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Family of Five Traveling the World

Archives for November 2017

When an entire life fits into less than 10 boxes.

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It was about five months ago when I looked around our empty house and felt so free in all that emptiness. We had lived in that home for seven years, raising three children, and accumulated so many, many things. Everything was suddenly gone and we were down to about 8 boxes. All we truly wanted to hang on to in this life fit into less than 10 boxes and something about that felt good, so good.   
In these boxes, we compiled mostly books, photographs, legal docs., and other personal mementos. After all that online shopping, nothing much was left. We now carry only essentials to make it through our travels. We have the same clothes in rotation. We have passports, cameras, toiletries, books, and other must-haves such as anti-diarrhea meds. and bug spray. These items combined with those 8 boxes in the U.S. make up my almost 37 years of my life.

Today, I sure as heck can’t be defined by what I own. I am car-less, “homeless,” and own less than I did when I lived an a 125 sq. foot dorm room my first year in college. Today, I feel so wonderfully fulfilled and none of this feeling is fueled by stuff. Sometimes we work so hard for an entire lifetime to accumulate things. Sometimes we hoard so many of those things all over our home, closets, and garage. My garage was a breeding ground for junk, where once-prized possessions went to die, collecting dust, never to be used again. 
However, there was a time in my life when I felt oddly uneasy about what I had to have. That new TV, a set of curtains, a top of the line crockpot, it had to be mine – ha! All those things didn’t make it into the 8 boxes. I needed a home with just another bathroom or just another bedroom. We wanted yet another pair of shoes, a bigger yard, the bunkbeds. All these things didn’t make it into the 8 boxes. We wanted the expensive workout equipment, the fancy 8 piece luggage set, the custom made 100% real wood dinning room table. All those things, while great, didn’t make it into the 8 boxes.  
If I am being completely honest, the things I accumulated weren’t even for me in a lot of ways. I wanted to sometimes have what others had or I wanted to make someone else proud of me. I couldn’t not have what I was “expected” to or could I? Part of this maybe unconsciously, but like so many struggling to keep up with appearances, I couldn’t be a minimalist in a materialistic world. Or could I?
The only question I really had to ask myself was, “did I want this stuff really or was I collecting things for someone else’s approval, society’s acceptance, or to somehow match up to others?” In the bestselling book, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” the author challenges its readers to think about the joy items bring to a person. Joy: what a great emotion! In essence, the author asks us to think about items and the joy they bring, or in many instances, don’t bring. And if that is the case then why do we hang on to them?
When I reflect on my real wants, I know what brings me the greatest joy… my family, my internal qualities and quirks, and TRAVEL – it’s always been TRAVEL.

Ultimately, the 8 boxes at home could burn to the ground tomorrow, and I’d still be filled with joy! I am spending a magical time abroad, not tied to a mortgage or car payment, by choice. My work office is located where I want to be located anywhere across the globe. Presently that home office happens to be in a country estate full of really cool stuff! I get to use top of line home appliances after all. Yet when I am done playing house and want to see another part of the world, I get to kiss this cozy, fully-equipped home good-bye, and venture into a new home, use someone else’s cool stuff, and truly hang on to my most precious, joy-inducing items: memories, family, and travel.

  

Adventuring with Kids

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I love high-adrenaline activities but sometimes adrenaline can equal danger. Traveling with three kids 11 and under, this desire for thrills must be tempered with safety. 
Fortunately, there are some fun adventures that can be done with little ones… that are also fun for the thrill-seeker in you!

Kayaking

Kayaking, or canoeing is one of the funnest and safest ways to get an adventure thrill while at the same time being quite safe for even a five-year old to do. You can usually find kayak rentals fairly easily and inexpensively. 
Added bonus: kids are weak and tire easily – you’ll get a great arm and back workout!

Hiking

We love the outdoors so finding great places to hike is always fun. When traveling, we choose to combine our love of nature with geography/geology lessons. We’ve climbed everything – from simple mountain sides to incredible volcano treks.

Added bonus: kids are weak and tire easily, you’ll get a great leg workout since you have to carry 16 gallons of water up and then back down.

Tubing

This was something new for us but now we’re old pros. We’ve visited beautiful and gentle rivers, namely near San Ignacio, Belize where tubing is really a popular attraction. Basically, you hop on an inflatable tube and float down a lazy river. In Belize, these rivers actually went through caves to the experience was unbelievable. HIGHLY recommend it.
Added Bonus: kids are weak and tire easily, you’ll get to carry all of their supplies after they are soaking wet and get a great all around workout!

Traveling

This one is almost too obvious that we may just miss it. But traveling in of itself is a great adventure. Sometimes the destination doesn’t matter, it’s the journey itself that brings excitement, craziness and thrills. On our family trip, we have traveled by car, ferry, car on a ferry, plane, train, boat, motorcycle, Uber, taxi, tuk-tuk, and the biggest thrill of them all – the infamous chicken buses of Central America. This was especially “thrilling” because it was so foreign to our kids (and us). There were literally about 50 people on a 25 passenger bus. It was wild.
Added bonus: kids are weak and tire easily and since there are no available seats on the bus, you get to carry them while standing in an awkward position – a great yoga-like exercise!
Bottom line, there are lots of fun and exciting activities to do with kids!

