Creative teaching

Today we went to the Marine Science Center to teach and show Julia, Carlos, Chaze and Reese some fish, turtle and seabirds. We did not just learn about sea animals, because we were lucky that an expert from New York had a little talk about a squeek owl. We learned about imprinting and all sort of other interesting things about owls.

Once this little seminar was finished we had the chance to attach ourselves to another little class that got taken around the center and the lady explained why the turtles are in the center and how they need the help of human if they eat too much trash or get caught up in fishing gear.

This lady had been holding a Falcon on her hand. This little bird had also been imprinted and could not been back released into the wild. It takes up to 8 days for the animal to loose their ability to live in the wild. We also learned what bold eagles eat and that they only mate once in their lifetime. If the partner dies they ususally stay alone the rest of their life.

After we heard enough we went to the nearby beach and played and explored in between the rocks and seashells. All of a sudden we were taken by surprise to see a Racoon walking on the rocks. We followed the Racoon to see where it was heading, as we assumed it had been hiding their babies somewhere. It was very aggressive and Aleatha warned us not to get too close, as Racoons are night animals and if they are seen during the day times they usually carry Rabies. So we made sure that we held our distance.

My first Zumba class

Today I experienced my first Zumba class. Wow, I enjoyed it very much, the teacher was a cute little button, that could shake her hips and bubs like no one else :) Aleatha and I had difficulty to keep up with her, but felt good and light all day..... I need to get my hands onto this music and do a bit of Zumba on the boat to hopefully shape my butt as beautiful and tight as hers. If you want to know more about Zumba check out www.zumba.com . I love it very much as it made me feel very feminine in most movements.....

A rainy Monday turns into a Fun Day

When we got up this morning, it was raining, but at least it was warm and did not matter as our plan was to go to the science marine center here in Edgewater. So we organised some fun activities for the kids to do, such as learning about the difference of marine life with backbone and without backbone. We got that information from the http://www.aqua.org/ webpage, very informative. By the time we finished that, the sun had come out and we fixed some lunch for the children before we made our way to the marine center. Bammer, when we arrived we had overlooked that it was closed on mondays. Never mind, we went to beach instead and explored our own marine life there. The children gathered crabs and build their own jetty out of rocks and later on we went for a walk on the jetty and were able to wittness a Racoon that had gotten lost and was looking for a place to hide in between all the rocks. What an excitement for all of us. It was a very nice day, again filled with entertainment pur and lots of learning and expanding the horizon. Now its really time for me to say good night as the time shows 1.41 am, bedtime for little pumpkin Gabi. Good night to everybody and I send my love out to the world and spread it around the universe.

Aleatha and a new friendship

The time has been flying during the day and there is not enough time during the nights to catch up on all the things we would like to talk about. Aleatha has given up tonight and went to bed before me, mind you the little sleep she does get is very interupted by her 4 year old little Reese. I just have to deal with the dog wanting to share the bed with me (hahahaha), but he is easily taken care off by pushing him off the bed and shutting the door!

We either watch a chick flick or we have talked till we cannot hold our eyes open anymore. It is so much fun. Once we talked enough about homeschooling we changed our subject and got more personal and deeper. When I arrived here in Edgewater, I said to Aleatha that I have been a bit short of conversation and female company during the last three months and that I needed to fill my cup, and would not leave until my cup is full or overflowing . Once in a while Aleatha would look at me and say, do I talk too much, and I say, no mam, the cup is not full yet (hahahaha) ... I love it....I would have never imagined in my wildest dream that I would come across a person that I feel so close to in such a short amount of time and that I would be so lucky to find such friendship in such far away country.

We had a very interesting talk last night, and when I regrouped later that evening, I realised that I had found an answer to a couple of issues that I would talk often to my mum about and wondering why it is the way it is.... I am so happy, relieved, proud and filled with unconditional love and compassion towards me.... I am back where I was before I left New Zealand and know that I am on the right track. I cannot believe of how much I have grown in the last week. I still miss my yoga classes no doubt about that !!!! So my keywords for tonight are passion, friendship and circle of life! A big hug to all my friends back in New Zealand and a big hug to Aleatha and her family for coming into our life.

Homeschooling

When we were still living in New Zealand and my friends would asked me, whether I was looking forward to the homeschooling I always replied with a smile and said, of course it will be fun!

Hmmm, on second thoughts, I did not really given it much thoughts what is actually involved in homeschooling....for a start having Julia and Carlos around me again for 24 hours and finding hardly any me time; slipping in and out of the role of mum, teacher, friend and entertainer.

So when we first started it seemed easy, the rule was daily 2 hours of school time and the rest of the day free time to have fun. What did we do maths, vocabulary and reading.... first everyone was very enthusiastic about it, Julia finally understood the meaning of numbers and maths. She had a glow in her eyes and was obviously very proud of herself. Carlos liked the fact that he had lots of free time to explore, collecting and gathering things and playing. Not to forget that they always learn as they play.

