Our final adventure

Greetings Parents and Friends,

Our TTS18 community has returned to Maun from our final adventure into the Makgadikgadi Salt Pan National Park and Planet Baobab. We spent two nights camped under spectacular, blooming baobab trees and enjoyed each others company. Students wrapped up finals smoothly and enjoyed the few days of relaxation. Our final adventure yesterday began with a sunrise ride in open air safari vehicles through the National Park. We made our way to a Meerkat colony, where students got up close and personal with a meerkat family. The photos are spectacular! We journeyed next to the salt pan, that is as large as the country of Switzerland! Our final stop in our day (between breakfast and lunch out on the drive…) was to a 4,500 year old Baobab tree, known as Chapman’s Baobab…McCall was excited!

In addition to this final adventure, we’ve spent our days discussing the transition home. On the parent blog are some of the thoughts and concerns that we’ve discussed within our community. The girls are both excited and nervous to return home. They are excited to see friends and family and pass on their knowledge and stories, while also nervous about leaving each other and nervous about how to best share those stories.

Please visit the parent blog for more information on how to support your daughters' transition. Thank you sharing your beautiful, loving, intelligent daughters with us for the past 3 and 1/2 months.

-Leah, Aunge, Caroline, Brenna

A few more class updates from Aunge & Caroline

Precalculus
The precalculus class worked through their fourth chapter over the past few weeks. They studied exponential and logarithmic functions and developed an understanding of their inverse relationship. The students mastered techniques to change between the two equivalent forms and use properties to solve exponential growth and decay problems. The class has now moved onto studying trigonometric functions using the unit circle and coordinate plane. They are developing their understanding of the properties of each function and how each one is graphed with the appropriate domain, range, period and, when applicable, asymptotes.

Languages of Southern Africa
The language class continues to explore the way cultures are evolving and changing. The students recently interviewed volunteers, workers and travelers at the Cheetah Conservation Foundation and Etosha National Park to gain perspective on how cultures are changing and what people view as the most important aspects of their own culture. To prepare for their final German exam, the class played a fun game of German Simon Says in a pool to learn directions while beating the Namibian heat wave. The class is now working on their final project, a play addressing the world with various cultural influences and perspectives. They will perform the play in front of a captive TTS audience later this week.

Literature

The end of the semester approaches, and our literature class has begun reading The Second Coming of Mavalo Shikongo. This critically acclaimed novel by Peter Orner tells a story of love, loss, and the importance of place through short vignettes. The story takes place in the early 90's, immediately after Namibian independence and is set at a boarding school in the middle of the Namibian desert. The novel reads as a kind of ode to a seemingly forsaken land, one marked by drought, starvation, thirst, violence and the extremes of temperature and emotion. The characters have a love/hate relationship with the harsh landscape. As a way to regularly respond to what they read, they students are keeping a character journal in which they record various aspects of characterization. They are also working on the first drafts of three short vignettes describing a person, place, important object, memory/moment, or conversation from their semester. These vignettes will serve as their final writing assignment. They will also have a final exam on the novel.

History

In the past few weeks, TTS18 History students finished small units on Nambian Independence and the Bushmen of Southern Africa. The latter coincided with a Global Studies unit on Vanishing Cultures. Students pondered how indigenous cultures could enter the modern world in a way that does not leave them stripped of their identities (and, thus, self-worth) and stricken with poverty and the social ills that come hand in hand with a devastating lack of resources. This conversation was punctuated with a visit to a San village. As we leave Namibia and cross the border into Botswana, we are preparing for our final exams. In history class, the students will write an in-class historical essay on an aspect of colonization's effect on African cultures in Southern Africa. This purposefully broad topic allows the students to write about a theme from the semester that interests them. They will also complete an annotated map of Nambia and Botswana.

TTS18 Gives Thanks!

Here are messages from each girl, written on Thanksgiving. Thank you for sharing your daughters with us on (for some of them) their first holiday away from home.