Long Term Travel with Kids: Expectation Vs. Reality, Part 2

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In part one, I wrote about some serious about-faces we’ve had during our travel. In summary, we went from:
Before we started we imagined ourselves some kind of quasi-backpacking family – agile and light! Yeah right.

What happened?

As great as the idea to travel “light” was, it really didn’t jive well with our reality. Traveling with young kids made it difficult to just suck it up and deal with some of the inconveniences of not carrying much. For example, simple concerns like, worrying if our kids would be cold, meant traveling with additional sweaters and coats. We started off with just a couple of stuffed animals as toys and now we have a collection of 40+ Hotwheels:

I know, it’s ridiculous. However, it does bring some sense of consistency to our kids, especially our youngest, so we decided it’s worth it.
We started off with one pair of shoes for everyone and now we have those pairs… plus sandals, water shoes, rain boots and some sexy AF heals I bought my wife for a party we attended in Guatemala. Stilettos are not easy to pack, let me tell you.
In essence we decided the convenience of packing light was not worth the inconveniences of not having what we needed, especially with our kids. Or conversely, the inconvenience of traveling with so much stuff does not outweigh the benefit of having some important but not essential items with us.
If you’re planning a similar trip, I would advise you to think long and hard about this decision. We chose wrong to begin our trip and unfortunately it cost us time and money as we ended up re-purchasing some items we gave away before leaving. I believe either way works, you should just be clear on the sacrifices and benefits of each.

Homeschooling

The other decision we completely reversed was how we were going to homeschool. As I mention in part 1, our initial plan was to be as paper/book-less as possible and do everything online. Nope. We quickly realized Wi-Fi can be painfully slow at best and completely unreliable at worst, even when we only stay at places were Wi-Fi is “available.” When schooling was dependent on internet access, this became a serious problem. The solution? Good ol’ trusty paper and textbooks. Pain in the ass to lug around but an incredibly effective way to guarantee school continues. If you’re thinking about homeschooling as well. Keep this in mind. Being fully online is great… if you can get online.
School To-Go

Location Duration

Lastly, we have completely changed how and for how long we travel. Initially we set out to visit a location for a week or so, maybe 10 days. The idea was to cram it all in, not unlike we used to plan our vacations. Now, we’ve just begun a 6-week stay in Costa Rica. Big difference. But why? In no particular order – cost, convenience and effort.
Cost: although we are enjoying an indefinite travel adventure, we are still on a budget. We factor in the cost of housing into our decision as it obviously plays a major role in how we spend our money. One thing we discovered was the many AirBnBs offer substantial weekly and monthly discounts. For example, the beautiful colonial home we stayed in Nicaragua had a price of $80 per night. However, if you booked a week there was a 25% discount and if you booked a month, the discount was a whopping 65% off. Essentially, booking a month cost us the same as if we only stayed two weeks. We stayed at a beautiful home for a month at the equivalent of about 10 days at regular price. Bam!
This type of deal isn’t unique either. We’ve learned the longer we stay at a place the more cost effective, and not by just a little. The longer stays have allowed us to take “mini-trips” within the greater stop, as we did in Nicaragua. Yes, we do end up paying for a home we are not sleeping in but the net effect on our budget is the same – with the added benefit of being able to see a different part of the area.
Additionally, we don’t have to drag the 2-tons worth of luggage during these mini-trips. We’ve reduced the amount of travel days, AKA “how-long-will-it-take-for-dad-to-blow-a-gasket” days. Win/Win for everyone.
Again, I highly encourage you to think about what you’d like to get out of your prolonged travel. Extended stays are both cost-effective and stabilizing while at the same time may “limit” the amount of places you see. We feel the benefits easily outweigh the cost but you’ll have to decide for your self.
All in all, this trip has been an incredible learning experience. We’ve made our mistakes and hopefully we’re learning and growing from them. There are plenty more but the above three have really been eye-opening for us.

Don’t Underestimate Nicaragua

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Old train track on Ometepe Island.

We’re wrapping up week four in beautiful Granada, Nicaragua. By the weekend, we will have arrived in San Juan del Sur, a go-to beach destination competing with near-by Costa Rica at a fraction of the cost. This after having spent a handful of nights on twin volcano island, Ometepe. These three spots, and the country’s capital of Managua, are a small glimpse of the entire country. More of the county’s best destinations still hover well below many traveler’s radars.

Nicaragua is full of scenic towns both on the interior of the country covered in green landscapes and lake views and the exterior with beaches only visited by locals and seasoned surfers. There’s something for all types: couples, backpackers, surfers, families, and first-time travelers to Central America. Problem is once the word gets out on Nicaragua it could turn into another overrated tourist trap. I’ll hope for the best and share our journey ensuring news of this gem continues to spread. News that counters preconceived notions of Central America and claims Nicaragua is impoverished and unappealing.
Here’s the deal when you populate a generic list of the most impoverished countries in Central America: Nicaragua is number one on that list. However, poverty doesn’t equate unappealing and making that comparison is unfair. I have felt more safe in this country than the many we visited before. That safety seems to resonate all over the region as Nicas take pride in their mutual identity of tolerating peace over violence, safety over insecurity, and community upkeep over disarray.

