I've known for a while that I want to travel this summer and fall. I've had a bunch of relatively vague ideas about what I would be doing, but I've recently come to more solid conclusions. I'm really excited about some of the things I'm planning on doing, and wanted to share them on here.
I'll be finished with classes at BGSU on May 10th. The only other dire scholarly obligation I have after that is a choir concert on the 17th. Public school (choir) continues until sometime in early June, but I was really only attending so I could utilize the PSEOP program (the one allowing me to enroll in college courses through the wallet of the public school/government). With the concert over, it seems it will be mostly mundane activities, including preparations for the next school year, which I do not plan on being involved in. So, I'll be taking an early leave of absence, beginning the day or so after the concert. The not-so-solid idea that still needs to be worked out is: I drive with my mother to Chicago and stay there for a couple of days. My mother stays, while I board a train destined for Eugene, Oregon. I arrive in Oregon on May 23rd, just in time for the beginning of a month long permaculture design course at the Lost Valley Educational Center. The course sounds really awesome, plus they provide shelter and food for the whole month, included within the tuition fee (the fee would be really outrageous if they didn't). The final day is June 24th. If I'm not too tired of Oregon by then, I want to stay for a while in a small community residing in tipis. They sound really, really awesome and embrace many of the same ideas and ethics that I do. I've sent an email off to them today, but am unsure of when they will be able to respond (no wifi in the tipi?!). I would hope to stay there for at least three weeks, bringing me home sometime mid-July.
Nothing planned as of yet between arriving home and the Northeast Unschooling Conference in late August. The conference is in MA, near Boston. It's only a few days long, so Mom wants to stay and explore Boston and the surrounding area for a couple of additional days. Sounds good to me. I might visit an intentional community during my time at home and/or make another visit to Chicago. Maybe I could even stay in Chicago a couple of days on my way home from Oregon. Very exciting.
Another gap filled with Chicago and/or an intentional community, follow by Not Back to School Camp, which is, I believe, the last week of September. I was warned that I might be too late to apply last week, but received notification this weekend that I had been accepted! Especially since I was expecting to not get in, I am very, very pleased about this.
Another gap. October is my birthday though, so I am assuming I will have some familial obligations to eat food and receive presents. It also might be wise to schedule breaks in between to come home and spend time with family and kitties and Sunny.
Hopefully, November will be filled completely with the NaNoWriMo unschooler writing retreat in Durango, Colorado. They start conducting phone interviews of applicants in the next couple of weeks, which I am a little bit nervous about. It's alright though. The retreat would take the entire month. Plus, I might visit family in Arizona while in that part of the country. Not really sure.
Other things going on:
I spent a long weekend in Chicago. I am pleasantly surprised at how well everything went and how much I opened up with people. I always enjoy my time there, but it seems to get better every time.
Choir concert tomorrow night. I have the "Loch Lomond" solo, and am getting really, very nervous.
Trying to help Grandma clean and organize her house and basement. The basement must be cleaned in preparation for removal of massive, honking, colossal freezer being hauled away.
Women's Studies make-up exam Thursday afternoon.
My last blacksmithing class on Sunday. I've also just been informed that my teacher's contract at the museum isn't going to be renewed. Not pleased. Writing a letter of complaint.
A few, full-day blacksmithing classes at the historic Sauder's Village.
My dad is getting married.
Being involved in some classes for younger members of Terra Incognita in Chicago.
Being obsessed with Harry Potter.
That's all I can think of right now.
Aubrey
