VOA – CONNECT EPISODE #172 AIR DATE 04 30 2021 TRANSCRIPT OPEN ((VO/NAT)) ((Banner)) School as Life ((SOT)) ((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent)) So, I researched online. I found Facebook communities. I met other moms like myself that are new to homeschooling and we just started. ((Animation Transition)) ((Banner)) Horses for All ((SOT)) ((Ahesahmahk Dahn, Owner, City Ranch)) Our mission is to make horseback riding accessible and affordable to the inner-city, the Baltimore community that may not have the opportunity to do it. ((Animation Transition)) ((Banner)) Pandemic Reflections ((SOT)) ((Olivia Dillon, Mechanical Engineer)) You kind of look back at your life and you think: Did I live to the most extent? Do I have anything held back? Do I have anything I need to say to a family or a friend? ((Open Animation)) BLOCK A ((PKG)) SHIFTING TO HOMESCHOOLING ((TRT: 8:57)) ((Banner: Always Learning)) ((Reporter/Camera: Lisa Vohra)) ((Map: Mclean, Virginia)) ((Main Characters: 1 female, 1 male)) ((NATS)) Nevra: So, what religion did most of the Japanese people belong to? Hendrix: Buddhism. Nevra: Buddhism, very good. Nevra: And do you remember what a missionary is? I know that’s a new concept. Hendrix: No. Nevra: These are people who travel. ((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent)) Hendrix was attending the regular public school and it was going fine last year. And then the lockdowns happened and school closed. ((NATS)) Nevra: …spread the teachings of Jesus. ((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent)) And then they announced the plan for fall, which was, at first it was, you know, “Do you want to sign up for in-person?” which we wanted to. We did. And then it turned into, “Well, it’s only two days a week.” And then it turned into fully virtual. And then I thought, “Okay, well, I guess it will be just like spring, and as long as we get it done, we’re good.” But then they announced that it’s going to be all synchronous and they’re going to follow a bell schedule. And that’s when I had these visions of, you know, six hours a day in front of, you know, a camera and his computer, and I just, he’s an eight- year-old boy. ((NATS)) Nevra: Last question. Where did Zen Buddhist look for truth? Did they have a priest or a pope? Hendrix: From what their hearts said. Nevra: From their hearts, exactly. ((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent)) So, I researched online. I found Facebook communities. I met other moms like myself that are new to homeschooling. I learned about the curriculum that’s available. I found all these podcasts about different homeschooling methodologies. And in the end, I just found some materials online and I bought them. I got a whiteboard and we just started. ((NATS)) Nevra: Five times 30 minus five times five, because 25 here, is 30 minus five. Are you looking? ((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent)) So, for us, you know, it’s not like there’s an official start to the homeschooling day. Sorry. Because, to me, homeschooling and schooling, education is something that should just be a part of life. ((NATS)) ((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent)) There are methods of homeschooling that are very aligned with the public school curriculum with tests along the way. And then there are at the other extreme, which I would say I’m sort of tending toward now as I’m getting into it, which is, some people call it unschooling, which is really about teaching schooling and education as a way of life. Not something that just happens in a classroom, but happens every day, at any hour of the day. ((NATS)) ((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent)) I mean, we’re doing the homeschooling together. We’re having breakfast at the same time in parallel. We are doing dinner prep. We’re doing a few chores. And we’re kind of getting everything done together. And you say, well that’s a lot. But you know what? When Hendrix is sweeping the floor while we are doing, let’s say, spelling exercises or multiplication quizzing, actually the brain works better. ((NATS)) ((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent)) ((Hendrix Ledwon, Third Grader)) Nevra: Are there any friends that are doing homeschooling with us? Hendrix: Oh, this is Poopy Bear. This is Moo-Moo. This is Snakey. I didn’t name these two. Nevra: Hendrix, please sit down because I need to get to work soon. Okay, thank you. Okay. You ready? This chapter is called, The Foreign Conquest of China. The Rise of the Manchu. ((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent)) Sometimes I would get these notes from the teacher about, you know, something that wasn’t perfect, that’s usually when you hear from the teacher, right? Why aren’t you paying attention? Why are you going off with your friends? Why are you, you know, disrupting class? But now as I get to know him better, I understand where that’s coming from. I understand his personality. So somehow, even though we’re spending more time together, I would say that we have less conflict. ((NATS)) Nevra: China was growing. Down in the South of China… ((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent)) I feel a lot closer