Homeschool Conventions
Ever since I was a homeschooled child, I have wanted to attend a homeschool convention in the USA. There are more homeschoolers in the USA, and they seem to do more exciting things. Imagine going to a place where there are hundreds, perhaps thousands of you! The funny thing is that I still want to go! Mum does too, and since we are both teaching we have even more reason to be fascinated. All those materials. I am sure we'd be overwhelmed. We would also love to hear the speakers. I have even found a list of the times when conventions are on, just in case I "happen" to be over in the USA! It is a pity I did not do this before I visited in June 2003, as they are mostly around May/June (near the start of the school year in the USA).
I have enjoyed reading about others' experiences at conventions or conferences.
Susan's post had me laughing aloud at the Online Access Centre. I think I'd feel right at home in a place where nearly everyone views government schools as "The Schools of Pharoah", and I'd love to be at an event where a speaker who announces he has 15 children is greeted with applause instead of grimaces and explicit advice on birth control. According to Susan: "The conversations you overhear between middle school girls are not about boys, movies, or make-up, but about theology, constitutionalism, and dominionism". I can't say this was my home school experience. However, it would be a refreshing change. I loved to talk about boys, books, and super models. Unfortunately, my interest in theology seemed to extend solely to criticising the theology of my friends' parents.
Jen IG is having lots of fun over at her blog, creating stories about homeschool celebrities she met. The problem is, it is hard to know which parts to believe. Apparently, Doug Phillips: "kept getting this far-away dreamy look in his eyes and mumbling a countdown of when his wife was supposed to show up (apparently she was driving down to meet him and he was planning to take her on a date) He looked like a giddy teenager when he spoke about her."
Jessica's post was also fun to read. I so want one of those water bottles: caution - unsocialized homeschooler! I was pleased that Jessica pointed this out: "Don’t get me wrong, the majority of people there looked pretty much like the average American, but there was a percentage (of whom I was probably one) who “looked like homeschoolers”…and good for them! " While some homeschoolers are known for wearing long flowing skirts, they are just one group. When I was homeschooled I got teased for wearing skirts, since none of my homeschooled friends did except on special occasions.
Amy's post convention thoughts includes an attempt to exonerate herself from stereotypes: "Yes, I’m a homeschool mom, but it’s only because I happen to homeschool my kids. It’s not because I wear denim jumpers and bore people with mono-discussion about curriculums. (I drive a large white van, but we’ll keep that part a secret.)". For the unitiated Australians, it is important to note that a jumper to Americans is a type dress (it is not a warm top - that is a sweater). Some people think denim jumpers are homeschool Mum uniform.
Crystal met Amy in her dreams. This has encouraged me to confess that I too have met bloggers in dream land. Yes, it is true. I went to the Girotti's house in Virginia a few months ago. I have been dreaming about going to Virginia again for years, so it is no surprise that somehow I ended up at the Girotti's house. I don't remember what happened there, except that there were some of the usual confused dream land events. I think it involved stairs and high windows and gardens.
For those "real world" friends who are concerned about the socialization (or lack of it) I received through being homeschooled for so many years, I am considering buying a new T-shirt. Jessica passed onto me the link for the water bottles, and the same slogan is also available on t-shirts. I just have to check that they ship internationally. You can see it here: Caution: unsocialised homeschooler". What more is there to say?
