World Travel With Children

[Melina M]

Cliff,
You asked for our opinion on you world traveling plans.
I  have to say I don't understand why anyone would want to do this but that is besides the point.

I say DON'T DO IT! THINK OF YOUR KIDS!

This is why:

I was born in a small town in Argentina. When I was 5 my parents moved our family to Buenos Aires, a much bigger city a few hours away from my grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and friends. I was young but I still remember missing everyone; my grandmother in particular. I was used to seeing her daily.

Still I adapted and made new friends and we visited our family often so it was fine.
That is until they desided to move us to the US. I was 15. Nothing else in my life was as painful as that move. A new country, new language, new culture. I cried everyday for months. It took me a long time to make friends. My parents did all they could to make me happy but nothing could replace the comfort of seeing a long time friend or my grandparents.

To this day I feel so sad and so guilty that my dear grandma died a few years after we left, in my mind, of sadness because she was so far from her grandkids and I couldn't even be there for her funeral (they happen quick over there and it's expensive to buy a plane ticket).

I am now very glad to live in this country and I am thankful to my parents for bringing me here. Still, when I think of that move it is very painful.
I can't even imagine going through that every 6 months.

Maybe I'm too jaded because I had such a bad experience. But I really do believe kids need a place to call home and they need to be close to their relatives and friends they have known for a long time. It gives them a sense of security that is very important.

Obviously people move around all the time and kids adapt and survive. So if you deside to do it  they will be fine. I just think that they would be better off staying in one place.

You can always travel the world after the move out! It may seem as forever but kids grow so fast.

Just my thoughts. You will make the right choice for your family. Good luck!

Melina

[John aka jportier]

Melina,

I agree, and while I don't have the exact compassion as you do in your opinions, i'll add my 2 cents..

However, I think that it would be rather reckless to do something like this unless you had it planted to a "T" how you would spend those two years, but then in fact you would be budgeting it more like a vacation rather than an experience.

I think also i am a little selfish in that I would like to do something like this, but am not in a place in my life that I could do this trip.

Also, what would happen with my plus membership?

[Winnie]

I have never moved in my life, except for the one move when I was 4 months old, so that doesn't really count.
I just wanted to give you a way to maybe not travel the world, but experience holidays in all kinds of different places, not necessarily the touristy ones.
What my family did for holidays was home exchange. This means you litteraly trade houses with another family so you live in their house and they live in your house for the period of your vacation. We've been all over Europe with home exchange. I think it's one of the best ways to experience a different city or country, especially with kids. The kids have a whole new house to explore with all the toys the other kids have. I think it's also cheaper than spending 2 weeks in a hotel.
Home exchange is really popular in Belgium, and Belgium is not exactly a desirable tourist place (compared to Spain, France,...) so we couldn't really choose where we'd end up. When we were really little we went to The Netherlands a lot because it's close by and they speak the same language. After that, we've been to Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Great Britain, even The USA (which is a great example of not ending up in a touristy place, we went to Kentucky ).

My parents are saving up to travel the world when they retire. They are planning on doing this through home exchange. By then, my brother and I should have moved out. My parents will travel from exchange house to exchange house with different familie staying in our house. They see this as a cheaper way to travel the world.

I agree with the 2 posts above me that it might be hard on the kids, but if they're well prepared and with the wonders of modern technology (videochat) I also think it might be one of the most amazing experiences they'll ever have.

[Jerry T aka KD0BIK]

Cliff,

I say....Go for it!  If you have a good, solid plan...all will work out.  My wife and I are planning something similar...well we will continue to work our same jobs...but just somewhere else.  Of course, the difference being my wife and I do not have kids.

But this can be a huge opportunity for your kids to get to see and experience different cultures etc.  Again...I say go for it!

Jerry

[kyliemac]

Travel the world as a family? WHY NOT?

It's been done before and the Ravenscrafts would not be the first family to take that plunge!

Personally, I think it's a great idea. Both of my parents spent part of their childhood in Europe (both of my grandfathers worked overseas), but I didn't make it across the pond until after I graduated from college and I wished that I had at least travelled abroad a bit before that. One thing it has done is to have brought history alive for me in a way that it didn't 'live' for me before.

