Tag: international family vacations

Your Comfortable Bubble

Posted on by Erika Bud

Easter procession in Barcelona

Every time you leave your bubble, you enter someone else’s. The best thing to do is ask questions. Then close your mouth and open your mind. – Kellie McIntyre

 

Your Comfortable Bubble

It’s not easy for many people to leave their bubble. It’s what you know, it’s safe, it’s comfortable. So why should you push yourself out of your bubble and travel to another country?

Because of everything you’ll experience and learn.

My 9-year-old son and I spent a month in Barcelona. Every day my son would come back to our apartment and write something new that he learned or experienced that day…every day. That’s 30 things he learned about a new culture. This list included everything from the Romans who founded Barcelona, to discovering that on Easter, there are processions where men where colored robes and hoods. As my son walked in the footsteps of the Romans, he will never forget that they founded Barcelona. And he’ll never forget the strangely dressed men during Easter processions. Especially since he was so fascinated that he researched more about them when we returned to our apartment(the hoods are called capirotes and the robes and hoods have great meaning).

Will it be strange to leave your bubble?

Yes, it will, because the world is comprised of different cultures. But just because it’s strange and different, doesn’t mean it’s bad. My mom does not like to leave her bubble at all, but she pushed herself to visit us in Barcelona. To stay within the comforts of her bubble, she wanted to find the exact same foods she eats at home. Yes, she was more comfortable, but the problem was that she missed out. As soon as she left, my son and I ate at several tapas restaurants and thoroughly enjoyed new foods that we would have never imagined if we didn’t try to experience the Spanish culture and its food.

So, push yourself. Step out of your bubble and open your mind to a new culture. Let yourself be surprised by new foods, new architects, and walking the footsteps of ancient Romans from 2,000 years ago.

What are your concerns about traveling abraod and leaving your bubble? I would love to hear from you! Please post your comments below.

To hear more about family travel abroad experiences, travel tips, and more, listen to the Planes, Trains, & Kids Abroad travel podcast at:  https://bigworldpub.com/listen-to-travel-podcast/

Written by: Erika Bud. You can find out more about the author, the Travel Rangers book series, and the travel podcast at:  http://bigworldpub.com/

Cruising the World with Your Child

Posted on by Erika Bud

A mother and daughter are on a ship balcony looking out over the water

“Some cruise lines cater to different passengers. Some are known more as the booze cruises, some as the family cruises, cruises for older passengers, and cruises for those who like luxury.” – Erika Bud

 

Cruising the World with Your Child

Have you been wondering what it would be like to take your children on an international cruise? Or have you visited countries sailing on a cruise with your family and you think it’s the best thing in the world? Well, you’re not alone. According to a study conducted by AAA earlier this year, over 58 million Americans are considering a cruise in the next two years (Edmonds, 2022). Prior to the pandemic, ocean cruising had been steadily increasing over the last decade with almost 30 million passengers cruising worldwide (Statista Search Department, 2022). If this many people are cruising, there must be something to this method of travel, right?

Why should you consider cruising for your family?

For most families, convenience is what comes to mind when you cruise. If you want to see multiple destinations, you can do that with ease as you only need to unpack once, if at all, since you’re on a moving hotel. Cruises, especially ocean cruises, are also considered to be fairly affordable, when considering other forms of traveling. This has especially been true since the pandemic. While there are cruise lines that are more luxurious than others, and therefore more expensive, there seems to be an option for almost everyone. Entertainment is another consideration. The types of entertainment will vary between cruise lines and drastically when you’re considering ocean vs. river cruises, but the point is that some form of entertainment is available.

Should I choose an ocean cruise or river cruise?

This is an easier question than you may think. If your children are younger than eight years old, stick with ocean cruises. If your children are older than eight, make sure they are entertained by sites, history, and experiences. If your children need constant stimulation and the idea of experiencing new cultures sounds like torture to them, avoid river cruises. Ocean cruises are like amusement parks and a dream for most kids. Parents also get to relax knowing their children are entertained. Entertainment on river cruises is the sites and activities themselves. There is minimal entertainment on the actual ship because most people are too tired from that day’s excursions that relaxing sounds like the best option. Speaking of excursions, on a river cruise, there is usually at least one or two excursions included each day, which is a big difference from ocean cruising. Ocean cruising is more about the ship, while river cruising is more about the destination and experiencing the culture.