Dear Family,
As I write this from Botswana I'm so thankful you sent me here! I
can't imagine Thanksgiving without Cliff and I fighting with Chad
about something in the kitchen...But I know we are thinking of you
guys! And I'm going to miss getting up butt crack of dawn to go black
Friday shopping with you guys! And I will miss some pumpkin pie :)
Much Love Cassy

Dear Mumps, Paar and Benjamon the lunch lady,
I miss you guys so much! I just wanted to dwell and say I am thankful
for you sending me here and being really awesome. I am thankful for
you guys buying me the horny toad (which I am wearing and haven’t
washed since Cape Town). And thanks for always being there when I need
you to dwell!
Love you guys!
Jessie

Padre, Madre, and Jess-
Thank you so much for sending me off to Africa for a semester even
though it was a bumpy road to get here. Thank you for hangin in there
with me when it got tough and for the good times too. Thanks for love,
family, and helping me get where I am today. I'm thinking of you guys
everyday and having an incredible time! This is AFRICA! Miss you and
love you!
-Lindsey

Momma, Dad and Booboo
Thank you so much for letting me go on this incredible experience. I
want to say thank you for teaching me all the things that I know.
Thank you for staying with through all the bad and good times. Thank
you for are all the love, the family, animals and giving me room to
grow. I am thinking of you everyday here and I miss you and will see
you in 10 days! I miss you and love you.
Love you tons McCall.

I am thankful for so many things in my life right now. Of course my
wonderful family who has supported me so much in this whole process
and has always been excited to hear from me. Especially to my mom who
has done all the forms and paperwork for my semester in France. Thank
you so much!!!!!
Also just to be here and all my wonderful classmates and teachers.
Thank You!!!!! Happy thanksgiving! I love you all!
Xoxox Nell

Mommy, Daddy –
Happy Thanksgiving, tell my beautiful Aunts that I love them and that
I will miss stuffed portobello mushrooms! Hug my little brother (whom
I'm thankful for, but you don't have to tell him that, jk). Anyway,
thank you for everything; for getting me out of the door at thirteen
because without that push I wouldn't be here in Africa right this
second typing to you from a swank hotel lobby. So thanks, I love you!
Don't get too stuffed and drive safe on the way home!
See you! <3333
~Audria

Mom and Daddy,
Happy Thanksgiving!! I can't believe I won't be there this year, but
I'll be home soon and I can NOT wait to see everyone. Thank you so so
much for enabling me to come spend half of my junior year in Africa..
I have learned an immense amount of things which I will carry with me
for the rest of my life. SEE YOU IN 10 DAYS!!!! You better save me
some of Aunt Fani's pumpkin soup :).
LOVE YOU xxx! (and you too I Adam, I guess)
-Isabella


Happy thanksgiving Mom, Pops, and Een!
I am so thankful that I am in Africa right now, learning and seeing
so many new things! It is tough being without you three, but I know
this is something I have to do on my own and I will be home really
soon! Tell everyone who's over that I say I love them and miss them
and I hope Mom doesn't put popcorn kernels in the turkey (Nani knows
all about that)!
Much love,
Ilsa

Hey everyone!
Happy thanksgiving! I wish I could be there to spend this holiday
with everyone, but Africa is amazing and I am so very thankful I am
here right now. I love and miss you guys! 11 days!!!!
Love,
Hannah

Mamacita and Ole' Gappy (Schana/ Ana),
Happy thanksgiving! I am going to miss getting taken out of school
early to clean the house (OK, that was one time, but it was awesome)
and the house being crazy crowded and eating your blueberry pie with
the dandy designs. An African thanksgiving is pretty cool as well :).
I am incredibly thankful to be here, to have you two as my family and
my bros, and for being a Brease. LOVE YOU! HAPPY
THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love,
Emmy Brease


Jambo! (too bad they don't speak kiswahili here)
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you are all enjoying this fine holiday. I
am going to miss getting up early and going to serve at ARC and then
spending all day waiting to go to the Rutman's for dinner. I am super
thankful for being able to spend the past fourteen weeks in Africa.
Thank you so much for letting me have this experience. Please give Ann
a big squeeze for me...remember her? I love you all muchly.
Halle Schirmer


Hey Family!
Just wanted to say I love and miss you guys. I'm so glad I am able
to be here in Botswana (ahh!), and that everyone has supported me in
this adventure of mine. I bet dinner in Cotuit is going to be AMAZING
as usual. Mmm thinking about it makes me hungry. Thanks you so much
for absolutely everything! Hugs all around!
- Liza

