We’ve been busy uploading videos onto our Unschoolers Have Seoul YouTube channel!

Since the videos are mainly the kids’ project, I thought I would make Thursdays over here “UHS” days {Unschoolers Have Seoul} and share a video along with an extended explanation from my point of view.

I really just suggest ideas for videos to the girls and tape them, along with providing important commentary during filming.

Tasting Korean Snacks from the Convenience Store

The kids had a great idea about showing some of the different snack-type foods that you can buy here because a lot of it we had never seen, and you can only get a few American food items like Oreos at the convenience stores.

So we walked to the park and afterwards we exchanged a $20 (which came out to roughly 23,000 won) and went to HomeBase. You will hear and see more about HomeBase later.

The girls picked out a few drinks and snacks that they wanted to try. Gaius decided it looked fun and went all out – but his choices were very strange.

I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it on here, but he has an ongoing passion for sea creatures.

So he proceeded to try to buy every single bag of chips, package of cookies, and canned good that had an octopus, squid, shrimp, or fish on it.

As you can see from the video, he succeeded in getting a few sea-themed snacks home. And he thoroughly enjoyed them.

Since we’ve made that video, I have discovered a few more fun snacks, so we will have to make a Korean snacks part 2. One of my favorites is called Sora Snacks and they are like a honey coated rice cracker with sesame seed sprinkled on them.

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Right now, we have to be content with a 1300 square foot apartment where you can hear a pin drop from across the house.

We didn’t bring a lot of toys with us to Korea because I wanted things to be simple and I didn’t know where we were going to keep everything. So the few toys we did bring have their spots in the kids’ rooms.

They don’t seem to miss what we left behind. Since our arrival, we have found many ways to have fun without expensive toys (although we have bought a few from the commissary).

Here are ten ways that my kids make their own toys using things around the house:

1. Make forts with blankets and chairs

I think making forts is one of the oldest youthful entertainments in the world.

All it takes is a few chairs, a big sheet, and a wild adventure.

2. Pots, pans, and muffin tins

You can do all kinds of fun things with items from the kitchen. The kids like to play cooking show and use my pans with wooden spoons. Their food is usually cut up paper or even play-dough sometimes.

3. Empty containers make pretend groceries

Korea has an extensive recycling system and so we usually have a lot of empty containers in a tub in our kitchen. We have started cleaning those containers out and taping them shut to make play groceries.

Gaius likes to take his shopping cart back and forth from his room to the grocery store the girls have set up in the dining room.

4. Making play weapons

We have a fancy wooden sword that Gaius got at the Renaissance Festival last year, but his favorite weapons to play with are the ones he makes himself.

Right now his favorite bow is made from a plastic hanger and some yarn.

We also have:

• light saber made from recycled foam
• toilet paper roll gun
• a sword belt made from daddy’s belt
• twisted paper swords

In the past, the kids have also made weapons from duct tape and cardboard. Check out Warfare By Duct Tape for some great inspiration.

5. Dress-up with fabric

You don’t need fancy sewing skills to make a super hero cape or a fairy skirt. All you need is to know is how to tie a knot.

Large flour sack towels, scarves, old clothes, and even scrap fabric make great dress-up toys.

6. Boxes make a great dollhouse

Denna likes to use scissors and tape to make a cereal or pasta box into a dollhouse for her Barbies.

She also makes furniture from cardboard using ideas from When Mother Lets Us Make Paper Box Furniture and The Book of Jolly Boxcraft.

7. Sail away in a plastic storage tub

After we finished unpacking, we had a multitude of empty plastic tubs for the kids to use as boats, trains, and even sitting areas while they played Wii!

Hint: they also make great shells if you are pretending to be a turtle.

8. Water play is soothing

Sometimes when the kids get bored and we can’t go outside to play, I get out a small plastic tub and gather cups, funnels, and bottles and let them play with water on the floor of the bathroom.

I make sure to supervise Gaius so he doesn’t slip and fall.

This can keep them busy for hours and it really helps to calm and relax them.

9. A broom and some baby wipes

Cleaning can become the funnest thing in the world if you let your kids have a few baby wipes and a spray bottle of water.

Gaius also likes the little hand broom and he will go around catching dust bunnies, pretending to be the groundskeeper of the building.

10. Using daddy’s tools

We have a few play tools that the kids use often, but they also like to use real tools from daddy’s toolbox.

Gaius loves to play with a tape measure and a pair of pliers.  He goes around the house fixing things for us.

We realized just how handy he was one day when we gave him a screwdriver and he proceeded to remove the handle and one wheel from his shopping cart. He was beaming from ear to ear with pride! We gently showed him how to put them back on and from now on we make sure to pay attention when he is in a fixing mood.

What things do your kids like to play with that aren’t toys? Do they make their own toys?

If you enjoyed this post then check out the other bloggers participating in the 10 in 10! Ten weeks of top ten lists, inspired by Many Little Blessings.

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Remember when I said that it hadn’t hit me yet that we were in another country across the world?

Well – it hit me.

I officially miss Kansas, I feel strange here, and I’m struggling with a few things.