Erika Bud on an ox cart with the river cruise ship in the background along the Mekong River
Erika Bud on an ox cart with the river cruise ship in the background along the Mekong River


Don’t forget about the people! This is a big factor for many cruisers. If you like a quieter experience, river cruising is better for you. River cruise ships only hold around 150 passengers, while ocean cruise ships hold on average 3,000 passengers, up to over 6,000 passengers. Now, while this does sound like a lot and you definitely see the people, because the ocean cruise ships are so much bigger than a river cruise ship, you can still find a rather quiet corner of the cruise ship if you would like. As far as the size of the cruise ships, there are advantages to the larger ships vs. the smaller ships. The larger ocean cruise ships can accommodate more room types, food, and entertainment options than a river cruise ship. The advantages of having a smaller river cruise ship are that you can go to smaller, less touristy ports than ocean cruise ships. This means that you get a more intimate, cultural experience at your ports and you’re not battling the extremely busy ports when thousands of people disembark to visit the same places as you.

large slide on the top of an ocean cruise ship
Large slide on the top of an ocean cruise ship

Cruise restrictions

It is common for people to think that cruises are too restricting. It’s true in that you can’t go where you want when you want. You are restricted to the cruise itinerary, and you must be back when the cruise line tells you to be back. This can be frustrating for people who want to spend more time in a particular port. The great thing is that you know your itinerary before you book a cruise. If you want to spend more time in a destination, make sure to pay close attention to your itinerary. Many people choose a cruise that leaves or returns from a city they really want to see and stay for a couple nights in a hotel before or after the cruise. Similarly, if you want to have more or fewer sailing days, take that into consideration when you’re looking at the itinerary. As far as food options, river cruise options are more limited as there is usually only one dinner time. Again, since the experience is more about the destination, the dinners are timed perfectly so almost everyone is ready to eat at the scheduled time. That doesn’t mean the food is not high quality though! With ocean cruises, you are usually only restricted to specific times if you want to eat with everyone. If you don’t care, there are several food options that don’t require eating at a certain time. It is very rare that you ever hear about a person coming back from any cruise complaining about being hungry. Most every passenger gains weight by the end of the trip because of the ample food options.

Keep in mind

Some cruise lines cater to different passengers. Some are known more as booze cruises, some as family cruises, cruises for older passengers, and cruises for those who like luxury. Using a travel agent who specializes in ocean or river cruises will help to ensure you have the experience you are looking for and get to enjoy every aspect of your international family vacation.

What are your concerns about traveling with children on a cruise for your next overseas travel adventure? If you love cruising with your family abroad, what did I miss? I would love to hear from you! Please post your comments below.

To hear more about family travel abroad experiences, travel tips, and more, listen to the Planes, Trains, & Kids Abroad travel podcast at:  https://bigworldpub.com/listen-to-travel-podcast/

Written by: Erika Bud. You can find out more about the author, the Travel Rangers book series, and travel podcast at:  http://bigworldpub.com/

References

Edmonds, E. 2022. Ship Ahoy: 40% of Americans Just as Likely to Take a Cruise as Before the Pandemic. AAA Newsroom, https://newsroom.aaa.com/2022/03/ship-ahoy-40-of-americans-just-as-likely-to-take-a-cruise-as-before-the-pandemic/

Statista Research Department (2022, July 27) Number of ocean cruise passengers worldwide from 2009 to 2021 [Infographic]. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/385445/number-of-passengers-of-the-cruise-industry-worldwide/

 

Travel to Ireland – What I Learned From Taking My 8-Year-Old Child

Posted on by Erika Bud

You never know what kids will enjoy, but you undeniably can’t discount the little things. – Erika Bud

 

Travel to Ireland – What I Learned From Taking My 8-year-old Child

I had always wanted to travel to Ireland with my son. This summer, we were able to enjoy a two-week family vacation in Ireland and Northern Ireland. While I advocate for overseas travel adventures with your children, each time I take my son out of the country, I can’t help but cross my fingers that he enjoys the experience. One thing I have learned is that what you think your child will love is not often what they actually love or will even remember most. When you plan a family trip abroad, as a parent, you really must allow your children to make the trip theirs and not force them to have the trip or memories you want them to have.

