Since the 22nd of september Regua has had its first family staying. When Nicholas told me I offered to help as I am good and enjoy working with children. I went with a driver to Río De Janeiro to pick them up.
The Baders and thier two young boys are from Weybridge in England, they are spending a year travelling round South America, New Zealand, Australia and Fuji. The boys are 7(had birthday here) and 8 years old, They will be getting home schooled. Thier Father Phil found he never really got to spend much quality tie with the boys due to work ( like many other families) snd felt the boys where old enough to appreciate and learn from a trip like this before they go to High School. The boys are going to be learning and experiencing different cultures and languages and of course experience nature first hand which they already enjoy through shows like Deadly 60.
Its been an important and interesting week for Regua as they have never had a family stay before, one of thier main aims is in too instill the importance of or natural world into young children. As if we do not get them interested and appreciative of the world around them, what hope will nature and survival of our forests and animals have in future generations.
I took the family on a couple of trail walks including a night walks, and joined them on the majority of thier other outings. When they went to the local School to meet the children and to teach about thier country they handed out London 2012 bands. The School visits were also rewarding for me as with Raquels help in translation I was talking to the class about the importance of nature and showed the my photos and help taught the English names of the animals. Some of the children had a dislike of certain animals so I helped explain why those animals are ok and inportant, sometimes i did it in a fun way. During breaks I managed to teach two new games which all the children wanted to get involved in. My youth group days paid off lol. Back at Regua i had st up a little creche with finger paints, modeling clay, and other things for drawing it was bit hit and kept the chidern happy and busy including the children of the staff at Regua joined in with their new friends.
It was a very successful week. And lets hope more families are brave enough. Now am not saying all famlies should take a year out. Family holidays can be an expensive trip so rather than say going to Florida or Spain etc you could quite easily come too somewhere like Regua and these days for about the same cost. And the whole family would learn and experience new things most people only see on TV. Also with the World Cup and the Olympics happening in Brazil why not have the most amazing trip.
Hi Richard – what an interesting time you must have had. I’vethoroughly enjoyed reading all about your adventures with this family.You seem to enjoy going into the school and talking to the children. Lots of Love Nana XX
Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2012 20:38:30 +0000 To: igatoff@hotmail.co.uk