Our family journals and sketch books, waiting to be filled as the journey unfolds.
My poetic prose, which will hopefully litter this blog over the next few months, is currently stifled by a combination of the the-neverending-constantly-edited-TO-DO-LIST and the slightly nauseating roller coaster named “Pre-trip Anxiety”, on which I am currently riding. Shoved between WORRY and PLANNING resides EXCITEMENT and luckily it occasionally overpowers everything. For at least the last 7 years, if not longer, we have had a sketch in our minds of a Family-Big-Trip. Now the days until the actual departure have magically ticked down to 6!
To be honest I don’t even know what to really expect for this coming year. Sure Kiko and I travelled a bunch throughout the 90’s, each of us visiting about 35 countries in our lives, quite comfortable with the title of “traveler”. But things have changed, both the world at large with the wide reach of modern technology and our perspective now that we have been living a non-nomadic lifestyle in Hawaii for 12 years and have 2 kids in tow.
To be honest I don’t even know what to really expect for this coming year. Sure Kiko and I travelled a bunch throughout the 90’s, each of us visiting about 35 countries in our lives, quite comfortable with the title of “traveler”. But things have changed, both the world at large with the wide reach of modern technology and our perspective now that we have been living a non-nomadic lifestyle in Hawaii for 12 years and have 2 kids in tow.
Zuki on a test run.
And what are the kids thinking of this all? .... I believe they are as prepared as we can hope. Extended world travel has been a common dinner conversation for years; they grew up surrounded by stories of our far-flung travels; and have each had the opportunity to travel multiple times to Kiko’s home country, Venezuela. When questioned they can tell you how to brush your teeth in a country with less then stellar water quality, how to determine which street-food vendors are more likely to be selling safe food, describe some unusual cultural norms from other countries, recite the protocol for what to do if they get separated from us, and more.
But then the other night my confindence faltered a little.
Yoda started a conversation over dinner with “if we survive the trip....” OK then... he is ready to go even if he thinks we are going to die doing it! Of course this started a child friendly conversation regarding the relative safety around the world, general safety issues no matter location, and the pervasive perception of a lack of safety in places that are unfamiliar, both geographically and socially. We made a point to assure him that he will not get eaten by a lion, which was the fear that prompted the comment.
So yes, there is a lot of uncertainty as we embark. In general I have found that travel leads to more uncertainty across a wide spectrum of things, as long held beliefs fall to the wayside with exposure to a wider world view. But our previous world travel experiences have made me certain of one thing;
But then the other night my confindence faltered a little.
Yoda started a conversation over dinner with “if we survive the trip....” OK then... he is ready to go even if he thinks we are going to die doing it! Of course this started a child friendly conversation regarding the relative safety around the world, general safety issues no matter location, and the pervasive perception of a lack of safety in places that are unfamiliar, both geographically and socially. We made a point to assure him that he will not get eaten by a lion, which was the fear that prompted the comment.
So yes, there is a lot of uncertainty as we embark. In general I have found that travel leads to more uncertainty across a wide spectrum of things, as long held beliefs fall to the wayside with exposure to a wider world view. But our previous world travel experiences have made me certain of one thing;
The extreme exhilaration that often accompanies long term travel and actually lures most of us to crave more, has an inevitable counterpart, often presenting as moments of intense difficulty. It is these rough patches, that are an unavoidable part of the terrain of the longterm international traveler, which potentially can cause division in groups and among partners. It not all going to be castles and riding camels.
In regards to this, I believe the secret to our success will lie in the mastering of two crucial life skills.
1. Truly finding enjoyment in the unexpected; an important next step after simply “expect the unexpected”. By truly embracing the random, unpredictable things that change our plans or make us feel out of our element we allow more depth into our travel experience. The sum of this trip is not just the accumulation of all the highs but the highs and lows together. There is beauty and lessons in it all.
2. Team work, by leaning and anticipating each others strengths and weakness, we can compensate for one another and work together to create a solid team. There is nothing stronger then a family with skillful communication, working together.
1. Truly finding enjoyment in the unexpected; an important next step after simply “expect the unexpected”. By truly embracing the random, unpredictable things that change our plans or make us feel out of our element we allow more depth into our travel experience. The sum of this trip is not just the accumulation of all the highs but the highs and lows together. There is beauty and lessons in it all.
2. Team work, by leaning and anticipating each others strengths and weakness, we can compensate for one another and work together to create a solid team. There is nothing stronger then a family with skillful communication, working together.
Luckily, we make a good team, the four of us.
I am the reseracher and organizer, from what we will do with our properties at home, to which online banks accounts are best, to what gear we will bring, to budget, and largely to what general areas we will visit.
Kiko is the facilitator; something physically needs to get done he does it 18 zillion times faster then the rest of us; and better. His natural charisma seems to cross cultures seamlessly.
Zuki brings a sense of art and wonderment to it all; often times awakening a connection to the spiritual/mystical side of life that the rest of us might have missed otherwise.
Yoda is our emotional radar, always with his eyes and heart open, often brining humor and smiles to our faces.
This blog, like our trip, will be constantly evolving over the next year as we find our stride as a nomadic family. I promise to keep this account real; writing of our best and worse times and of course the ineveitalbe comical situations as well as we adjust to our new life. Even with all the planning, no one knows what lies ahead, but we are prepared to “embrace the unexpected.”
P.S. If you would like to virtually join us, please click the “subscribe by email” link in the top right of the main blog page.
I am the reseracher and organizer, from what we will do with our properties at home, to which online banks accounts are best, to what gear we will bring, to budget, and largely to what general areas we will visit.
Kiko is the facilitator; something physically needs to get done he does it 18 zillion times faster then the rest of us; and better. His natural charisma seems to cross cultures seamlessly.
Zuki brings a sense of art and wonderment to it all; often times awakening a connection to the spiritual/mystical side of life that the rest of us might have missed otherwise.
Yoda is our emotional radar, always with his eyes and heart open, often brining humor and smiles to our faces.
This blog, like our trip, will be constantly evolving over the next year as we find our stride as a nomadic family. I promise to keep this account real; writing of our best and worse times and of course the ineveitalbe comical situations as well as we adjust to our new life. Even with all the planning, no one knows what lies ahead, but we are prepared to “embrace the unexpected.”
P.S. If you would like to virtually join us, please click the “subscribe by email” link in the top right of the main blog page.