Then came the turning point, they started to complain that the classes were boring, mummy was a mean strict teacher....... at the same time I met Aleatha in the Daytona science museum. We got talking and found an instant liking and were on the same wave length. She was a homeschooling mum and had an obvious passion about homeschooling. In the short amount of time that we had she downloaded so much enthusiasm and knowledge onto to me that it virtually blew me away and I was very much taken by it. From that day on I looked at the whole home school idea a bit different. I evaluated the program that I had, I looked at my view point and pattern of teaching and homeschooling Julia and Carlos. To give Julia and Carlos a good creative education there was so much to learn and to do before I could even start homeschooling my children. So I started my research, wow, the Internet provided me with a lot of interesting pages and hours of reading.

All of a sudden I met other mums on the playground that were homeschooling, and I learned more and more. The first change that I made was to unschool my children and myself. I had read about that before I left New Zealand. When starting to homeschool there should be no school for your children at least the same amount of months that they have gone to school. I simply overlooked that matter, as I wanted to give my children a good headstart on the homeschooling programm... silly me, there is a reason for the word unschooling. So I virtually stopped our school programme, we would still read our books and got our maths by playing Yahtzee and scrabble, but apart from that we had simply fun and lots of free time. I gathered as much information as I could, I would read as much as I could and surf the Internet as much as I could. I was really interested in the so called "unit study" . Aleatha had pointed Amanda Bennett unit studies out to me. A Unit Study in general is very interesting. Your child picks the subject that they are interested in and the learning is designed around that subject. Meanwhile I have found a unit study on Alice in Wonderland, Chance of raining meatballs, country and culture unit study etc. It is incredible in what a fun way children can learn, increase their horizon and knowledge. I love it. I am really thankful that I have met Aleatha who has opened up my eyes and my horizon in regards of homeschooling.

When we had a chance to visit Aleatha and her family up in Edgewater, we jumped to it. I felt that I would gain so much out of meeting her again and spending much more time with her. In the beginning I anticipated to visit for a couple of nights, but in the end we ended up staying for nearly a week. Wow, what an experience for all of us, for nothing in the world would I have change this. I have grown and learned so much in such little time, amazing. Once we arrived, we have not stopped talking about everything and anything. We are exhausted, but happy and filled with love, unbeatable memories and experiences. We have exchanged information, I have met so many other homeschooling mums and I got sooooo motivated that I know now I am on the right track.

I have realized how much I needed the unschooling, to move out of my old pattern of being taught at school. I am so grateful for the opportunity to home school Julia and Carlos and how much we can bond through this. I know that I still have to learn a lot, but hey Rome has not been build in one day either....

I had been wondering what my reason for being on the boat would be. I was really unhappy in the beginning, I missed teaching Yoga. Yoga is my passion and I loved teaching it. Now I seemed lost without it.

When I started my research, I asked myself the question why I would miss teaching other people, but had difficulties getting into teaching my own children. Was the passion yoga, was is teaching passing on knowledge or was it simply that I got recognition for what I was doing???? It turned out that I can have more than one passion, I definitely had a passion for yoga and a passion for teaching
so I just had to turn homeschooling into a passion of mine. I just had to become aware and undo certain pattern in regards of this passion and here we go the result is beautiful and I love it. I love it and I am very much looking forward to home school Julia and Carlos in a fun and creative way.

First dip into Floridas water

Yeah, we have done it, our first dip and swim in Floridas water. Its was wonderful and very refreshing and we all had a ball on the beach. The beaches are white and long and beautiful. You can drive along the beach for ages and watch all the beach boys and babes playing cool beach games, showing off their young beautiful bodies and having a good time. The children played in the water and Taylor and me went for a walk on the beach while Aleatha relaxed in the sunlounger she has brought along. We all got a sun teint and feeling exhausted but happy. I believe that I have filled up my heart and soul with love, light and laughter these last few days and I am ready to go back home onto the boat and face our next part of the journey.
Thank you so much Aleatha you have done it ... my cup is full and I am sure after today its overflowing and I am ready to go ....

Deepening a friendship

Today is Sunday morning is our fourth day with Aleatha and her husband Eric and their two sons Chase(9) and Reese (4). They have been wonderful hosts and provided us with a home away from home. The children have gotten along so well, you would hardly know that we are surrounded by four children, which has given Aleatha and me so much time to talk about homeschooling and other interesting subjects. I had not realised how much I was in need of female company. We haven't stopped talking since we have arrived and I hope Eric can forgive me that I have taken Aleatha over - thank you so much Eric for allowing us this time together I really appreciated this and I think you are a wonderful husband :)

On Friday we went to take part in a couple of homeschooling meeting with other mums and I picked their brains about homeschooling. In the last few days I have learned soooo much about different home school styles and love this information and know that I will do my best to make use of it and to provide my children with a good education for the coming future. Thank you so much to everyone that I have met today to let me be a part of your world.

