soulful neglect

I have been neglecting my blog a lot lately.

The good Lord knows that there is plenty to write about.

Ugh. Plenty. But, that being said, I have just had no energy for attempting to put enough words together to create a post worth reading.

Why, oh why, can't I write like Gwen or Courtney or Linney? They write interesting, funny posts that I look so forward to reading. Posts that I totally relate to and feel like I could have written. But never do. Or Liz or Cat, or many other bloggy friends who write sincere, heartfelt posts that educate, make you think or share interesting facts.

Me, I feel like I am just either A.)whining or B.)thanking God.***

***Not that there's anything wrong with the above exhibit B, but, I would like to write about other things too...

Now before I have realized it, 22 days have gone by and I am guilty of *cue the Areatha Franklin music* N - E - G - L - E - C - T, find out what it means to me, N - E - G - L - E - C - T, take care, TCB, sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me, Oh, sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me...


Well on that note (how punny, get it!) I will try to update our Irishopian lives just a bit. I think I will talk about school since the kids have been out one week today.

The school year was a great one. As some of you know, one year ago, we left our safe, secure Catholic school due to some terrible administrative changes. We felt so strongly that the changes were so bad that we took a frightening plunge and put the non high-schoolers into public school. (And enter exhibit B) Well, God is good and our fears were put to rest. We had a wonderful year at both our elementary and jr high schools. The new boys started in early January and our approach was that they were not to feel pressure about grades. We stated over and over that they were to simply integrate, hopefully pick up language and just generally become more comfortable with life and school and culture here. It worked. They made great friends, became familiar with the school routines and picked up quite a bit of language. They have a LONG way to go but they will hopefully make major strides as their time home grows.

One thing I must comment on is this. Imagine for a moment the difficulties older children like my boys have in coming here and starting a new life. Like me, I bet you automatically assumed that the lack of English is the biggest issue, but I think there is a far bigger issue. How about the fact that Fitsum didn't know that a man had ever walked on or been to the moon. Or the fact that the boys don't get the cultural references that we here just grow up with - the meaning of to 'cut the cheese' or 'cheese touch'. Or the fact that they stare blanky when Cha Cha Cha is added to the birthday song. Or the fact that they are not sure what special effects on tv are real or fake. Or the fact that they don't understand how to dress appropriately - they pick out undershirts for church with holey jeans (again, very punny) or love to layer plaid shorts with plaid shirts and will top the outfit off with long, ridiculous socks. These things are bigger then language. Sometimes much bigger.

When David and I moved back to the US one of the hardest things for him as an Irishman was the feeling of being left out. We grew up watching different shows, hearing different songs, eating different candy, playing different games. When I mentioned the Brady Bunch episode of "Marsha, Marsha, Marsha", he didn't get it. He didn't know what a sophomore was. He just couldn't understand the need for so many things on a salad bar... It took him years to make these cultural references familiar. It took him years to stop crossing his legs while he sat in a chair. It took him years to understand the importance of spending $ on braces. And now our sons are struggling to catch up. But the difference is is that at least David spoke English, had a tv, celebrated the same holidays as me and was old enough to understand that you sometimes have to conform a bit to feel at home. Fitsum and Besu still don't understand these nuances in their new life. So, as great as the school year was, as thrilled as we are with the rapidly expanding vocab there still remains much to learn...
In years to come, finally catching up on so much that these boys are not even aware of yet or that simply makes no sense now will truly be a giant step for man!