Summer reminds me of travel – road trips, flights, or discovering things closer to home. While we road tripped to North Carolina for a wedding over Memorial Day weekend, we do not have any immediate plans to travel out of state with our family. Shorter, kid-friendly trips are what work best for my almost 2 year old and 3.75 year old, though I DREAM about the time when I can take them both on an overseas flight to visit friends across the pond. Right now my son has really found his voice, and is using it VERY LOUDLY! I know airplane passengers would LOVE that.
Back in my college days I spent an entire summer in Tokyo, Japan, came home for ten days and flew to Vienna, Austria to study there for a semester. My time spent abroad was nothing short of amazing. I loved meeting some wonderful friends, being immersed in the culture, exploring and traveling to new places. Since then, I have been on a few trips, though it’s difficult to find the time and funds to do so.
To satisfy my overseas travel dreams for now, I am going to be living vicariously, or should I say viKERRYously through my friends Kerry & Matt, who left yesterday on their flight to Lima, Peru. They sold their home, cars, and severely downsized to become ex-pats in Peru, where Matt will be working as a school principal. I’m am so excited to follow their journey, as they acclimate to their new surroundings, culture, and language. You should check out their blogs too:
- Kerry On or her latest posts: Hanging in Lima, and Who-hoo!
- Matt’s Blog: Untethered
I once met a colleague during a summer internship, who had an opportunity to move his family and work in France for a few years. He described it as the “most exhilarating experience ever.” I truly hope Kerry & Matt find their experience to be the same!
This leads me to my next question – could I leave everything in Wisconsin and the U.S., pack my family, and move to another country for an extended period of time? At one time in my life (before kids), the answer was unequivocally YES, but now the answer is a big MAYBE.
What about you – would you want to live / work in another country?
I featured Kerry On and Untethered as part of the Do Good, Read More Summer Reading Challenge. Check out the link to read Tricia’s latest finds. I can definitely relate to her latest post on parenting young children.
What great blogs have you read lately? Read more & share what you found! I’ve really enjoyed checking out the variety of voices and making new connections in the blogosphere, and I’m sure you will too.
go mama o. 
I think I could definitely handle moving us all to a different country if there was guaranteed work. The thought of having to sell the house and most of our possessions would be pretty tough though. I think it would be an amazing experience!
Yeah, there is the trouble of finding employment…that is tough! It would be very tough to downsize, but I agree – an amazing experience.
As you know, we left the United States and have been in Puerto Rico for some time. While it is a US territory in some/many ways it is like living in a foreign country. While our experience has had its positives and negatives, I’ve enjoyed exposing my children to something different. Some days I think I could handle another country after this experience, and others I long to get back to the United States. My husband has lived all over the world and is always up for a move, but as the kids get older we lean more toward giving them more stability. Off to follow your friends now! 😉
That’s right- I remember reading that on your blog, and your moving routine. While it does have it’s appeal, I can imagine the stability is difficult. And yes, Puerto Rico most certainly would feel like another country! Like anything, you have to embrace the opportunities you are given – regardless of where it may take you. Hopefully “home” is a feeling you can create anywhere in the world with wonderful people (family, friends) by your side.
Thank you for the kind words! We miss home but are loving the adventure!
So glad to hear it! I’ll be reading / following along!
I think it takes a special kind of person to be able to live abroad and I don’t think I am that kind of person. 🙂 In theory, it sounds like a very cool idea, but I don’t think I could handle being so far from family and friends and home. On the other hand, my brother and his family have lived in Norway and Indonesia and are, as we speak, moving to Dubai. I think they have caught the “expat” bug and I am not sure if they will ever move back to the US. As for airplane travel with young kids, I am hoping that I can take my girls to visit their cousins in Dubai at some point, but I, too, am afraid of the 15 hour flight with very LOUD children. Can’t wait to pop over and read your friends’ blogs.
Yes, my perspective on living abroad has changed since having kids. I do really enjoy being close to family, BUT I still haven’t ruled it out completely…maybe someday! Wow – your brother certainly has lived some interesting places! During a 15 hour flights, kids will HAVE to sleep for at least part of that time, right? It would be interesting for sure!