Let your children make the trip theirs

What does this mean? As parents, we often want the vacation to be so perfect and so memorable, that we plan out almost everything. Even if we don’t verbally share the plan with everyone on the trip with us, we have a fairly good idea about what we’re going to see or do at a certain destination. One thing you learn when you travel abroad is that children often have different ideas about what they want to see or do. For example, while we were on Inishmore, the largest of the three Aran Islands, we wanted to walk around to see this new town since we were only there for an afternoon. To my son, this was boring. All he wanted to do was walk on the sand by the water, something that he’s done many times before in his own country. This wasn’t what I planned, but it was ok. We decided to do a little bit of both, so we all got to do what we wanted. He was happy, and now when he thinks of this island, he thinks about how much fun he had on the beach. He was making the trip to this island his own, with his own memories.

The surprise that enhanced the trip for my son

One of the best decisions we made on this trip was to bring a digital camera just for my son to use. It was an old, waterproof camera, nothing special. We thought he would use it occasionally, but we could not have hoped it would have enhanced his experience as much as it did. I think it was the fact that again, he was making the trip his own. He was taking pictures of things he wanted to take pictures of, like five pictures of the fat caterpillar he saw in the parking lot. I was worried that he would have a challenging time traveling for hours between destinations, but instead, he took pictures out of the window for most of the drive. It not only enhanced his experience, but it enhanced ours since we didn’t have to hear him complaining during the drive.

You never know what will happen when you’re on vacation

While we were visiting the stunning Kylemore Abbey, a rescue helicopter made a rescue on the mountain across the way. My son thought it was the most exciting thing he had ever seen. It’s one thing to see a rescue on TV or in a picture, but to see this happen in front of him while he was on vacation in Ireland was priceless. He was way more excited over that than he was by the Abbey that many people dream of seeing. It just goes to show you that you never know what will happen when you’re on vacation. My son will always remember that experience (because he took a million pictures with his camera) and where he was when he saw it.

Take chances; they might surprise you

One of the excursions, when we were in Dingle, was to go kayaking in Dingle Bay. My son was excited to go, but I’m not going to lie and say I wasn’t nervous. I wasn’t nervous he would fall out; I was nervous that halfway into the trip, he would get too tired and complain. The last thing I wanted was to be surrounded by amazing scenery, kayaking in the Atlantic Ocean for the first time, and not be able to enjoy it because my son was complaining. This excursion really helped to get that way of thinking out of my head and to start giving my son the benefit of the doubt. He absolutely loved it! When he was tired, we took breaks, which was fine because we needed the break ourselves. He brings up all the time how we were kayaking with jellyfish and how he got to hold one and how he felt like such an adventurer since he got to kayak through caves. I am so glad I took a chance as I know he had one of the best experiences of his life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s the little things

When I take my son to another country, I’m always reminded that it’s often the little things that make the trip fun and memorable for him. Again, what I am excited to see and experience is rarely what he finds exciting. I saw my son’s face light up over things that I would have otherwise forgotten if it weren’t for him. In one of our hotels, you could climb six stories and look down the grand staircase to the bottom. He thought that was so cool and asked us to climb them several times throughout our stay. Another example is when he was having a blast climbing the cannons on the Derry/Londonderry Wall. He had climbed cannons many times throughout his childhood, but these were the coolest cannons because he was in Ireland and on a wall. You never know what kids will enjoy, but you undeniably can’t discount the little things.

What to get a child as a souvenir

I’m a very practical, rather frugal mom. I mean, how else would I afford these family trips abroad? I am not the mom who buys my son whatever he wants whenever we go to a store. This trip to Ireland made me realize that when traveling abroad, I need to relax this a bit. As I said before, I needed to let my son make this his trip, not my trip. While I like to get practical gifts that will provide memories that will last for years to come, my son doesn’t care about that stuff. We wanted to get him a shirt, sweatshirt, or poster…something that would last longer than a few weeks. On this trip, my son asked for a tin whistle and a little box that had a replica of Blarney Castle in it. This gimmicky stuff was not practical to me in the slightest. While I know he will likely lose it and he will lose interest in the whistle soon, I realized I’d rather him love it for a few weeks than wear a t-shirt he couldn’t care less about.