That doesn’t make this move a bust, it just makes me human.

I still have a smile on my face most days. There have been a few rough patches I have to admit. But it’s not really about liking/disliking Korea. I love Korea. It has more to do with stress – the stress of figuring out what works for us, how to get around, and dealing with the differences.

Our life is different

We went from having our own home with a huge back yard and plenty of freedom to an apartment with no yard and lots of loud neighbors.

We went from a lively homeschool group to one that we haven’t even gotten in touch with because they have very little space to meet.

Our church situation has changed also – which we knew it would. We are thankful that we have found a church where we feel welcomed and where we can worship. It’s just hard to connect with people outside of Sunday because people come from all over the Seoul metro area.

Korea is different

We haven’t had so much of a culture shock I don’t think because we did a lot of “research” before we left, and we had the attitude coming here that we were going to immerse ourselves into the culture.

I didn’t want to come to Korea and live by other Americans. I wanted to experience the culture and country first hand, so we have tried to rely as little on the Army post as possible.

We’ve slowly been learning the language and getting to know people in our neighborhood. We’ve made a lot of friends on the subway.

I think the biggest difference for me is living in the city.

Seoul is – overwhelming.

It is easy to get around, the people are friendly, and the streets are safe.

But Seoul is like an all-consuming black hole. I never knew how some people could grow up in New York and never leave the city – ever. Now I know how. Because being inside the city becomes your reality – it engulfs you.

My Midwestern roots are screaming to just run for the hills.

I’ve had to really make an effort to find the little spots of green, the wide open spaces here in Seoul and treasure them. It helps keep my sanity.

Yet some things remain the same

For Mother’s Day, we took a bus to Osan to visit Jay. He is taking a class down there and it was a perfect opportunity to get out of Seoul and see another part of the country.

We didn’t see a lot besides hills and more skyscrapers, but it was nice.

On that bus ride, I was just struck with the irony of how similar some things are here in Korea and in America.

Other than the signs written in Korean, the scenery could have been from a car trip through Virginia or parts of Oregon. Green mountains rolling against the setting sun.

I think we all laugh a little too hard at some of the things we find in common with what we are culturally programmed for. It’s ironic because it resonates with our past.

People are still the same. They still desire connection.

Korea has stop signs, and malls, and perfume departments that stink, and supermarkets.

It’s these things that help us make sense of the differences around us. It helps us feel a little less small and strange.

Those similarities brings us back to the reality that we are all just human – attempting to conquer this shared experience of life.

The post Culture Shock: Differences vs. Familiarity appeared first on These Temporary Tents.

Our Hello Kitty Cafe trip was a while ago, and since then we have made several other videos and even had a giveaway of a basket filled with Korean goodies.

Don’t worry though, we are in the process of making another giveaway basket and will be posting the giveaway here rather than having in on our Facebook page. We had a few disappointed viewers who couldn’t access the giveaway because they don’t have Facebook accounts. Boo – fail on us.

So we edited the video as best we could to take out the unsavory words. I think you can only catch one if you listen really close.

It’s not a cafe that we could go to every day. For one thing, it is overwhelmingly PINK. And it basically exists for the pop culture factor alone. But the girls will remember our trip there for a long time with fondness.

Even if we didn’t buy an expensive doll. Ha!

The post Hello Kitty Update: Our Video appeared first on These Temporary Tents.

Now that I look back on our journey, I can see that homeschooling did in fact play a part in my journey of faith. And not only was I affected , but our entire family has benefited.

And so I give you:

Ten Ways That Homeschooling Has Affected My Faith

I hope I can explain these as well as they sound in my head. It’s not that homeschooling has made me a better Christian than other parenting and educational situations. But homeschooling has been a major drive in our faith over the years.

1. I have become more aware of what I example.

Being around my children every day has helped me realize that I need to example the right attitudes and actions because they are picking up on that.

I strew the atmosphere in our home (for the most part).

Homeschooling has made me more intentional and candid in my walk with Christ. I don’t hold back from my children – they see me praying, crying, studying, and searching.

2. It has strengthened my discernment.

Oh golly gosh and gee willickers have we thrown out some curriculum!

I mean – I have literally thrown workbooks and such in the trash, with my children. Books that taught and promoted lies, false gospels, and spiritual abuse.

Even my kids have grown in their faith by becoming discerning about what we watch and read – no matter the source.

3. My world has been expanded by the people we have met.

Going to homeschool group and all our other activities has brought us into contact with so many varieties of people. My faith has been stretched while fellow-shipping with people that worship differently and believe differently.

I think one great things about homeschooling is it puts us into contact with the outside world – on almost a daily basis. 

4. I have become intentional about leaving behind a legacy of faith.

I keep records of what we do each year so that I have something to show that we have been learning, but also to look back and reflect on what we’ve done.

At the end of their time with me, I want my kids to not only have a memory of their education, but also of their faith. So I have been prompted through our homeschool records to also keep a faith journal.