to him. I feel better attuned to where he’s at academically. ((NATS)) Nevra: We just are going to add what we learned to our book of centuries, which helps understand what we’re learning in history and the context of what’s happening in other parts of the world. So, what we’re learning about, I think is in the 1600’s. Come Hendrix, bring your pencil. ((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent)) There are times when, you know what, the brain just isn’t on. He just doesn’t feel like it. So, we take a break. ((NATS)) Nevra: Okay, first give me some jump rope real quick, to get the blood flowing. Because I find his brain works better when his body is engaged. In fact, some of the reading and writing stuff he does standing and spinning like this, because his brain works best when he’s doing that. So, we just go with it. ((NATS)) Nevra: A hundred. Wow. Okay, quick handstand. Three tries. ((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent)) You know, it’s interesting, because, I think, when I was a child, I don’t think I would have liked the idea of homeschooling. I really wanted to get out of the house, but for Hendrix, he really likes it. And when I ask him why, what do you like about it? He said, “Well, it’s at my level.” And I think what he means is he likes how tailored it is to his interests and his moods. ((NATS)) ((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent)) It doesn’t mean that we don’t sometimes do things he’s not in the mood for, I mean, like math, right. You have to learn some of the foundational math concepts in order to do the fun, interesting math later. ((NATS)) Nevra: Go up to the board and show me how you would figure out seven times thirteen. And remember the most important thing is to show your work, not just getting the right answer, but showing your work. ((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent)) Also, because I work, I get a little bit of help. So, his former nanny, who is also a former teacher in our county, is now a learning coach for him. So, she does a 90-minute online session with him every weekday. ((Hendrix Ledwon, Third Grader and Heather, Teacher)) Hendrix: I did some IXL [on line learning classes] Heather (teacher’s voice): Uh huh. Hendrix: which was easy. Heather (teacher’s voice): Which IXL did you do? Hendrix: Oh yeah, my mom wanted us to do an IXL about Buddhism... ((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent)) We’re working on some website enhancements. So, I’m getting ready for a presentation this afternoon on some ideas of how to enhance the website. ((NATS)) ((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent)) And then usually when she’s done around noon, my husband takes over and takes care of lunch, so I can continue working. And because I’ve done most of the dinner prep in the morning, I can work until six. And, you know, that works well since the company I work for is in Mountain Time. So, ten o'clock for me is eight o'clock for them when they’re just coming in. So, it works. And also, some of the homeschooling is on weekends or on evenings. ((NATS)) Nevra: Okay, what’s he going to write about this week? Heather (teacher’s voice): So, he’s, he wanted to write a story similar to like The Wind in the Willows. Nevra: Oh, similar to The Wind in the Willows. ((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent)) At the beginning of the lockdown, we were scared, I think, like everyone, and we were very isolated. And then, over time, I started to see the impact on him. And, you know, he’s an only child and I just, I made a point of arranging playdates every single day. ((NATS)) ((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent)) Nicky is the daughter of a long-time farm customer, and it took all these years that we didn’t realize that we both were parents of an only child about the same age. And it wasn’t until this, you know, pandemic, and we both pull our kids out of school, and we just happened to be talking one day. And we realized, yeah, let’s get the kids together, and they became great friends like instantly. So now, they hang out every week. ((NATS)) Hendrix: A deer, a deer. See if I can pet it. Probably not. ((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent)) When I first started with this, I thought, you know what, it’s just going to be temporary. But now, as I’m doing it, I’ve fallen in love with it. It’s an amazing approach. ((NATS)) ((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent)) I can’t see sending him back this year, and I’m already thinking ahead to the future. I really don’t know. I mean, I think my biggest worry is the social connection, right? When you’re homeschooling and everyone else is in school, the social connection, social skills, they kind of come automatically. ((NATS)) Nevra: And his army. ((Nevra Ledwon, Sales Director, Third Grade Parent)) I do worry that he’s missing out on some of the group school connection, and I think we just have to take it day by day and see. ((NATS)) Nevra: What does scarce mean? Hendrix: There’s not a lot. Nevra: There’s not a lot, exactly. And expensive. Soon, the army ran out of money to pay... ((NATS)) TEASE ((VO/NAT)) Coming up ((Banner)) Providing an