Welcome to everyone checking our blog for the first time. We leave January 14 for our trip ’round the world (RTW). You can see our detailed itinerary here or read the posts below to find out why we are taking this journey with our kids. If you don’t know us yet, you can read a little more about us here.
This morning I had so much nervous energy that I almost vomited. Next week we’ll be on a plane and, even though we’ve been planning and preparing for months, there is still a lot to do. The last week of school, meetings with teachers, a final trip to Target, a few rushed appointments to the dentist and hairdresser. There are checklists, to-dos and reconfirmations to handle and two farewell parties to organize for the kids. On Thursday, our dog goes to farm country where she’ll romp with other dogs until we return.
Where should we go? Charlie thinking hard and A.J. doesn’t care. Typical!
Last January, this trip was just a concept. We flipped though books with titles like 500 Unforgettable Places, subscribed to travel magazine Afar and watched programs on the Travel Channel. With so many worthy destinations, where to begin? In our case, it was with a family meeting. Everyone contributed ideas and Charlie even gave a long speech on why we should include Egypt in our plans (sorry, Charlie, it didn’t make the final cut). The potential list was a mix of fondly remembered vacations worth a second look, countries on the bucket list, places with ancestral ties and a couple areas that were off-the-beaten path.
Country ideas from our first family meeting
In the end, we are going to about half of the places from the initial list and we’ve added a few new ones, such as Austria and Croatia, that fit in well with our interests, flight schedules, timing and the weather. Tim and I each made compromises. But, we’re hella excited to be getting underway.
Thanks for tuning in. Follow this blog to receive regular postings in your inbox. Or email me and I’ll add you to the distribution. Charlie, our soon-to-be 11 year old has her own blog, Notes From Charlie, if any is interested in a tween’s perspective of the world.
To our fellow travelers, if our paths might intersect on the road, let me know! To future travelers, be it for a month or a year, if you are thinking of taking your own international trip, here’s what I have to say. Just do it. It will probably be one of the best things you’ll ever do in your life. A good friend of mine once said:
Live a life of no regrets
This year, I’m following his advice.
Next stop, Hong Kong.
Notes from a Big World 