Sometimes I wish I could be there when her teachers hear her say something like: fraite instead of froid, chequafair instead of quelque chose, itout instead of aussi, and icite instead of ici. I just hope they are more open to my native tongue than some of the teachers I had in elementary school.
Here are a few more Acadian words you might either find interesting or not understand. The link at the bottom takes you to a site that explains them.
- Abriller - Aiguiser - Ajeuve - Asteur - Attoquer (s') - Bagouler - Basir - Begou - Berlicoco - Chacoter - Comprenure - Cri (aller) - Deparler - Derbu - Désabrier (se) - Échine - Éloèse - Foudreil - Gadelle - Galance - Garrocher - Grafigner - Hachouillé - Hâcre - Itou - Lumelle - Mouiller - Pigouiller - Ricasser - Zire (faire)
Here are the definitions but they are all in French. The best dictionary I've found is the Dictionnaire du Francais Acadien by Yves Cormier, although this online Glossaire Acadien by Pascal Poirier and Pierre Gérin is pretty neat, although a little tricky to use.