Opportunity ((SOT)) ((Erin Wheeler, Volunteer, City Ranch)) Bear likes to have a very confident rider. Another reason why I put you on because you seem like you had a lot of confidence. BREAK ONE BUMP IN ((ANIM)) BLOCK B ((PKG)) HORSE CAMP ((Previously aired October 2020)) ((Banner: Horses for the City)) ((Reporter: Marsha James)) ((Camera: Philip Alexiou)) ((Editors: Philip Alexiou, Marsha James)) ((Map: Baltimore, Maryland)) ((Main characters: 1 male; 1 female)) ((Sub characters: 2 male; 2 male)) ((NATS/MUSIC)) ((Ahesahmahk Dahn, Owner, City Ranch)) When I was early childhood, my mother would take me to my uncles who were sharecroppers. They had mules and we rode the mules and that was it. And then when we moved to Baltimore, I got involved with Nixon’s Farm, where we did a summer program and I got involved with the horses. And that was in the early 60s and so I've been just at it ever since. ((NATS/MUSIC)) ((Ahesahmahk Dahn, Owner, City Ranch)) I had a favorite. It died and it was the genesis of this whole program. The program is City Ranch and our mission is to make horseback riding accessible and affordable to the inner city, the Baltimore community that may not have the opportunity to do it. ((NATS: Ahesahmahk Dahn and a Volunteer: Well here, get, you know what the password, the code is, right?)) ((NATS/MUSIC)) ((Volunteer, City Ranch)) I’ve been here since February, so not too long, but I couldn't imagine my life without horses. So, I'm very thankful to find this place. ((Volunteer, City Ranch)) I love it. I wouldn't come here if I didn't. ((Ahesahmahk Dahn, Owner, City Ranch)) The one thing that I focus on is taking the horses to where the children are, ((Photo Courtesy: City Ranch, YouTube)) because if they don't have financial resources, getting out here, whether it's on a bus or an Uber or whatever the current method of transportation is, is difficult. So, we want to take the horses into their community. ((NATS)) ((Danielle, Volunteer, City Ranch)) I really like being here at the farm. This is one of the most accepted like places that I feel…Oh, I’m sorry Bear...just because I've never really had a barn buddy until came here and I've been riding for 10 years. Everyone here is so nice and welcoming and I feel like a part of the family even though I've only been here for a few months. And this little dude is Lucky. Mr. Dahn was explaining how he was born here and he came as a surprise so they named him Lucky Surprise. And then this is Bear. I think he is one of our oldest horses owned by the Ranch. I know you see my food. ((NATS/MUSIC)) ((Erin Wheeler, Volunteer, City Ranch)) So, just letting it all hang out. So, what got me involved since 2009 was, I was fresh out of high school. I've always loved and worked with horses. And when I went to Artscape in the summer of 2009, I was totally encapsulated and Mr. Dahn was able to give me that outlet. And I've been able to work with so many students, so many children, so many adults and really, just share my passion with other people. ((NATS/MUSIC)) ((Erin Wheeler, Volunteer, City Ranch)) Bear likes to have a very confident rider. Another reason why I put you on because you seem like you have a lot of confidence. Let him know what you want him to do. Talking to him is very, very important. Remember, leg yield. I want to see you be able to get him over those rails. There you go. Get him to pick those feet up all the way through. Excellent, excellent, excellent. Stop your horse. ((Ahesahmahk Dahn, Owner, City Ranch)) Erin is a very knowledgeable person. ((Erin Wheeler, Volunteer, City Ranch)) Keep the pressure. Keep the pressure. ((Ahesahmahk Dahn)) She has taken on a lot of responsibility here. She knows the program probably best than anybody else because she's been here so long. And now she's doing the instructing, working with the youth. ((Erin Wheeler, Volunteer, City Ranch)) Roll him up and turn him in, turn him in, turn him in. Excellent. Pull him out. ((NATS)) ((Ahesahmahk Dahn, Owner, City Ranch)) A situation in life happened in our family that made me look at what I was doing and how I could be a part of the solution, what's going on in Baltimore as opposed to part of the problem. And there were no horse programs. And I said, “Well, you know, I ain’t the smartest guy in the world but I know there's no competition.” So, it was an easy one to get in and grow the business. And that's what has happened. No other programs in Baltimore do this. Right, Benji? Where are you going? ((Erin Wheeler, Volunteer, City Ranch)) Let's get them all the way up top. Take that bit out and we can give them some apples. ((Ahesahmahk Dahn, Owner, City Ranch)) Okay. Creating an institution that outlasts me. When I'm gone, there is still a City Ranch. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the same name, but there's still an equine program dedicated and focused toward the community of Baltimore City. ((NATS/MUSIC)) TEASE ((VO/NAT)) Coming up ((Banner)) Manhattan Life ((SOT)) ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) He owes me 20 dollars. That's the one that owes me 20 dollars. BREAK TWO BUMP IN ((ANIM)) BLOCK C ((PKG)) TIGER HOOD ((TRT: 6:00)) ((Topic Banner: Capturing New York)) ((Reporter/Camera: Aaron Fedor)) ((Producer: Kathleen McLaughlin)) ((Editor: Kyle Dubiel)) ((Map: New York City, New York)) ((Main characters: 1 male)) ((Sub characters: 2 female; 1 male)) ((NATS: Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) Come on baby. Ah, shucks. Real men ride pink bikes, baby. ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) My name is Patrick Q.F. Barr. I'm a photographer, photojournalist, restaurant worker and a urban golfer. I play golf with milk containers. ((NATS: Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) I don't know if you go through lights, but I do. I don't play golf every day but I can play it whenever I like, which is the beauty of it. ((Photo Courtesy: Patrick Q.F. Barr)) ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) As a photographer, what makes me stop and press the button right away is, some shots are just, you know, it's situational. So, it's just a feeling. It's instantaneous when you just see something happening and you say, “Well, I got to capture that for the record, you know.” ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) Some shots are like that and some shots you have to really like think about. ((Photo Courtesy: Patrick Q.F. Barr)) ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) Are they going to be important in 20, 30 years, you know? ((NATS: Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) He owes me 20 dollars. That's the one that owes me 20 dollars. I remember seeing that car on McDougal. Couldn't miss it with that damn paint job. Are there any moments or photographs or situations that have captured my interest? ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) Well, wow. One of them is Sebastiamo, Sebastiamo Monte. He was a restaurant owner on Bleecker street, 281 Bleecker street, Osteria Fiorentina. ((Photo Courtesy: Patrick Q.F. Barr)) ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) He used to stand out there all the time, you know, just standing out there like, you know, just casually looking at people, trying to pull into the restaurant. At night, I used to walk by him all the time. But then, when I got serious about the pictures again, I walked by him one day and I said, “You know what man, you're beautiful. And I got to get a picture of you one day.” And then I walked away. A couple of weeks later, I saw him standing out there again and I just said, you know, “Don't move.” As many times as I walked by him before, when I saw him standing out there again, it got me excited. ((Photo Courtesy: Patrick Q.F. Barr)) ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) Another situation was when, when I was walking by the park and I saw a fireball from the side of my eye and I said, “Wow. Okay, I know who that is.” ((Photo Courtesy: Patrick Q.F. Barr)) ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) And I haven't seen him in years. Tony “The Fireman” Vera. And he's been entertaining people in the park for years. So, when I saw that fireball from the side of my eye, which I haven't seen in years, I said, “Wow, got to get that, got to get him.” And you know, I was really lucky to get him because that was his last week of performing in New York and he retired after that. ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) This guy was walking by when I was playing golf one day ((Photo Courtesy: Patrick Q.F. Barr)) ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) and we got to talking and I got around to find out he was a golfer and he has a really good swing. ((NATS: Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) Oh, you got to be kidding me. Snap out of it. ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) I got started playing golf when I found a golf club in a garbage can ((Photo Courtesy: Patrick Q.F. Barr)) ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) and I had a tennis ball on me. So, I started hitting the tennis ball against a building that was under construction, but it didn't come back down after a while because there was so much scaffolding, and, you know, it just stopped and got stuck someplace, but I didn't want to stop. I like the feeling of swinging. And so I said, “Okay, I've got to find something else to hit.” So, I got some milk containers and I just started hitting them. And you know, it's better than hitting a ball because they don't roll away. ((NATS)) ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) Wow, look at you. ((Speaker 1)) Oh, I thought you were looking at me. ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) I am looking at you. ((Speaker 2)) What's in there? Can you tell us what's in there? ((Speaker 1)) Yes. This is a Senegal parrot. ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) I play golf with milk containers on the street. That's what these are for. They're milk containers stuffed with newspaper. ((Speaker 1)) Okay. ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, photojournalist and street golfer)) And I hit them towards the box. ((Speaker 1)) I see. ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) Yeah. I go by the name, Tiger Hood. ((Speaker 1)) Very good. ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) See, Tiger Hood. ((Speaker 1)) I hope you're as...well… ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) The name Tiger Hood, it was a no brainer, to be honest with you. I mean, I'm in the neighborhood. So, one of my favorite golfers, the favorite golfer of mine, Tiger. ((NATS/MUSIC)) ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) I was born in Kingston, Jamaica and I came here when I was four years old. I'm Jamerican. We lived in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Strong Island for a while, moved down to Atlanta, Florida and got homesick for New York, so I came back. ((NATS: Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) Come on, come on, come on, come on. Follow me. Come on, you got it, looking good baby, come on. ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) The rules to street golf are just: Always be respectful, ABC - Always be careful. ((NATS/MUSIC)) ((NATS: Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) Playtime's over baby. ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) I used to carry four cameras. Black and white, color, you know. Like I would have ((Photo Courtesy: Patrick Q.F. Barr)) ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) two Pentax K1000s or two Cannon AE1s, whichever one, I would put black and white film in one, color film in another, so I can compare the shots. ((NATS) ((Taco)) I think it's amazing. ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) Thank you. ((Taco)) I love the story which you are telling about like what inspired this and that and who that man is. ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) Yeah. I appreciate that. Thanks. Yeah. ((Taco)) I'm just, yeah. ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) He's going to be… ((Taco)) Never mind. I'm just a bit nosy. ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) No, no, no. I appreciate that. Thank you. Oh, Tiger Hood, NYC. Tiger Hood. Oh, yeah. Tiger Hood. Yeah. I play golf with milk containers on the street. So, yeah. ((Taco)) Tiger Wood? ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) Hood. ((Taco)) Oh, Hood. ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) Yeah. Girl, I'm from the hood, man. ((Taco)) Oh, you're from the hood. I'm from the hood too. ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) Shoot. Okay, you're sure not Richmond? ((Taco)) The South African hood though. It's all the same. The hood is all the same. ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) Yeah. ((Taco)) So which one is you? ((Photo Courtesy: Patrick Q.F. Barr)) ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) That's me kissing my mom on the cheek there on top. Yeah, I think that would be it. And yeah, Patrick. ((Taco)) My name is Taco, by the way. ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) Nice to meet you, Taco. ((Taco)) Beautiful work. ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) Yeah, stay in touch. ((Photo Courtesy: Patrick Q.F. Barr)) ((Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) My ultimate goal is to be a historian, photojournalist. When I take a photograph, it's about truth. What you see is what it is. ((NATS: Patrick Q.F. Barr, Photojournalist, Street Golfer)) Okay, come on now. Come on. Come on, baby. Playtime's over. There we go. Woo. All right. ((NATS)) ((PKG)) CONNECT WITH – OLIVIA DILLON ((TRT: 02:20)) ((Topic Banner: Connect with – Olivia Dillon)) ((Reporter/Camera: Arturo Martínez)) ((Locater: Fallon, Nevada)) ((Main character: 1 female)) ((NATS)) ((Olivia Dillon, Mechanical Engineer)) I'm Olivia Dillon. I'm a fifth generation Nevadan. I am a mechanical engineer, going to graduate school for ocean sciences, to study oceanography and how microplastics are affecting our world. ((Olivia Dillon, Mechanical Engineer)) Because of quarantine, I was able to come home and be with my family, and for me, this year, one of the most memorable moments that I will never forget is when I found out I did have COVID. I did get COVID and that was very significant because I felt like I was going through something that a lot of people were afraid of. I was afraid of. My friend's mother had passed from COVID so, there was a lot of fear around getting it and not sure if you were going to end up in the hospital the next day or if you were going to be okay. ((Olivia Dillon, Mechanical Engineer)) You kind of look back at your life and you think: Did I live to the most extent? Do I have anything held back? Do I have anything I need to say to a family or a friend? You know, just in case this doesn't turn out well. I think if I ended up passing away tomorrow, I would feel okay. I have done everything I could, up until this day. So, it encourages me to continue to live like that. So, I don't have any regrets. ((Olivia Dillon, Mechanical Engineer)) Also, this year, there was a lot of like fear. But I spent a lot of time with myself and out in nature and I will cherish these memories that I made this year more than anything. You get a lot of joy out of doing the simple things: Growing your own food, taking care of your animals. While I'm here, it's a great opportunity to really connect with the Earth again. ((NATS)) CLOSING BUMPER ((ANIM)) voanews.com/connect BREAK THREE BUMP IN ((ANIM)) SHOW ENDS