The memories that will always stay with you

As we wrapped up our trip, we all talked about our top three favorite things we saw or did. Hearing that my son could only narrow it down to his top favorite eight things only confirmed how important it is to keep taking him on overseas travel adventures. While we were talking about the Cliffs of Moher or Kylemore Abbey, some of his favorites were rather surprising. They included staying for a night in Abbeyglen Castle, kayaking in the caves in Dingle Bay, visiting Ross Castle, holding a lamb, seeing a rescue helicopter rescuing people, the ferry ride to Inishmore, and Blarney Castle. While his top memories are different from our top memories, those are memories he will always have, and we will always have together.

What did you learn the last time you took a family trip abroad? I would love to hear from you! Please post your comments below.

To hear more about family travel abroad experiences, travel tips, and more, listen to the Planes, Trains, & Kids Abroad travel podcast at:  https://bigworldpub.com/listen-to-travel-podcast/

Written by: Erika Bud. You can find out more about the  author, the Travel Rangers book series, and travel podcast at:  http://bigworldpub.com/

 

The best way to travel abroad with children

Posted on by Erika Bud

Just like how products and techniques are not the best for every family, when it comes to travel, what works for one family, may be another family’s nightmare. – Erika Bud

 

The Best Way to Travel Abroad With Children

When considering traveling abroad, what is the best way to travel with children? There are friends and family and even Facebook groups who recommend “the best way to travel with kids.” But before taking their advice, it’s important to remember that every family is different. Most parents remember what it was like when they were pregnant. Everywhere they turned someone was giving them advice on the best products or techniques to use for their child. Travel is no different. Just like how products and techniques are not the best for every family, when it comes to travel, what works for one family, may be another family’s nightmare.

Determining the best way to travel abroad with children

To determine the best way to travel abroad with children, it really depends on one factor: the wants and needs of the adults traveling. Notice the consideration was based on the adults and not the children. Children tend to be adaptable, and if their parents are having a wonderful time, the children are likely going to have the same positive experience. Parents can make it fun for children regardless of the method chosen. Parents also need to remember their wants and needs will change over time and need to be reconsidered when planning each trip. What worked for one family trip abroad may not be the best option for the next trip.

Cost shouldn’t be the deciding factor

While cost is a factor, it is not seen as a determining factor. Traveling abroad as a family is a lifetime dream for so many families. For those who travel abroad with their family more frequently, they are doing so because of the memories and experiences they want to continue to share with their family. Taking this into consideration, families should be conscious of the cost, but if a lower price keeps a family from a fun and memorable experience, it should not be the driving factor in the parent’s decision.

So, what should parents consider with each method when traveling abroad with children?

Individual Family Travel

Visiting family or friends: This option is often seen as the cheapest way to travel abroad with children since accommodation, transportation, and many meals are often provided, but does this option allow for the family to experience the country in the way they want? Can the family go where they want to go and see what they want to see? Is this a once-in-a-lifetime visit where they only have one chance to see and experience their wants and desires or can they compromise because the family plans to visit again and continue to see more of the sites and experiences next time? Experiencing life as a local and truly embracing the culture should also be considered as this method may provide the best opportunity to achieve this.

Plan and conquer: For parents who love to research and plan, this may be the best method for a family trip abroad. This option is often best for families who are good at going with the flow. When planning the logistics, activities, accommodations, etc., it is rare that something unexpected won’t happen. If the family doesn’t let that negatively affect their experience, this can be an affordable option and provide the opportunity for a family to accomplish everything they want to accomplish on their overseas travel adventure.

All-inclusive resorts: All-inclusive resorts are available in practically every country a family could want to experience. This method is great for families who do not need much of a cultural experience but still want to enjoy different scenery and experiences from what they can get in their own country. This is considered more of a vacation than a trip as it is centered more around having fun and relaxing within the resort with an option to experience some cultural activities outside of the resort as desired. The most difficult part about all-inclusive resorts is picking which resort would be best for the family. The amenities and activities at each all-inclusive resort can be quite different, so it’s important to do the research. It’s also important to consider that what a resort says on its website may not be a realistic option (e.g., the amazing spa is booked out months in advance, water slides are too crowded to enjoy, etc.). Facebook groups, friends, and family will be able to provide insight, but it is highly recommended to use a travel agent in this case. A good travel agent will know the best all-inclusive resort for your family’s needs.

