First of all, it is almost impossible for us to get a family picture where everyone is smiling and has their eyes open, this one is no exception. Here we are in Lynn Canyon, near Vancouver British Columbia this past summer.
Robert (or Bob) was born in Nanaimo, British Columbia a long time ago. He is the youngest of 4. He grew up in Nanaimo and then moved to Vancouver to attend college. After a couple of years he decided to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. To save money for his mission, he moved to Mackenzie British Columbia to work in a sawmill. He was called to serve in the Korea, Seoul West Mission. After serving a 2 year mission he returned to Vancouver and completed a bachelor's degree in linguistics with a minor in Korean from the University of British Columbia. After getting married in 1999 we moved to Toronto, Ontario so that Bob could do an MBA at York University. After completing his MBA in 2001 he started working for BASF (The Chemical Company) and has been there ever since.
Tanya - I was born in Magrath, Alberta in 1975, although I never lived there. I am the second of 4 kids. Growing up, we moved around every few years for my father's work. We lived in Ottawa Ontario most of the time, but also lived in Silver Springs, Maryland, Antigua, Guatemala, Paris, France and Tokyo, Japan. I attended the University of British Columbia and also served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I didn't quite go as far away as my husband, I served in the Canada, Winnipeg Mission. After I graduated with a degree in International Relations we got married and moved to Toronto. I held a variety of jobs in Toronto: inside sales rep. at Nestle (ice cream division), server at a murder mystery dinner theatre, business analyst at SBR Global consulting, customer service rep. at Schering Plough pharmaceuticals, and finally complex order manager at Nortel Networks. Of course my most challenging career so far is being a mother.
Nathan was born in 2001 in Toronto, Ontario. Nathan is a super nice guy and is well-liked by everyone. He probably works harder than anyone in the family. He enjoys swimming, skating, parkour, running, skiing, traveling, softball, writing, Lego and of course reading, reading, and more reading.
Ciara was born in 2003 in Etobicoke, Ontario. Ciara is very creative. She loves to use her imagination to draw pictures and write stories. She is fascinated by animals. She enjoys listening to music, dancing, drawing, painting, writing, swimming, roller-blading, badminton, baking, gardening, judo and Littlest Pet Shops.
Rylan was born in Brampton, Ontario in 2005. Rylan is always moving, jumping, bouncing, climbing and dancing (although he won't admit it). We haven't found a sport that he isn't good at although he can easily get frustrated or bored. Rylan is full of ideas and questions. He loves science and especially astronomy. Rylan enjoys parkour, gymnastics, swimming, football, hockey, curling, tobogganing, drumming and going to waterparks and playgrounds.
Cole was born in 2008 also in Brampton, Ontario. Cole is a charmer. He loves to talk, to anyone, anywhere, anytime. He can drive his siblings crazy, but endears himself to almost everyone else. Cole enjoys running, swimming, dancing, soccer, scootering, biking, drawing, playing with Lego and especially hugging.
Hello:
ReplyDeleteI have to daugthers 5 years old. We live in Castelldefels, near Barcelona.My wife and me are spaniards, but the girls were born in California and are american citizens. They speak spanish and english.
Next year the Law requires their schooling but we live in Castelldefels and all schools teach in catalan. That´s going be a big problem for them. Furthermore, we expect to move to Luxembourg in some years, and afterwards, probably back to the USA. Under these conditions the "Inmersion linguistica" in catalan will be useless and a handicap for their academic performance.
To circumvent legal problems we have decided to put the girls under the program "EDUCACION A DISTANCIA". T'hat´s a system devised for families which cannot take their children to a normal school because they travel very often or other circumstances.
Under this program you get your grades with the same validity that the ones you would get at a normal school, but wit the following advantages:
1) Flexibility of schedule (if you want to spend a ski holiday you can do it) (if you would like to spend a month in Bahamas you can do it)
2)Flexibility timetable in teaching (Morning, evening, etc).
3) Very good curriculum and good books writen by the best teachers provided by the Ministery of Education in Madrid.
4) You ony have to pass a final test at the Ministerio de Educación office in Barcelona or in any Spanish Embassy or Consulate if you are abroad at the time
You are required to have a computer, a webcam, a printer and a scanner. Your children are assigned to a teacher which follows their progress.
May wife is a bit worried about the girls being isolated, without other children to play with.
For this reason I´d like to contact other families in the same situation and make a homeschooling group.
I live in castelldefels in a chalet.and in the garden I have a studio of 56 m2 that could be used as a school. The children could play in the garden and I have even a small swimming pool. I would offer it for free.
The parents could share the education of the kids (I can teach maths, phisics, chemistry) my wife could teach geography, history, spanish. And actually we have a girl who teaches english at home 4 hours a week. We are planning to add a chinese teacher.
I would be very happy if you could contact parents interested in this scheme and give them my coordenates to contact and talk a little about this idea
Thank you very much .
Francisco Lopez Soler
Phone 936364978 and 634513146
e-mail lopezsolerfrancisco2003@yahoo.com
That is wonderful that you are trying to start a homeschool group. I will send you as many contacts as I can and I can post your information on my blog as well.
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