Parenting on the road

We are heading into our fourth week travelling.  Our life is not all Instagram moments.  It was expected that we would hit a down point or slump at this point, but it still feels like a bummer.  Those mornings when I am thinking, “What did I do” and “11 more months?” get me down.    Cork mused last night that we spend a lot of time together. Its not negative, but is constant and wears on you.  Sometimes you just need a little space.  And Jack and Addie need interaction with other kids or at least other adults.  We all irritate each other at times.  The little snatches of time that each of us get alone are fleeting and when we are hot and sweaty, tired, the bus is late and the kids are whining or saying they are hungry (even though we just ate, but they did not like their noodles…) it can be overwhelming.

Big cities and rooms without any outside seating area are especially hard because there is nowhere to escape.  We are finding that small towns or beaches work better for us. Situations where we have a lot of interaction with fellow travelers and locals provide another outlet for our energy.  Also, structure is good, even loose works.  Somehow, making a plan makes everything feel more manageable.  Negativity does not work and makes everyone grumpy so we really try to stay positive.  It is important to model a tone for our children.

We have been putting out emails to “Workaway” hosts to query about volunteer opportunities for our family.  There are very few opportunities to volunteer as a family in Malaysia, but our next destination is Vietnam, and that country is both hungry and welcoming of our family volunteering.  If it all works out, later this month we will go stay with a family and volunteer to teach English for two weeks, more if we all enjoy it.

It is funny, the kids have adjusted to this life really fast.  It is now normal to see monkeys and rats while surrounded by people that look different and speak another language. We walk in the streets dodging cars and motorcycles (no sidewalks) —the unfamiliar has become familiar.  What is really amazing is they did not have any idea what to expect.  Both Cork and I have traveled to this part of the world before, albeit 20 years ago.  At dessert last night (jelly cubes and brown sugar in a bowl of ice and milk) we told them of our plans to volunteer.  We explained that a man named Mr.Giao was going to pick us up in Hanoi and we are going to go live with him and his extended family for two weeks and teach at their school.  They heard the information, nodded, and then Addie turned to Jack and wanted to show him how the jelly cubes danced in her bowl of milk.  Cork and I turned to each other and shrugged.  I guess they trust us.

What we miss the most is our friends and family.  Technology has made staying in touch so much easier.  I remember the expensive phone calls I would place in the middle of night to my parents from France when I was a 17 year old exchange student.  Letters were the only form of communication.  Now, with Google hangouts we can talk with anyone over the internet for free.  It is amazing.  The kids often video chat with their friends and this bolsters their moods!  Now when we want to go somewhere we can order a cheap GRAB car (Asia’s Uber) and through GPS they know exactly where we are and we can use Google maps to figure out where we are going.  It has been awesome.  In Portland, I did not have a smart phone.  However, after living this nomadic lifestyle I am a technology convert.  In this foreign environment, the internet has become a necessity not a luxury.  No Luddites here.