With traveling the world, obviously, there is a lot of planning involved, but I think it's a very enriching experience for children. There are many things to consider if you were planning on spending an extended period somewhere - especially with regard to schooling and language barriers. The other question is - would you be planting permanent roots elsewhere or would you return to the states after? What countries are you looking at? Only English-speaking ones? Is it with the idea of actually "living" somewhere or having more of a "vacation" kind of experience? It would be worth the time to find other families that have done this and asking about their experiences. And have you brought this idea up to the kids yet? I'd especially love to hear Meagan's thoughts on it!

My own move overseas has not been a bed of roses, but I wouldn't trade my experience (even with myriad headaches and traumas and hospital stays)  for anything. Of course, I was a single adult at the time that I sold my house and quit my job and headed to France, but I learned more about my own country by not living in it. It's really given me a world-view that I never would have had -  had I stayed in my little corner of Kyliemac's America.

I work with two French boys and have seen first-hand how the older (age 10) has benefited from his trips to England. On the other hand, I do know an American family who moved to Paris with three girls, and the oldest was MISERABLE and said that her father had "ruined" her life. However, the other two, despite missing their friends, took to it like a duck to water and didn't have any trouble assimilating - the youngest even going to a French school.

That said, everyone's experiences are going to be different, and you won't know what yours will be until you do it yourself. Getting the kids involved would help with that - reading books and seeing movies/videos about the places you are going to visit. Making it something they are included in, rather than a thing that happens to them.

I read "One Year Off" (I've included the link below) and really enjoyed it. That was a trip that I wouldn't have made myself, but I admire their initiative!
I'll be following GSPN's podcasts to see how this idea moves forward - like Sarah said in The Full TIme Mom, whatever you decide I support you!
(As long as I still will get my podcasts! )

**
One Year Off: Leaving It All Behind for a Round-the-World Journey with Our Children
by David Elliot Cohen, Devyani Kamdar (Photographer)
http://www.amazon.com/One-Year-Off-Round-World/dp/1885211651

**
The Carlson Family's around the world travel adventure
Sarah James & David Carlson and their three kids (aged 13, 10, and took one year off and traveled the world.
http://canadiancarlsons.com/travel.html

**
Traveling Around The World With Kids
http://blog.realtravel.com/2007/09/18/traveling-around-the-world-with-kids/

[Cliff Ravenscraft]

You folks are awesome! 

This is exactly the type of thoughts that I had hoped to receive...


Melina, I didn't expect your response to be the first one that I would read.. However, I want to thank you for it!!!  Honest feedback was exactly what I was going for.....


I can't wait to read and respond to these thoughts that you've already shared and any more that might be left on this one.

I can tell you that Family From the Heart Episode 050 is going to be devoted to this very topic and I'm sure it will be an ongoing discussion moving forward.

Stay tuned and feel free to leave more thoughts on this subject... Both those who think it's a great idea and those who think that this may be a terrible mistake or any thoughts in between...


As far as your questions about Plus Membership and Podcasts if we were to move forward with this...


TRUST ME!!! Podcasting and Plus Membership would VERY MUCH be a part of our journey!!!

I can assure you that Podcasting is something I'm convinced of as being being my calling in this part of my life and as far as I can see into the future.

Sharing our life online whether from here in the states or anywhere else in the world is going to continue to happen no matter what!

Cliff

[John aka jportier]

TRUST ME!!! Podcasting and Plus Membership would VERY MUCH be a part of our journey!!!

To be brutally honest:

I think that my biggest qualm with the whole idea is that I don't want to be funding someone else's two year vacation experience though my plus membership. That's not what I signed up for.

[Richard Emblem (remblem)]

I have been catching up on Podcasts since my return from our cruise on the Nile in Egypt and have finally got round to your news of "World travel" - I thought it sounded really exciting, but I think you will have to take serious note of the comments above before you go ahead.
 