Group Family Travel

Cruises: Many children and parents rave about their cruise experience. This is a great method for parents who don’t want to plan how they are getting from point A to point B and want plenty of activities available for the entire family so everyone can have fun. To enjoy a cruise, a family needs to be content with being restricted on the boat while sailing, seeing many of the same people throughout the vacation, and the food options available on the boat. Smaller accommodations can be an issue for some families as well.

Now it’s important to remember there are several types of cruises. Ocean cruises are more about the experience on the boat. Yes, families can enjoy some cultural experiences and activities at each of the ports, but as a lot of time is spent sailing, the ocean cruise lines have tried to think of everything to make sure families can enjoy their time on the ship. River cruises, on the other hand, are more about the cultural experience. The ship is used primarily as a vessel to sleep, eat, and relax, as most of the days are spent on land experiencing the sites and local culture. By the time a family returns to the ship, everyone is often too exhausted to do anything but relax. Ocean cruises also have thousands of people on the boat at one time, while river cruises tend to have less than 200 passengers.

For families considering cruising, this is one method where the children need to be taken into consideration. Most river cruises don’t allow children younger than eight years old, and there are not nearly as many children on a river cruise as on an ocean cruise. Also, because the experience is more about the cultural activities on land instead of on the ship, children can be bored if they do not appreciate cultural activities.

Group tour travel: Similar to a cruise, group travel is a wonderful option for parents who don’t want to plan and want everything taken care of for them. There are many types of group tour travel to consider. Tour companies try to offer options for every family’s needs. From high-end accommodation to hostels. Options are available to stay in one city for the entire vacation all the way up to multiple cities a day and multiple countries in a week. It really depends on what your family wants to accomplish during their family trip abroad. Families can even select how many people they want to travel with as tours can have as few as just your family or a full motorcoach of 40+ people.

There are several pros and cons to group travel to consider.

Pros: Logistics and accommodation are taken care of by the company, often including valet service so you don’t have to worry about taking your luggage to your room. Most options include a tour guide who is responsible for your family’s well-being, will answer any questions (e.g., how to get to a city, where to wash your clothes, etc.), and will help should any emergencies arise. Tours will visit the tourist sites your family wants to see, while still providing your family with alone time to experience the city or sites as a family vs. as a group. Most tours include guides who tell you about the sites and history, so you don’t have to do the research on your own. Families also have the opportunity to bond with other families traveling on the same tour.

Cons: The itineraries might not be exactly what your family wants to experience. While the motorcoaches are usually comfortable, families can spend a lot of time driving between destinations. Tour companies tend to travel to some activities where they get an incentive (e.g., a perfumery or glass blowing lesson, etc.), even though it is not what your family wants to do. For families who want a lot of spare time, it is possible to find a group tour that offers more free time, but the options will be more limited or more expensive.

Digital nomad and worldschooling: A rather new method of traveling abroad with children is to stop traveling on a short-term vacation and live in various countries, worldschooling children and working as a digital nomad. This is an option for families who understand the benefits of experiencing other cultures and learning about other countries. Surprisingly, this option can be very affordable depending on where a family lives, and colleges and universities tend to love worldschoolers, so their education is not negatively impacted if that is the direction they choose. The hardest thing about this option is taking the leap and not being able to see family and friends as easily.

Are there any methods of travel that I missed? How do you prefer to travel abroad with your family? Please post your comments below.

To hear more about life as a digital nomad and worldschooling or to find out more about different travel methods, listen to the Planes, Trains, & Kids Abroad travel podcast at:  https://bigworldpub.com/listen-to-travel-podcast/

Note: While travel agents can be extremely helpful with determining the best all-inclusive resorts, cruises, and group travel companies for a family, they tend to have their favorites so make sure multiple options are given to consider with reasons each option was suggested. The travel agent is not going to risk their reputation suggesting a poor fit for a family though, which is why a travel agent is still recommended. They can often pass on incentives that are not available to the public as well.

