09/10/2004
Being in a Big Picture¡X Live and Learn Conference
A Few Words about Us:
Wen, age 10, is a life learner, an avid reader, fun explorer, and sport kiter. His recent interests include magic, riddles and puzzles, candle making, and work exchange while traveling¡K..
Wen has been growing happily without schooling nor curriculum.
On the day Wen was born, so was I, his mother, Litsong, and I've been happily trailing along with my second childhood ever since.
My last academic degree was MA in Adult Education, although my professors both thought I should crown myself another master degree in early childhood when Wen was two, and another PhD in natural learning when Wen was 7. They figured, that's what you get when you focus your effort into one major field for those hard working years, or the equivalent, to your own honor. I proudly and profoundly respect their opinions.
When we are not somewhere else, we live in Taiwan and have a Resource Center of Self-Directed Learning, weaving a network for all spirits, and the artful sharing experience has been wonderful and nurturing.
Good Timing and a Nearby Location:
During our summer journey, I discovered that we would not be far from Boston , during the time the LIVE AND LEARN UNSCHOOLING CONFERENCE, which was taking place in the Boston area. What a coincidence , yet I believe there is no coincidence in the universe! Looking at the program (funshops) and cost, I talked to Wen to see if he would be interested in that at all. This cool guy never wants to take lessons or go to classes, with one exception, visiting his magic master when ready to learn something new. I was curious how he would respond to such a function.
Curiosity:
As very settled veterans in Unschooling / natural learning, what drew our attention to attend a conference? I no longer crave for advices or ideas from outside anymore. Life brings its own lessons for each soul. As for socialization or networking, we have generated or encountered lots of wonderful circles of friends who understand and support us. We are simply content with our life's journey, and have no need for anything that's not yet in our reach. So what's there for us at this conference?
Well, I admit that simply because it's along our way, and near by, and timing was quite good, I just wanted to give it a try. Why not? I am in the stage of trying everything out, so the reasoning follows that maybe it would be good for Wen to see what it's like to be in a conference, especially since his parents often attend various international conferences and meet lots of interesting people with common focus. It's satisfying to think how he is qualified to be involved, just by being himself. It would be an experience of its own kind, and maybe he would have more understanding of the unschooling world he lives in. In my experience, a sense of strength always follows when you gain a bit more self-understanding.
Chainmaille and Geocaching were two funshops that seemed exciting to him, and I was curious to see an unschooling conference with our great friends Alexis and Renee, who are returning to homeschooling. I thought it would be nice to expose ourselves to such a function.
After sending in the application, I live, play, travel and learn, till the day we drove to the conference.
Upon arrival, we registered at the reception tables, seeing many friendly faces and the helping hands of volunteers from various age groups. They were meeting people with familiar names that we have encountered with journal articles, magazines and internet. I saw a sign-up sheet for the talent show and signed up for a personal contribution I wished to share, but didn't know what that would be until I stood on the stage (see ¡§Let Yourself Be Heard¡¨).
At the opening speech, I heard that there were over 500 people attending this conference. In the hallway, there is a big USA map and people pinned the location where they came from. On the map, it said, ¡§how far did you travel to the conference?¡¨ This was an amusing teaser to me, because we came from Taiwan , out of that map's range. No, the truth was, that we were within a two-hour drive from where we stayed to the conference site. Yet, there were people from all over the states, two families from Nova Scotia , four from Alaska , one from New Mexico and others from San Francisco , California , South Dakota and Florida . I was amazed by the fact that over 500 people made the effort from all over the states to be under the same roof with us, only because we were all unschoolers, free spirits, for life. This is a bigger picture, and we are in it.
Back home we have a very cute network with circles of friends who appreciate the delicious taste of being free to live, play and learn. We were very happy and confident because we respect our own rights and freedom to live and be. We support others to do the same for themselves. We rarely organize big events now because there seem no needs for ¡§activities¡¨ since everyone is active in his/her own life. We do honor a tradition of our well-loved annual potluck party, just for the fun of seeing friends old and new.
This well sized conference must have taken SOME effort to make it happen, with at least 24 topics of funshop, 13 presentations, plus the unplanned new gatherings initiated by motivated individuals posting on the communication board. There was always something new going on in the various corners in the hotel.
The conference was a big picture of ¡§live and learn¡¨ not only because of the theme saying so, but because of the way it ran itself too. The framework was provided to some extent by the location, and facilities were listed, but the real essence was in the freedom to attend, choose, initiate and make things happen the way you wish. People took care of their own meals and activities. Each chose the ways to spend his/her time, attention or energy, regardless of age and background knowledge. You found your ways around. It's beautiful to see the flow. When people do things for fun, for themselves, under no pressure, you see the warm glow on their faces casting the magic spell in the air. It's a great feeling just to be there.
The only few incidents were some toddler tantrums. Those young children didn't choose to come, and their parents may not have mastered the art of parenting. Yet, that could easily happen in any playground or gathering and nobody seemed to mind (been there, done that).
Imagine a conference of 500 independent thinkers, no food provided. Lots of colorful and radiant teenagers fly in and out of each corner as well as parents with various personalities from very shy to very outspoken, pose themselves in all ways exploring their own curiosity by taking part or observation. Keep looking around then you would see numerous little ones in the slings, in the arms, on the shoulders or on the floor¡Xnursing, sleeping, playing or exploring, in-between age children hang out in the lobby, swimming pool or each other's rooms and do their own thing like chatting, card games or what not ¡Vthey are good at enjoying themselves and do keep themselves quite busy no matter what or where. In and out of the hotel you would see two dogs wearing vests ¡Vguide dog puppy¡Xa family with a teenage girl sharing their experience of hosting the guide dog before/in training.
That's the overview picture of the conference, peeking into each room, you will see people gather to do what they choose to invest their time and energy in, there is no need to pretend, no one to please¡Xso the atmosphere was sometimes quite exciting, yet always very relaxed and pleasant throughout the conference.
Satisfaction:
So, what did we get from our first unschooling conference experience? Wen engrossed his time in Chainmaille and Geocaching, as he had wished. He also enjoyed Blogging (weblogging, led by a almost 15 yr old boy, participants, including the guest speaker Barbara Sher, and peeked in Yu-Gi-Oh sessions. Watching him finding his way among people in a big conference alone is fun, and knowing he enjoyed himself and the interaction with all others, so freely, is reassuring that he is growing up to be resourceful, confident and quite capable too. I sat in a few presentations, peeking in others, took a step forward to share my true self in the talent show for my own good and had a great fun belly dancing. Among all, the wonderful inspiration came all beyond the above listed.