On September 4, 2022, we departed our home at Camp Belknap in Tuftonboro New Hampshire and arrived on the other end of the world to our new home for 4 months in Frutillar, Chile. Within 48 hours we had eaten dinner in the dining hall during family camp and then flown to the South American continent, picked up our car (which seems to stall each time we stop- more for another day), moved into our apartment and of course, our boys (ages 13 and 11) entered their first day of school. Spanish speaking only. And like that we are on sabbatical!
Now we know what you are thinking…it all happened so fast! Yes! And what are they doing? Yes! And where? Yes! How? Yes!
Transitions come in all shapes and sizes in life. And some are smooth and eloquent, some we go kicking and screaming, and all transitions impact us through creating different life experiences. We are in a massive transition. So, this is how each of us are transitioning:
Noah: immediately jumped all in! If he wanted to get something to eat, he went right up and asked right in Spanish. He firmly put down his fist and demanded the first night we needed to find him a soccer team. Clearly, he knew he was going to be most comfortable playing with other kids. The funny part is that we had spent a couple hours, with a lot of stories, and little success, trying to find him a soccer team on the second day of school. Yet, when we met him at the end of his school day (only after 2 days), he proudly announced “I have a soccer team and we have a tournament on Tuesday”. All set, done mom and dad. Mission complete no parents needed.
Tobin: treading lightly. Out of the 4 of us he has the least amount of Spanish, and he is thinking a lot about his language deficit. He shed some tears that first night after visiting the school. Yet he has come home each day with stories of watching the traditional dance and kids eating jamon and queso (his favorite thing to talk about is food). We asked him to tell us about his classes, are you feeling like you understand? He said with the true Tobin whit, “I think I have mastered recess, but I have no idea what is going on otherwise.”
Seth: productivity is his MO. We should all know that by now. Day one he had out a yellow legal pad and was making a list. Of what, we asked? We are not sure there is a good answer yet- but we know he had lots of boxes to check off on that pad. He has happily explored the mechanics of how to live here, how to go get bikes, where are the best places to adventure and smiled as he sat and spent some hours on his volunteer work for Abenaki ski team.
Steph: she is steady as she goes (“Tortoise” for those that know her AT trail name). She has quietly investigated the local scene, already taking the family to a guitar concert, exploring the best restaurants for “once” and “Kuchen” and finding a friend to go to yoga. And the family is enjoying her crazy coping ability to clean and enjoy it at the same time.
In this transition, we have still little answers to what are we actually doing down here. What are we doing on this sabbatical? But what we do know is that we are transitioning and growing, and we will all be changed for life with whatever is on this adventure!
