It is really, really hard for me to believe, but my firstborn is 25% of the way finished with her senior year. We are a mere 8 months from graduation. How can this be? I try not to think about it too much as rocking in a corner is not the best way to spend my time. I know it is the natural progression of things, but I am not looking forward to the time when I am on one side of the Atlantic and she is attending university on the other side. For now, I've just determined to try and enjoy as much of her senior year as I can.
As I've shared before, there are many things about our decision to enroll the kids in school that I have struggled with. The awesome community they've found there is not on of them. I love that Abby has such great classmates and that they are able to share this last year of school together. The school the kids attend helps the students work towards having a senior trip each year. Basically, every year of high school, each class holds 2-3 fundraising type events and the money is banked until the last part of their senior year. Whatever they make over the four years is the class budget for the trip.
It really is a win/win situation. Because there are so few recreational opportunities in our city/country, people typically come out in droves to support the events. Most people are thrilled to pay for a meal they don't have to cook and the entertainment that typically accompanies the meal is highly anticipated, especially by their fellow students. The kids learn to work together, as well as some basic budget and business principles. Of course, the parents are also involved at some level, especially on the day of the actual event. You can imagine, with three high schoolers this year, we have lots of opportunities to be involved!
The seniors have the most rigorous fund-raising duties and two of the events are back to back, only about 3 weeks apart. I am really sad that I missed the big one they had in October, where they run a concession stand all weekend long for an annual softball tournament in our city. I would have loved to have been there, but instead I have been trying to keep from losing my mind here in South Africa.
Fortunately, I did get to be a part of the first fundraiser of the year the weekend before I left. The seniors chose a western theme and they initiated the school's new outdoor pavilion with a giant square dance. They served dinner and held a pie auction with 20+ pies. Because I had taught our house helper how to make corn dogs, they hired him to make 400 corn dogs the week of the event. Honestly, I smelled like a diner waitress all week long from living in a corn dog factory. But, they were a hit, as were the other yummy foods that they pulled together. It was a fun time and I am so glad I got to stick around and be a part of it!
All of the seniors, getting ready to kick of "The Barn" event.
They may have had to improvise a bit on the "hay" but the kids still loved the hayride!
Just a few of the yummy pies!
Swing your partner round and round. Never mind that it's 90+ degrees as the sun goes down!
Who knew that our brilliant school music teacher could double as a square dance caller?
Notice I have no pictures of my boys dancing?
My favorite senior! Time flies when you're having fun!
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