Horse-draw carriages pepper Granada.
We’ve experienced this firsthand not while living in a hotel surrounded by foreign tourists, but while living in a home on a block full of humble families and merchants. We shop like locals, shuffle around town as they do, and engage in daily tasks interacting with community members who have been cordial, polite, and welcoming. 
The next time someone tells you they wouldn’t visit Nicaragua because of poverty, nod, smile, and visit anyway. Poverty is a very real issue across Central America, but don’t let that stop you. When you visit Nicaragua you help boost tourist dollars generating revenue for a beautiful country striving for progress.

Visit Granada for the colonial architecture, delicious international cuisine, beautifully clean city streets, monuments, and countless churches. We love walking the city streets either at day or night, riding in horse-drawn carriages and dinning out. I literally didn’t have one bad restaurant meal in Granada and we ate out maybe 2 to 3 times per week in four weeks.

Vista Managua for the city life, large scale commercial appeal, and lakefront attractions. Managua does an amazing job keeping its city clean and inviting. Security guards in public spaces are quick to correct patrons disturbing the landscape or cleanliness.

Visit La Isla de Ometepe for the outdoor appeal, slower-pace way of life, or to enjoy a romantic and rural destination. Kayaking at sunset or renting ATV’s is a MUST! If you love nature you’ll find it hard to leave Ometepe.
Three of five Queventurers ready to jump into Lake Nicaragua at Sunset. Photo taken from Ometepe Island.

San Juan del Sur: for the beach scene, oceanfront accommodations, and as an affordable Costa Rica alternative. We look forward to spending a handful of days tanning on the beach and swimming in the clear blue sea. Planning to also take in the amazing view from “El Cristo de Misericordia” overlooking the beach…

Have any questions for us about Nicaragua or any other destination on our Queventure route, so far: Puerto Rico > Belize > Southern Mexico > Mexico City > Guatemala, feel free to ask in the comment section below…

Missing Home While Discovery a New One

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I recently visited LA on a quick business trip. It was the oddest feeling to be back in sunny California without my family. Leaving them felt surreal. I still find it hard to believe I just packed up and left my husband and children in a random Granada, Nicaragua rental to board a plane back to LA.

Before breaking the news, I braced myself for tears assuming the kids would completely resent the fact that mommy got to go home… home, home. As fun as all the nonstop travel is, our children often (and quite naturally) miss home. When I thought further about sharing my news, I realized it had been a few weeks since our youngest had cried for his Abuelita, or the oldest had complained of missing out on junior high, or our middle child reminded us how long it’d been since we’d seen our pet yorkie, Jellybean. When I finally spit out the news, our kids didn’t cry though one blurted out in shock: “You’re going to AMERICAAA?” 

They heard me out, called me lucky, and went on with their lives. I realized right then they won’t always miss home. They’re actually adjusting and growing accustomed to our nomadic routine. 

View of Twin Volcano Island in Ometepe, Nicaragua.

They will have their moments of nostalgia of course. The best we can do is express love while assuring them their feelings matter. When they miss home we also always remind them of all that ties us back. The kids keep in touch with pen pals in the U.S. Our oldest has an iPod to FaceTime with classmates. Plus, there’s always the classic telephone call easily connecting us to loved ones. My kids could use the practice developing proper phone etiquette in a text-messaging world.

Missing home is natural and we’re all going to feel those emotions from time to time, but we also love being on this adventure together. The kids have spent more time bonding with one another than ever before, they’re increasingly comfortable in different communities, and have enjoyed experiencing new cuisines, climates, and customs. Missing home is the result of embracing the entire world as our new home and everyone in it as our peers. 

Before I had children, I was often asked if I had any fears, you know the classic college icebreaker stuff. I had only one. My fear was to never become a mother. Then after becoming a mother, I received the usual question inquiring as to how I would be in the role and what my goals were for my children.

Experiencing a ride on the infamous Central American “Chicken Bus.”

In those early years of motherhood, I always proclaimed the basics with a twist… “I want them to be happy and I want them to be truly global citizens.” 

So my children will miss their home of origin from time to time, but they’re also coming to realize their true home stretches far beyond the boundaries of a small town in California. Today, they get to embrace the entire planet as their own, opening themselves up to learn from other cultures without judgment and care for every part of earth without prejudice. More importantly, they’ll learn to fight for social injustices not only in their neighborhoods, but across the globe. 

Our children have the opportunity to be truly global, responsible citizens, and it starts now as they expand what it even means to be HOME, to be Latinos, and to have the ability to advocate for themselves and others, locally and abroad. 

Fitting right in strolling through beautiful (and colorful) Granada, Nicaragua.