Our days here are nearly over and as Aleatha just said to her mum, we have done a whole lot of nothing and a whole lot of everything ..... I am so relaxed I am so full of motivation and I am so happy that we had this time and opportunity together ..... thank you hope to repeat that again one day.....

Fieldtrip to Edgewater / Florida

Good morning,

we have to take the boat out of the water and Sven suggested to us that we have to stay in a motel during this time. I saw this as my chance to rather take a rental and go and visit our friend Aleatha and her family up in Edgewater. I did not waste much time rang Aleatha and within a couple of days everything of organised and arranged. Julia and Carlos were so excited an they got up that morning really early and got ready packed the bags and sitting on the step aksing me all day when are we leaving. Finally at 4pm we managed to get away. The drive up to Edgewater was an easy drive and 185 miles later (3 1/2 hours later) we arrived at their place safe and sound. that night we stayed at the Best Western Motel in Edgwater. the first thing we all did when after we had settled in, we had a hot bath and then climbed into the crisp white sheets. Wow what a treat and luxury!

Lots to celebrate

There has been lots to celebrate the last few days. First we had Werner and of course Evas birthday to celebrate on the 16th of March. For these two occasions we baked our special chocolate brownie cake. This was also our first cake that we baked on our boat, luckily it turned out really good and everybody enjoyed it very much.

A couple of days later we celebrated Elias birthday, this time we tried a Key Lime Pie, yammy, very delicious and everyone loved it again.

In between we got invited from Elias for dinner. The restaurant was an experience and the food was awesome, very nice, once again thank you Elias for inviting us. We had lots of fun, espcially when we all shared the sugar floss candy (watermelon flavour) at the end.



Gabriele and Sven - the happy couple after an amazing dinner in restaurant Tato which is located in the Seminole Reservation in Fort Lauderdale.

Saying good bye to John, Scoop and Max

Its time to say good bye to John, Scoop and Max. They were ready to move on to Bimini. they used the next great weather window to make it down to Bimini where hopefully the sun, sand and warm water is waiting for them. We hope to see them again soon or at least one day when we are leaving the River Bend Marina her in Fort Lauderdale. We have been staying her now for nearly 4 weeks, and we are hoping to be off as soon as our water maker is installed and running properly giving us 200 liters fresh water per hour ....

We wish you all three a good safe journey and hope to see you again soon..... for a cuppa :)

Fun filled Weekend

This has been a fun filled weekend. The sun is shining and the temperature are very comfortable. On Thursday we finally have picked up our boxes from Miami. We had hired a pick up truck from U-haul for $ 19.95 plus insurance and mileage, which seemed a cheap option to get our boxes up to Fort Lauderdale. Once Sven arrived back with the boxes we were busy with unpacking our boxes. Most of the time we could not believe, what we had packed, or maybe our value of belongings and space has changed already living on a boat after just two months. However we went through the boxes and picked wanted and needed and were be able to store.

That has kept us busy for Thursday and Friday. On Saturday we decided that we do need a break from all this packing and grabbed our dinghy and went to the Discovery and Science Museum next to the Imax in Fort Lauderdale. Wow what an adventure for whole family. There was so much to see and discover, we all loved it very much.

We tried to get some movie tickets for Alice in Wonderland for Sunday, but all sessions were sold out on Saturday and Sunday, so we opted for Monday afternoon. If you haven't seen it yet, its a must see, I reckon anyway. It's amazing .... Julia and Carlos were mesmerized by it and so was I ....I liked the ending very much... when all the mushrooms and flowers are growing out of the screen...

A rainy day in Fort Lauderdale

It has been raining all day in Fort Lauderdale. I have been trying to work out how to create and add a slideshow with our pictures to the blog, so far I have been unsuccessful. Julia and Carlos got into trouble with Dad while watching their new movie "Planet 51" and got grounded and got some extra school work to do. I thought it was a perfect day to work on the blog to make it an attractive side to look at and for everyone to enjoy. Sven has been busy taking the watermaker out, so that we can replace it with the new one coming next week.

A new beginning

Good morning!

Today is the day that we are starting with our very own blog and webpage. I hope you will all enjoy to read along and follow our journey around the world.

Sven, Julia and Carlos have gone to Miami to pick up our personal belongings. We have been waiting for these boxes for a long time now and the funny part is that we don't even know anymore whats in the boxes, never mind I suppose it will be like xmas when we open them up. So we will see what else the day will bring. We might go to the playground later, as we always meet other children there to play with, which is a lot of fun.