[Jerry T aka KD0BIK]

Some helpful links I'm sure you would find on your own...but here you go.  These are for the UK.

http://www.americanexpats.co.uk/

http://www.uk-yankee.com/


And importantly...

http://www.americansoda.co.uk/uk/American-Soda/Home/default.aspx


 

[JoyfulSparrow]

I only caught the tail end of the live broadcast... but one thing to consider is I think a lot of the appeal of the GSPN productions is that people identify with you as regular folks I get a "just like me" feeling listening to the podcasts and that might change if you become world travelers - not that it's a reason not to, just a thing to think on.

I have heard people say of the TV show John and Kate Plus 8 (which I've only watched 2 times) that people have stopped watching it now becuase it used to be about a regular struggling family - but now they have money from the TV show - they are going on a lot of trips and travels and people don't identify with that.

Sounds like a way cool and fun thing to do... just bringing up this as something to ponder.

[Cliff Ravenscraft]

I only caught the tail end of the live broadcast... but one thing to consider is I think a lot of the appeal of the GSPN productions is that people identify with you as regular folks I get a "just like me" feeling listening to the podcasts and that might change if you become world travelers - not that it's a reason not to, just a thing to think on.

I have heard people say of the TV show John and Kate Plus 8 (which I've only watched 2 times) that people have stopped watching it now becuase it used to be about a regular struggling family - but now they have money from the TV show - they are going on a lot of trips and travels and people don't identify with that.

Sounds like a way cool and fun thing to do... just bringing up this as something to ponder.

I can understand this... It's certainly a valid concern and goes along with John's statement of "I don't want to be funding someone else's two year vacation experience though my plus membership. That's not what I signed up for."

As we shared in our podcast, this idea of travel is not a vacation at all to us.  The idea is to "experience life" in a different way than we have ever done before.  To explore something new.  To go on a journey into the unknown and see how God continues to provide as we trust in Him.

Oddly enough, I can pinpoint a major shift in the support we received from the community when I decided to leave my traditional career to actually pursue my passion in podcasting full time.  Something that most of our listeners can not yet identify with.

I agree that there is a major appeal of Stephanie and I having that "just like me" feeling.  Though, an overwhelming amount of our feedback has been along the lines of... "I love supporting what you guys are doing because you guys are "just like me" and doing something that I truly wish I had the faith to do or that I hope to do something similar myself one day."

Regardless of where we live, I think that most people who "identify" with Stephanie and I today, will still be able to identify with us in the day to day struggles of raising a family.  We'll still just be Cliff and Stephanie.

I would think that some folks would be interested in the story of family "journey" such as this.


With that being said... This, along with all the other concerns mentioned above are certainly worth pondering.

Thanks for the feedback.

[WayneHenderson]

 
What an awesome, and thought-provoking, topic!  I agree with what Timothy Ferriss talks about in his "Four Hour Workweek" book, regarding how living abroad with your kids, for an extended period of time, can be greatly beneficial and enriching for the children involved (as well as for the parents).  If done right; learning another language, getting to know other cultures, and making new friends, can all be a great thing for children!

And I for one, would love hearing the My Crazy Life and Family From The Heart episodes that could come from an adventure of this kind!

[Cliff Ravenscraft]

Just an added thought here.

Stephanie and I were talking today about the idea that for man folks, when they hear.... "World Travel" they actually envision "Luxurious Living." 

Our "dream" of World Travel is not a dream of "living it up." 

I'd still very much be working... At this point, I'd still plan on doing most all the podcasting that we are doing today with the exception that we probably would do less tv show coverage than we do today.

I'd still be consulting by phone.  I'd still be doing podcast webinars.  I'd still be editing and producing content for many of my ongoing clients.  I'd still be selling podcast audio equipment, taken calls on my phone.

I'd still be working just as hard as I do now.

Stephanie would be working even harder, adding to her responsibilities, the responsibility of homeschooling, or "road schooling" as I've just seen on a blog of another family that is currently doing this right now.

Honestly, I understand the huge difference of moving to another country and culture, but as far as "business and family life" is concerned, it'd be little different that if I worked for a company that required us to transfer our residence to a new location they were launching.

