You know how we all have these things we want to do and places we want to see that we love to obsess about, but have such a hard time actually getting to cross them off our bucket lists? Well, my husband and I promise each other every single year that we’re going to invest in camping gear, learn all about the camping life and venture out to the many idyllic places that surround us in California and are just a short drive away.

Truth is we never quite get around it. With all my work-related travel, Camila’s social life on weekends, international trips to visit family and just a busy lifestyle, camping always seems like too much work and we never quite get around to doing it.

Until a few weeks ago when I said ¡Basta!, enough is enough, and I found a wide-open weekend in our calendar and immediately went online to search for a place to drive to in our Prius V that would be no more than a few hours away. That’s when I found El Capitán Canyon, two hours north of Los Angeles. Since all the planets seem to have been aligned that weekend, I also found an available safari tent waiting for us! Not only was it available, but it turns out it’s meant for people like us that aren’t really campers, but have a need to commune with nature and escape city life. So the term is “glamping,” as in new “glamorous camping” and I love it so!

All we had to do was pack the trunk of our Prius V with food, clothes, dishes, towels for the pool (yes, there’s a pool!), and basic necessities. Everything else was provided, including a private fire pit, picnic table, beds, linens, electricity, towels, and more. So perfect for a last-minute planner like me!

We arrived at night and were greeted by the most star-filled night you can imagine. Camila got her first glimpse of la via galaxia (milky way) and was in total awe. We cuddled next to the fireplace and then got into our comfy beds. Life was perfect right then and there.

We spent two nights just being at El Capitan Canyon and promised to go back with a group of friends next time. The beach is a mile away, so we stopped by to build sand castles before heading back to L.A. through the scenic route that passes by Los Olivos and the picturesque city of Solvang with it’s Danish influence.

My husband loves making videos of our trips and he went the extra mile with this one. That’s just how happy this last-minute glamping mini-road trip made us.

How do you escape from the “everyday” and unwind with your family?

In December I got an email from Deepa Fernandes, early childhood development correspondent for 89.3 KPCC Public Radio in Southern California. She wanted to interview me and visit Camila’s elementary school because she was working on a series on bilingual education. The 3-part series finally airs this week and I got to listen to the first one live this morning. You can listen to it here or below.

The series called “Bilingual Learning: The science, options and dilemma of dual language education” started off today by showcasing the many dual language immersion early education and elementary options available for children in the Los Angeles area. California now has over 300 schools that offer this program, with Los Angeles being the county with the most offerings starting in kindergarten. What makes me happy is to know that these programs are increasing exponentially and there are just so many more options available at every level than we had even four years ago when we started exploring bilingual education on SpanglishBaby.

KPCC has also  put together a very comprehensive and impressive site at projects.scpr.org/bilinguallearning. I urge you to explore it even if you don’t live in Los Angeles because it’s full of information on language learning and the developing mind and stories of the bilingual education dilemma some immigrant families face.

If you do live in the Los Angeles area, then you must dig in and bookmark this site. There are profiles on the following schools and programs:

1. Academia Semillas del Pueblo

2. East Rio Vista YMCA

3. El Marino Language School

4. Bell Tower Trilingual School

5. Ceci’s Home Daycare

6. Long Beach New City School

7. Los Angeles Leadership Academy

8. Franklin Magnet School

Courtesy of 89.3 KPCC, a picture of my daughter hugging me after I finished reading a book in Spanish to her classroom at Franklin Language Magnet.

KPCC’s site also includes a comprehensive map of the state’s more than 300 bilingual schools that you can search by city and language of choice. This was so needed and I’m thankful for it! Check out the map here.

To culminate this fantastic coverage on bilingual education, on Saturday, January 26th, I will join KPCC’s Early Childhood Development correspondent Deepa Fernandes for “Should Kids’ Classrooms Be English-Only?”, a conversation about those and other questions surrounding bilingual education in Southern California.  A panel of professional- and parent guests will kick off this audience-inclusive discussion to be held at Los Angeles Leadership Primary Academy in Lincoln Heights. I would love to see many of you there. If you’re in the area and would like to join us, please RSVP here and/or help us spread the word.

Back in 1997 I was a graduate student in Philadelphia finishing a degree for Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL).  The study of language acquisition was an important part of the program.  My classmates and professors all valued the ability to speak other languages, and therefore, we were shocked and confused when we learned of a proposition on the ballot in California which would institute an English only language policy throughout public schools in the state.  I had spent years studying to learn another language, and had found my Spanish to be an asset both personally and professionally.

Proposition 227 which requires all school instruction to be conducted in English did pass.  While there are some exceptions made for bilingual programs, I found it disturbing that there actually existed a movement to eliminate the use and learning of other languages.  This was particularly perplexing to me since I had just returned from two years of teaching English in Japan through a program sponsored by the Japanese government.  The emphasis on internationalization and language learning in Japan was impressive.  The Japanese were investing in language learning while it seemed that my own country was trying to prevent the acquisition of other languages.

The United States is increasingly finding itself part of an international economy, and as a result, it seems that more value is finally being given to students learning other languages.  In an ever-increasing global world, language skills are an important asset.  As a result, there is a new movement in California for schools to begin recognizing students’ biliteracy skills.

The Seal of Biliteracy program is being implemented in 33 school districts throughout California.  This statewide program recognizes and honors students who speak English and one or more other language by the time of their graduation.  Students who meet the requirements of the program, are awarded the seal on their diploma demonstrating their knowledge of another language.

As the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jack O’Connell, stated, “Preparing all students with 21^st century language and communication skills is critical for being college and career ready.  Thousands of students will graduate this spring that will be well-prepared and ready to contribute to the prosperity of our state and their community because of their proficiency in English and at least one of the many languages spoken in California.  These students will be equipped to be leaders in the areas of international trade, the global economy and public services vital to our diverse communities.  I encourage all students to become excellent communicators by gaining proficiency in English and learning another world language.”

Both as a Spanish teacher and the mother of trilingual children, I am excited that language skills are finally being given the recognition they deserve. Even more encouraging is that the group, Californians Together, is working to encourage preschool, elementary, and middle school to develop second language skills.  I am actively promoting the Seal of Biliteracy, and am excited to see that programs are growing and students are being recognized for their linguistic skills.  Glendale Unified is truly leading the way by honoring students who can speak, read, and write Spanish, Armenian, Korean, Russian, and Tagalog.

I am hopeful that the value on biliteracy will continue to grow throughout the nation.  Being bilingual has enriched my life, and I am confident that the next generation will find language skills indispensable in our ever-increasing global society.

Editor’s note: Susan was kind enough to share with us a short video she made for her students to promote the Seal of Biliteracy and to spark their interest. We applaud the California school districts who are implementing this recognition and only hope districts in other states will follow suit.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXlX8s2pX9I