Mom! Dad!
Happy Thanksgiving!!! I just wanted to say thank you for everything
this year and I'm so happy to be here! Enjoy that turkey and stuffing
and delicious foooood! I'm going to have an incredible Thanksgiving
with my TTS family this year :) See you soon!
Love, Tate


M and D, Erin and Rachael,
I hope you are all enjoying upside down turkeys and gluten free
stuffing. I am so thankful for you guys and all the opportunities I
have received. Shout out to Madi, Katie and Abby, Can't wait to see
everyone and eat Christmas pudding. Miss you!!!
Love, Alipunjha


Madge, Padge,Linds and Gare
Sad to be missing the thanksgiving in Palm Springs. I am so thankful
for all you do for me, and being able to be here in Botswana. I hope
you guys have the best day and say hi to Grandma Rickie and Grampa
Jack for me. Seriously can't wait to see all you in a couple weeks.
Love Always/Arctic Tundra,
Al


This is my first ever Thanksgiving, and I am thankful for being able
to celebrate it with my second family here. I am also thankful for all
my family waiting for me at home. Miss you and love you all!
Lots of Love, Nellie

Okavango Delta

We are back from our trip into the Okavango Delta, one of the largest inland Delta's in the world. It was a spectacular trip. We explored the Delta from mokoros (traditional dug out canoes), navigated by a poler (community member skilled in steering a canoe using a long pole), and guides. We traveled through lily pad covered waters, listened to the territorial hippo call, and observed a herd of elephants and a dazzle of zebras. Our evening was serenaded by traditional song and dance of our polers and guides. Overall, the students loved the experience. It provided time to relax, enjoy the rhythm of nature and take a breath together before final exams, papers and projects this week.

a few class updates

Precalculus

The precalculus class finished the third section of their studies this week with the completion of the rational and polynomial functions chapter. The class studied the smooth and continuous curves of polynomial functions. They identified end behaviors, multiplicity of roots, x and y intercepts in order to correctly graph equations on the coordinate plane without relying on a calculator. The students then moved into rational functions and identified various types of discontinuities. The class learned to differentiate between the vertical, horizontal and slant asymptotes and include asymptotes on the graph of rational functions.
~ Aunge

Languages of Southern Africa

The languages class has been inundated by unique guest speakers who hold strong views about culture and the spectrum of cultural norms over the generations. We learned greetings in Herero, Nama, and three of the seven main OshiDonga dialects. Guest speakers have shared the way their lives have been influenced by tourism and their decisions to leave native villages while trying to keep their tribal identity. The class is now focused on German, a national language of Namibia. We are diving into conversational German by creating dialogues, songs and skits about greetings, expressions, directions, and foods.
~ Aunge

Math Concepts

The Math Concepts class studied the various investment types and debated which investments they would feel most confident putting money in. Each student presented one type of investing and highlighted the nuances of their topic. The students are eager to learn more about how the economy can affect investments, and we will move into the study of economics this week. Throughout the past two weeks the girls have also been compiling their resumes and studying what to include in resumes and cover letters. The students are currently prepping for a job interview by studying common interview questions and interview skills.
~ Aunge and Brenna

Science class on Table Mountain

Most recently, we traveled to the top of Table Mountain. A group of students hiked to the top, traveling slowly through the two main rock types that make up Table Mountain (mudstone and sandstone – quartzite). Another group sped over the beautiful geologic formation while riding up on the tram car. The entire group met at the top, enjoying the spectacular view of the Cape of Good Hope and the Atlantic Ocean. Students completed an extensive field journal entry on the landscape of Table Mountain and the specific rock types observed. This case study of the geology of Table Mountain will be carried over into the next few weeks as we officially begin our Geology Unit. The students will continue to look at the landscape and analyze, how did these features come to be? What forces are working on this landscape today? What will this look like in the future?

- Leah

Algebra 2 Class Update

To wrap up the first half of the semester, the students completed their Chapter 3 studies with a comprehensive test. In Chapter 3 students learned to solve systems of linear equations and linear inequalities. We explored three dimensional coordinate systems in terms of graphing points and solving linear systems with three variables. Starting this week, we will move into Chapter 4, studying Matrices. Students have also diligently completed weekly budgets, tracking their individual spending money. They will continue with these as we cross the border and transition to working with the Namibian Dollar.

