Geography Before General Mills

Miss Morgan is going into 5th grade but doesn't know her north from her south, east or west. Shameful. Of course it's not her fault. For whatever reason her school has postponed learning geography until Junior High. That's where a week long visit to Aunt Sony's house comes in handy. Every morning, post breakfast, we break out the globe and daily newspaper and track down where international stories originate. She's reluctant for learning lessons before Apple Jacks but I insist it's 'good for the soul'.

"Italy just won the World Cup Soccer Match, please find Italy", I urge. "Hmmmm..." she canvasses my wobbly globe frustrated that it's falling apart from overuse. "I can't find it, I can't find it, I give up" she moans. "Can we eat now?" I drop a few hints and muster up her confidence. "It's located in Europe and shaped like a boot." Finally, with no help from Sarge whose derogatory remarks about Italians during war times do not amuse me, she finds the boot.

From there, it's onto the Middle East where my Stepbrother, her Uncle dodges bullets in the Iraq war. In a matter of a minutes, Miss Morgan graduates to Junior High, still fuzzy on why she knows the topography of places like China, Russia, Korea and Iran but eager to learn more, that is after her bowl of cereal.

Buy a globe and read the newspaper every morning, it'll be the most worthwhile purchase you ever make, for yourself and any hungry 10 year old cousins you may have around.