http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/mari/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:52:00 -0600 Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:52:00 -0600 I recently went home for Christmas. I didn't feel any warm and fuzzy feelings as I got closer, I just felt relief that my journey was nearing completion. It made me think back on how strangers are received in PEI. If you are born there, you are simply introduced by name. If you have chosen to make the island your home, you are considered an 'IBC' islander by choice, otherwise you are 'NFH' not from here or 'FA' from away. When the elections were on, Danny Williams asked voters from Newfoundland to vote 'ABC' Anything but Conservative. I am wondering if I am becoming an ABC--Albertan By Choice. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/mari/646414/ Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:52:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/mari/646414/ I recently went to a homeschooling event in which the speaker said that Canadians were rude. She said that we talk when the speaker is talking, don't give the speaker our full attention and we don't make eye contact with the speaker. It is not uncommon for young people to be rude by not addressing adults by their titles, but when I went home for Christmas my nephew has taken to the habit of calling his dad by his first name. The excuse was that he worked with his dad, but it didn't sit right with me. I thought that outside of the work setting, he should address his dad as dad. I was taught in school that respect was earned. We were told by our teachers that we should question everything our parents told us to do and that if they did not present us with a rational, reasonable reason to do something, we shouldn't. I now think that extending the courtesy, as in titles to someone, says more about ourselves and a whole lot less about the earned state of respect for someone. It isn't so much that respect has been earned, but rather that courtesy was extended whether the respect was earned or not. If the person has earned our respect then we are doubly-blessed. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/mari/646410/ Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:44:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/mari/646410/ Well, the new school year is well under way, but I have only just decided to take the plunge and start to blog. No doubt, I am spurred on by the fact that my son, my daughter and even my husband are all blogging. I'm sure my thoughts could be rendered just as inconsequential to the grand scheme of things as theirs. The sun will come out tomorrow whether we write and post or not. I have been advised to write and find someone who will listen. I am not sure who that might be, however, the homeschooling community is usually opinionated and just plain curious as to how others are doing. So, here it goes, into the fray. Mari     http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/mari/618501/ Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:38:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/mari/618501/