I have several prayer books and notebooks filled with Bible study and sermon notes. But I have one special leather-bound journal that I write things specifically for my children. Wisdom that God has shown me, times we have gone through, answers to prayer. I hope that one day it will be a testimony that my children can rejoice over and share with generations to come.

5. My children have shown me how the Holy Spirit works.

You hear it a lot in homeschool groups – that you learn as much from your children as they learn from you. This is true as far as my walk with God as well.

The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. 2 Samuel 23:2

My daughters, who have both trusted Christ, share the same Spirit with me. That makes us sisters in Christ. And I have seen firsthand how the Spirit prompts and guides through watching their lives.

They have shown me what it is like to be sensitive to the call to prayer, to encourage someone, to stop fighting and try to make peace.

6. It taught me that attitude and motivation are everything.

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2

In homeschooling, and in life, there is no point to push learning and performance to the point where it breaks down peace and unity in the home.

Let me say that another way – because God has really shown me this.

It does no good to homeschool miserably. To force and force at the expense of grace, humility, gentleness, and patience. You strain the gnat and swallow the camel.

God has shown me that first and foremost is relationship – with him, with myself, with my children. Homeschooling and education come after that. So often I fail and get that backwards.

7. I can take life as it is, not try to make it perfect.

Life is not about making everything run smoothly. Life is messy, and most times I must find the balance between two extremes.

Christ makes me steady – so that I don’t tip to either side. He evens the scale between busyness and laziness, faith and works, parenting and ministering, and so much more.

8. I am humbled every day.

Every. Single. Day.

You have to put a lot of pride up on that ole’ shelf when you are homeschooling. (see bullet points #3, #5, and #7) When:

• your kids amaze you
• something isn’t working
• nothing goes as planned
• you get frustrated and freak out
• your house is a mess
• you barely get a shower before hubby comes home each day
• etc.

All those things force me to humbly admit that I am not superwoman (no matter what other homeschool moms may believe) and that I need God. I am dependent on him.

9. God has shown me how to delight in the uniqueness of my children.

I could never have picked out what special skills and traits each of my children would have even if I had a million guesses for each child.

God has shown me how utterly unique and wonderful he made everyone through the passions and talents of my kids.

All three of them are so different. I boggles my mind how talented Raven is at drawing, and Denna at singing and learning new languages, and Gaius at – well – pretending to blow up things.

10. We worship spontaneously.

One of the most amazing parts of my walk with Christ is sharing that with my family. It doesn’t get any better than when I start playing some songs off of Youtube and pretty soon everyone is singing along and laying on hands in genuine worship.

Our souls sing together -ringing out clear and strong. I don’t know where I would be without that aspect of my faith every day. Just the ability to share the experiences, the joys, the sorrows. Homeschooling provides a constant companion for those times.

If you enjoyed this post then check out the other bloggers participating in the 10 in 10! Ten weeks of top ten lists, inspired by Many Little Blessings.

This week’s topic was “10 things I’ve learned about myself through homeschooling” and next week will be “10 toys that have lasted in our home“. Each week I will put my own spin on the topic, so make sure to come back each Tuesday for the next 9 weeks!

The post Ten Ways That Homeschooling Has Affected My Faith appeared first on These Temporary Tents.

I lived in the same town until I was 17. I went to school with the same group of kids. Sure, my family had issues and events happened that hurt and scarred me.

But I always had access to my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. I didn’t have to change schools or move around the world.

You know as well as I do that we have an amazing life full of adventure, and that we are deeply loved by family and friends all over the world.

Military life has been a good life to us for almost 13 years. But there are challenges to this lifestyle that sometimes breaks my heart.

I’m sorry you are always the new kid

I really, truly want you to have lifelong friends. And I know that since we move every few years that is extremely hard to do.

When I ask how Sunday School went, or youth group, and I ask if anyone talked to you – it pains me to hear you reply no. It hurts when I see you sitting by yourself during kid’s worship.

I know that being a homeschool family in a foreign country makes it even harder. Because church on Sunday is about the only time you get to be around other kids that speak English. Kids in school have that privilege every day.

I watch with tense hope as you play at the park, praying that childhood games and fun can overcome language barriers.

Because I know how hard you guys work to make friends, to be kind, and to thrive where you are planted.

That is why my soul rejoices when, despite the fact that you are shy and nervous being the new kid, you don’t give up.

When I ask if you want to come back next week, you say yes. You keep putting yourself out there, vulnerable, and different from the other kids.

You don’t become bitter or sullen. And you don’t forget the friends you have made before.

It makes my heart swell with hope. You kids teach me so many good lessons about how to treat others and how to just be yourself – raw and authentic.

I’m sorry that military life hands us some pretty hard situations. But you know what? I couldn’t ask for better kids to experience this life with.

And I will make sure that you always have access to friends back home through Skype, email, and phone calls. I will support you when you don’t feel accepted. I am going to be by your side as long as I can rooting you on, helping you maneuver this social world, and being your friend.

And I will continue to watch you each time you have to be the new kid. Reminding you that you are not alone. That you are loved. And taking your amazing examples to heart when I have to be the new kid mom again.

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