Grazing the Corners

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Another beautiful day in Fort Collins. The kids just finished their problem and are getting ready to do their skit.

Just landed in JFK airport with my little middle school charges. We are on our way to Colorado! In my mind I am in Samoa, New Orleans, Rangeley, Downingtown and Columbia. I am all over the place but when I settle I can feel the place called "home"in my heart. I am always at home. Love Mom

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Back in Boston for a bit.....about 5 days. Its count-down time!! On Sunday afternoon i'll be checking into a posh LA hotel, sort of odd huh, to meet the 11 other future Samoans and enjoy the last taste of American comfort. Bring on the grass huts and coconut fur mattresses!

This past weekend i spent an amazing few days with my folks and sister Sarah. The biking, hiking, and sun left me a bit sore, but it's a good hurt.

-Dad, i can imagine your a bit pissed. I traded all of your cool camping gear for another cat. Bad deal...i'll get you back.-

-Mom, l-l-l-love you. What are the chances i'll be able to get my Samoan mother to go for runs?? Not great.-

-Sarah, now that you know you fart in your sleep PLEASE be careful.-

I am so lucky to have a giving, caring, and gassy family. Enough sap....thanks for a great weekend.

Story of the week: Man frees puppy from alligator’s grip!!

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Thanks for the posts....this is awesome!!!

-to any readers from outside of the family (Amber!!), im sorry if this is a bit confusing. This site will turn into a main form of communication between family members and could feature a number of random cameos from different relatives. if there are any questions please just ask and i'll clear it up for you. -

-Leah, i sooooo glad you made it into N.O. safely, cant wait to hear about the first few days. E-mail, call, or post.....whateva you want!-

This weekend i'm heading home to spend time with my fam. and a few friends. I cant wait!! Its supposed to be amazing weather and i think we're going to try and do some camping/canoeing/bike ridding.

I hope this is a joyful and positive parting......im sure it will be. Lots of love!!!

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Being the mom of two of the travelers on this blog I find myself preparing for a trip as well. I will be taking four middle school students to Fort Collins, Colorado on May 31 until June 5. They are a group called the Future Problem Solvers and I am their coach. We are going to the International Competition where 5,000 other FPS students will gather to share their talents and understanding of the FPS process. I have coached teams for the past 5 years and really think the process is valuable in real life when it comes to looking at problems both large and small, in the present and in the future. It is a 6 step process that stimulates a variety of options and solutions ending with a plan for action. We've all been there and eventually we have to have a"plan for action!" May all of our actions be born of a thoughtful plan at some point or another!!

Monday, May 22, 2006

Talofa,
Lon here, 1 year older than the last time we talked. 26 and counting, woo hoo! Just want to say that all is well down here at family headquarters and the boss (Flo) is holding onto her empire with many demands. I have been experiencing many things over the past weeks and I always come back to the Schraders for inspiration, strength and down right randomness. Hope you find what your looking for (ie. world peace, AIDS vaccine, Nobel Prize) during your quest of international exploration. Have fun, smile, pick your nose, let the gases out, breathe, meditate, stand your ground, be the change you want to see in the world. Love you, Lon
Tasi pia fa amolemole!!

Sunday, May 21, 2006

Hey its Leah! I'm so thrilled to see this story catcher begin, can't wait to follow it through your adventures vik!! Just thought I'd give my stab at describing what I'll be doing (maybe I should get a blog going too!!) In new orleans six members of Bard's Children's Expressive Arts Project (the group that I went to Myanmar with and that works weekly at a local home for emotionally disturbed children and a school for kids with autism) will be working at James Singleton Charter School in Central city. We are going with lots of art supplies and enthusiasm and open minds, as we are sure our vision will change to meet the needs and desires of the kids. But for now our plan is to work as teacher's aides during the day, and run an afterschool program that aimes to help kids build an expressive "tool box." We'll lead team building workshops and finger painting extravaganzas, allowing the kids to explore their own potential for creation, expression, and communication. As issues of conflict, greif, or celebration come up, we will move through them with varried pallets and safe support. In the end we hope to develop a preformance to share our voices and discoveries with the community.
Hmmmm, we'll see what that all looks like later on this week when we've actually landed in the heat and met the kids!
So, that's my story, and I am so glad to get to watch yours unfold vik! I am endlessly proud of your ambitions and even more full of love for who you are and always have been. To share that with the world is the greatest gift.
I mean it!
Love Leah

Saturday, May 20, 2006

Im not the only one going on an adventure, my sister is leaving for one of her own. Tomorrow morning she heads for New Orleans to help with the instillation of an art/counseling program in a recently dried-out school in the city (Its sad that im not 100% sure that thats exactly what she is doing down there, i know its close). Then she jumps over to Colombia to share her amazing energy, lust for life, and glowing happiness with orphans in one of the most dangerous and self distructive countries in the world.

- LeLe, im glad your going to help those kids and bring some clean and honest color to their life. Do your thing but please please please take care of YOURSELF!! -

Then she is going to a place that i consider one of the most amazing it the world (maybe i should go there first before making such a claim), Peru and Machu Picchu!! That is gonna be great.

-Le, you rock. I cant wait to hear about it. -

Thursday, May 18, 2006



Talofa (sup),

So, i'm getting ready to ship off. Sunday, June 4th at 8:35 am is the current and precise date and time of departure. At this exact time, depending on the efficiency of the american Airline flight crew, i'll be skipping across the globe and setting up my tent on a little island. A Samoan paradise. But this is when the work will start. Just after graduating from college i'll have to crack the books again, but this is something i'm most excited about. I'll be able to live and learn in a whole new world, along side 11 other volunteers, thousands of native Samoans, and even more palm trees.

In order to stay in touch and better translate my experience to everyone here in the good ol' US of A, im going to give this blog a shot. Hopefully i'll be able to keep up with it and that my stories don't end up being about the same old coconut accident. No guarantees on either.

So, feedback is definitely something im looking forward to, i'll exchange it for pictures, and i would also like those who decide to read this to also participate. I would love to hear about whats going on in everyone elses world. I will send out an email with the log-in info so that anyone that would like to make a post can.

I hope this works!!!

Fa (bye),
Vik