I think the main confusion is that the word "travel" equates to vacation or retirement in so many people's minds.  I don't think that it necessarily has to mean that.

And well... this is all new to us, so we're only at the "INFANCY" stage of even looking into what this might look like.

But I can assure you that I have no illusions of this being a "luxurious living experiment."

Honestly, if a company came along and said, I wan to sponsor your family's journey around the world for the next three years for 100,000 per year, I'd probably give the content away for free.

Though we're not looking for sponsors at this and feel that Plus Membership still makes the most sense for where we're going in our content production and community building efforts.


Just wanted to throw the thought about the "world travel" v/s "luxurious living" thought out there.


Who knows.  We may even spend six months in a third world country...    Anything's possible.

[Kristina24]

OK....everyone has a very strong feeling about this. I'm going to add my two cents on this idea, and thinking about this from my family's perspective.

I work in a school, where kids move around alot, so I'd like to think that I have a good perspective on the kid perspective on how they would feel. 

I've lived in my state my entire life.  I love NC and I think its a great place to live, but I also like to travel.  I did however spend two and a half weeks in Europe, traveling with my sister.  I really feel like I really experienced the places we visited, and I would not ever trade that, even though my sister and I nearly killed each other on the trip.  I got to see so much and it was competely awesome.

However, it was just me and my sister.  I did not have a family at the time.  I now have a husband and daughter to consider.

In two years, all three of your children will be in school.  School is not just academics, its also about socialization and learning skills that will be used throughout their life.  Homeschooling does not offer that.  I'm not knocking homeschooling at all (it definitely works great for some), but there are certain aspects of school that are not available that route.  My concern with this is that you are talking about moving around the world every six months or so.  THat means you are going to be uprooting your children every six months. 

Please understand what that will do to your children.  They all have connections to their communities at their schools.  They will be forced to meet new people, and give up their friendships every time they move.  THey will be forced to get used to a whole new culture every time.  We have students who move here from other countries, namely hispanic countries, that don't speak the language and are scared to death.  Even though they have the support of their family members.  They cry because they do not understand what is going on.  I see people around my community who do not speak English and have a hard time even though we try our hardest to help them.  I'm not saying that your kids will not get a lot from that experience, but there are many negatives to this as well. 

I know you said that this was your dream, but I wonder if this is the kids' dreams.  Considering your kids could potentially hate this, it would seem selfish to make them do this for your dream. 

Also, you said that you would be working as hard as you do now and Stephanie would be working even more.  My concern is that you are wanting to experience so much, so could you truly experience other cultures that way if you are doing that?  I'm sure its possible, but I dunno...I'm typing some of my random thoughts regarding this. 

May I also add that, at the time frame you are talking about, Megan will be in middle school, and puberty will really be hitting hard, and her social life will be even more important to her than it is now.  I had to change schools and move in 6th grade, and it was very traumatizing for me to move from somewhere I had always known, to somewhere I didn't know anyone and had to learn about.  And I just moved across the county! Haha!

It really sounds like this is something that you are all pretty much decided on, even if this is in infancy stages right now.   Of course you have to pray about it and do what's best for your family.  I just want to be sure you consider every aspect of it.  There is so much to think about.  IT will certainly be alot of planning involved.


EDIT:  I just wanted to add...after thinking about this a little...I don't want you to think that I don't support what you decide to do.  I will support your decisions of course.  I am partially jealous because I am nowhere able to go to Europe again and I'd love to.  I know you will carefully consider all the variables and possible consequences, especially from the children's aspects.  I do love you guys so much and know you make the best decision for your family.

[John aka jportier]

Cliff and Steph,

When you said "I have been inspired by the 4hr work week, not to have a 4 hr work week," that spoke volumes to me. I had posted my opinions prior to actually hearing the layout of what the program would be about.

As far as my reasons for plus membership and my future plus membership if you do this program. First, I became a plus member because after listening to all of your free content I still wanted more. Also because of the U.S.'s current economic situation, it feels nice to support a small business and to do my part to show that not all of us are participating in this recession.  I would continue my plus membership if you actually did this program, but only if you added "The world according to Megan" podcast.