We’ve actually accomplished a lot at Grammy Summer School this year. Goodnight kept in practice with her algebra and geometry, she read a LOT which is always a plus, she had a couple of projects/papers/presentations to work on and all of the previous has been completed.
The final lesson for this summer is How to Use Public Transportation. Goodnight is going to a high school that is not within our assigned busing boundary for the district, so she will have to get herself to school via public transportation. I had her take a look at the transit map to see where her school is located and which bus route would get her to the front door.
I taught her how to read the timetables and then we started riding.
The first rides took some time because I did the complete round trip with her, which meant we took the bus from our house into the city, waited for the bus to her school, hopped aboard, rode the bus to her school, got off, waited for a bus coming from the opposite direction, rode back into the city, waited for our connection to get back to our house.
When she told me she was comfortable with the route and where to get on and off, we moved to the next phase: riding alone. I drove her into the city, dropped her at her stop, waited until she boarded the correct bus, then drove to her school and picked her up there. We did that a couple of times.
The next step was to drive her to her school, make sure she stood at the right bus stop, wait until she boarded the correct bus going into the city, then drive into the city and wait until she got off the bus downtown.
For the final phase, yesterday and today, I dropped her at her school, drove into the city to wait for her. This time she needed to transfer to a second bus and get to a predetermined destination that involved getting on a second bus.
I had enough time downtown to find this lovely little shade garden that was filled with Hostas. I rather liked walking back and forth under the trees to see all the plants. All the Hostas were the same, but they were lush and beautiful and I liked hanging out there for a bit.
Goodnight told me she was comfortable with the routes she needs to use and her upcoming routine. The means I’m comfortable, too.
Glad she’s done a few “dummy” runs on the buses.
Those hostas look so beautiful with their delicate white flowers – I love the contrast of the rich green broad leaves against the slender tree trunks too.
Dancing: My li’l camera didn’t do it justice, but I’m glad you caught the contrast. It just struck my eye as so stunningly beautiful that I had to stand there with the tree trunks and stare for a moment.
GG The following link is in no way related to your blogpost but I’ve just seen it and the photo takes your breath away (one of several relating to The Great Depression on this superb website)
ttp://www.shorpy.com/node/13549
Do delete if you wish!
Dancing: You’re right. It does take my breath away and it made me want to explore the site further. Thank you for your kindness in sharing the link!
I have zero experience with public transportation. Throughout my school years, I was always within walking distance. When I got to high school, I was still within walking distance, but because I played sports and was at school late for practice, I mostly got rides from upper classmen.
And when I was old enough, I got my own car and have had a car ever since.
Nice job with the public transportation lessons! Now GN is more accustomed to getting around on pub trans than I am in my ripe, old age. I can ride a bus somewhere, but I’ve never done a transfer.
Carol: I rode public transportation all the while I raised Angel. It was exhausting in high school, but it was better than missing her activities. She was a cheerleader and got to ride the team bus, so thankfully she didn’t have to take as many bus trips as I did. I remember one Saturday she had to cheer at an all day tournament in one of the furtherst suburbs from the school and where we lived. I refused to miss watching her cheer, so we took the bus to get her to the school, then I took the bus to get to the venue. I could only stay an hour to watch her in order to get all the way back to the school to be there when the bus dropped her off. As it was, I had to run the last mile, but I’d do it again to be a part of that day. I took thirteen bus rides that day.
G.G., you got me teary. What love…
Carol: I didn’t mean to do that. I guess I was thinking about the thirteen buses . . . As long a day as it was, I’m glad I did it.