Without

Day 173. October 10, back in the United States, after challenging internet services. Well, more like punishment from T-mobile.

Text from T-mobile months ago: “IMPORTANT NOTICE about your service. For the past 90 days your usage on this line has been international, which is against our terms. As a result, this line will lose all roaming data.”

So there you have it. US government approved travel. IE Customs, both in and out. Canadian government let two of us in and then back out. But phone? Internet? Basic connection outside the US will be punishable by loss of roaming data. To go without.

Library’s helped here and there, but I saved that precious time to talk to my family. Then post an occasional blog- peek a boo Facebook, thanks to Public Libraries. Then I started to hand write post cards.

I’m sure there is helpful advice about different phone services I could have used. That is not the point. Ask, who is in service? And what would you do without?

I’m back. Ready to continue I.School through Canadian traveled perspectives. In I.School we get creative.

Such as- what a gift to be without! Sure I dowloaded books and a few shows, but to be without technology. No news for weeks sometimes. Image- NO NEWS. For days. Left to my own head space. Perfect I.School test!

What would you do if all technology was unavailable to you for, say 72 hours?

You can test yourself by seeing how long you can go in a day and/or night with no screens. That is the test because I.School is about self-reliance. The capital I. Creativity. A challenge (spoken with a French accent chaw-lange). Change nothing else. You don’t have to go off the grid, yet. Have some fun with it! Start looking around- listening to people. Be very observant. Anywhere. Anytime. Watch, listen. What do people really talk about? Stuff on the TV or school? Is it really that interesting? If the redundancy of chatter begins to grate- same news feed, same gossip, same PD meeting trap, that will be the time to look up. Or down at the ground. There is so much all around to witness when going without.

Nest: I.School is for those who would like to Plan your Escape from the hells drudgery of Public Schools. Get your notebook. My top 10 list, next.