- Leah

from Tsitsikamma to the beach...

We had a spectacular hike through the fynbos biome in Tsitsikamma National Park. The girls now approach hiking days of 13+ kilometers with no difficulty. We hiked into our first hut, late in the afternoon to be greeted by a wonderful natural swimming hole. The girls explored this by sliding on the slippery rocks and testing their mettle by fully submerging into the cold, mountain pool of water. You could hear shrieks and laughter rising up out of the little canyon. Our second day out greeted us with misty cloud cover. It was the perfect weather, as the fynbos biome is characterized by beautiful varieties of shrubs and low lying plants and not much shade from the sun. We were blessed to see hundreds of the 8,600 species native to the Fynbos biome in bloom. The best sighting of the day, was South Africa's token flower, the King Protea. Photographed with drops of misty rain on the outside, it was a highlight. We greeted the truck again after a 11.5 kilometer hike out and hit the road for our next adventure. Other highlights included science and travel journalism classes on the trail, smores, cooking dinner over an open fire and evening games. What's next for these adventurous students? Surf lessons!

Mountain Times

The group has emerged from the mountains after some adventurous days of hiking. We climbed up and over boulders through a dried up river gorge to see the stunning array of peaks and valleys. The girls rallied each other throughout the hike and encouraged one another up mountain peaks and ladders. It was a great team building day.

We have been listening to the array of languages spoken throughout the provinces and are busy practicing our clicks so we can interact. These skills will come in handy as we head to the province that Nelson Mandela grew up in.

Everyone is doing great and sends big hugs and hellos to all!


~ Aunge

P.E. Class

P.E. at The Traveling School involves a variety of activities from rock climbing and hiking to morning runs and yoga. Recently, the girls practiced their team building and trust tactics while discovering rock climbing routes on the canyon walls. We have focused on getting the entire group into running shape as well as using plyo-metrics and core exercises to promote strong bodies. We also play active games including capture the flag, freeze tag, and ultimate frisbee. Later this week we head to the mountains to hike some incredible mountain passes and challenge ourselves.

Brenna & Caroline

Battlefield

After an early morning jog, breakfast and tea the girls are headed to the British Zulu battlefield. Two different cultures are represented at this battlefield. The first museum is described through an Afrikaner perspective and the second from a Zulu. History comes alive for the girls as they walk through the museum and life size sculptures of loggers (wagons) circled up trying to defend themselves wait for them outside on the battlefield. Tomorrow we are headed for the mountains.

Brenna

Three School Visits...

The TTS18 students have had the rare opportunity of visiting three different secondary schools within our 2 and ½ weeks of travel. Students visited two private boarding schools (Stanford Lake College and the Southern Cross school) and one public school located in the Engwenya Township near Waterval Boven. They sat in on classes and interacted with students of similar age. Debriefing this experience in our Global Studies class provided a platform for students to discuss their observations and question why. The legacy of apartheid is a theme that has been part of the past few weeks in our discussions. We have discussed observations that the students have made regarding infrastructure of the schools, student and teacher motivation levels, racial divisions amongst students and the variety of culture within student groups. The TTS students have been open and honest in their discussions with each other about what they are seeing and experiencing. To compare and contrast the variety of schooling systems in South Africa first hand is what makes the Traveling School a truly experiential learning experience.

History and Government of Southern Africa Class Update

Our semester began with learning the geography of the African continent with a focus on the newest democratic nation of the South Sudan. The struggle for democracy is a theme that we will discuss throughout the semester. With current knowledge of South African’s political structure and leadership, students have looked to the beginning of colonization and the roots of the Afrikaner identity through readings and discussion. While visiting the Southern Cross school, we had the wondrous opportunity to talk with a freedom fighter from the anti-apartheid movement. He gave the students a brief history and focused on his participation in the ANC (African National Congress) political party beginning in the 1980’s. Having been imprisoned several times for political crimes, he gave the students a unique perspective on race and identity in South Africa today. Discussing the importance of perspective has been a theme and will continue to be as the students visit the site of the famous Battle of Blood River next week, where they will compare and contrast the perspective of the Afrikaner (Boer) and the Zulu during the battle in 1838.