5 Good Reasons to Homeschool Abroad

Two years ago we decided to sell everything wecomforts of the US. We just returned from our
owned, including my business and move to Costayearly journey to the States and they just kept
Rica. My husband took early retirement from thecomplaining about wanting to go home.
Post Office and we moved south. Part of theThird would be hands on learning about another
motivation was that we wanted to get out ofculture. We have travelled to Nicaragua, Panama
debt and get self reliant. Another reason was thatand have a trip planned to Hondurus. The girls
we thought it would be good for our twohave learned much about different countries as
youngest children living at home to live abroad forwell as different people. They can tell now which
a few years. We have a five year plan and arecountry people come from when they meet and
enjoying the heck out of the adventure.talk to them.
One thing we have discovered and wish that weThe fourth benefit we have observed is our
had discovered 25 years ago when we begandaughters have become very adaptable. Being
homeschooling our seven children,is that this is theadaptable is very important for all people no
best way to homeschool! Had we known thenmatter where they come from. It makes life
what we know now we would have made theeasier and relieves stress in our lives. When we
move many years ago. Why you ask, would it befirst moved here my youngest daughter as well
any better to homeschool abroad?as the rest of us were shocked that all the other
Reason number one is the fact that we arechildren called her Chine. She is Chinese and here
saving mucho dinero on teaching our children aanyone that looks Chinese is automatically termed
foreign language. There is a saying that if you areChine. Now we are used to it and she comes
trilingual you are European if you are bilingual youwhen they call, though she does remind them
are south or central American and if you speakthat her name is Maleah.
only one language you are American! We feel it isThe fifth reason we feel it is beneficial to
important for all people to speak more than onehomeschool abroad is that it is just plain old fun!
language, and most colleges share this belief. MostEvery month we plan a trip to a different part of
colleges now require at least two years of foreignthe country, usually a beach we have not seen!
language studies.The girls have sea shell collections, sand they like
The second reason is the fact that every personto play with and other treasures from the beach.
should spend at least 6 months living in anotherMy older daughter even has a picture of her with
country. When we first moved here we believeda surfer guy from Czech Republic.
it would teach our daughters to appreciate all the