Written by: Erika Bud. You can find out more about the  author, the Travel Rangers book series, and travel podcast at:  http://bigworldpub.com/

002: Traveling the World as a Single Mom & Student

Posted on by Erika Bud

Joy is an inspiration to so many single moms. It’s difficult enough being a single mom, but when you add on school and traveling the world with a limited budget, it’s remarkable how she does it all. Join us as Joy provides international travel tips, explains how family travel abroad changed once she got divorced, and explains how she plans affordable international vacations. Don’t miss a special bonus when I am joined by Wilson, Joy’s nine-year-old son, as he explains why parents should travel abroad with their children. I think you’ll finish this episode with a smile…I know I did!

To find out more about the host, the Travel Rangers book series, or if you want to be a guest on this show, go to: https://bigworldpub.com/

To get updates on upcoming podcasts, share stories, pictures, or tips, or ask questions related to family travel abroad, follow us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/planestrainskidsabroad

Overseas Travel Adventures – Should You Bring Your Children?

Posted on by Erika Bud

Deciding not to travel with your children because they won’t remember the trips you take is like saying don’t read them books because they won’t remember the stories you read. – Unknown

Consider an international family vacation

Overseas Travel Adventures – Should you Bring Your Children?

Like so many parents who love overseas travel adventures, I would not consider an international family vacation until my son was old enough to appreciate it. Why would I take him? He won’t remember anything. He’ll complain about being tired or hungry. The long flight will be a nightmare. I won’t be able to do anything I want to do because what I am interested in, won’t be interesting to him.

Wow, putting this into words makes me feel like the worst parent in the world but, I’m not. I’ve just had my share of parenting struggles and when I travel, I want to be selfish. I want to go away on vacation and enjoy every moment of it without a care in the world. As a parent, it’s ok to let yourself have those special moments, but was it fair that I was choosing to take away these experiences from my son?

The selfish side of a woman who loves to travel abroad

When my son was three, his father and I divorced. It was the last thing I ever wanted for my child, but as we all know, life doesn’t always work out the way we plan. What did this mean for the woman who had traveled to almost thirty countries before she was a parent? It meant I had a built-in babysitter of course! It meant traveling would now be easier knowing my son would be well cared for while I was away. Of course I was going to miss him, but I deserved to indulge occasionally too, right?

The selfish side kicked in and I started planning my next trip. I messaged my friend who lives in England and asked her if she wanted to meet me in Frankfurt, and that was that. I went on a Rhine River cruise for eight days and had an amazing time making new memories with wonderful people. I missed my son, but I checked in every day to let him know I missed him and reminded myself that he would be ok while I was gone. And he was. When I returned, it felt like he barely knew I was gone, even though I know he did. But the trip reignited my passion for travel, and I was committed to traveling overseas at least once per year.

The trip that changed it all

When I was on my river cruise, I met my Australian sister from another mother. When we parted ways in Amsterdam, she and her husband invited me to visit them in Adelaide, Australia. I had lived in Australia for three years, but I had never been to Adelaide and hey, leaving winter to spend time at the beach sounded great. But how could I leave my son already, three months after I returned from my last trip? Then again, how many opportunities do you get to stay with amazing people in a wonderful country?

The battle continued as I thought about the expensive flights and how hard it would be traveling by myself, with a five-year-old, enduring almost two days of travel each way. You’d have to be insane and besides, what’s the point when he won’t remember it anyway? It came down to the fact that I could either spend my first New Year’s Eve divorced, by myself at home, or celebrate it by traveling to Australia with my son. I’m sure you can guess which option won. I thought I was crazy but the idea of passing up on this opportunity sounded even crazier. I got my son’s passport ready and booked the flights. We were going to Australia!

Your child may surprise you

Of course, my son had no idea what was going on. He was just excited that he was going to be on an airplane and that he would be able to watch movies and play video games for hours on end. I braced myself for horrible travel days. I mean I didn’t even like traveling for that long. There was no way my son was going to make it through these two days without at least one tantrum.

The night before our departure, one of our flights was canceled and we now had a 16-hour layover in China. I couldn’t believe it. How was I going to entertain my child in the airport for 16 hours? I figured the best option was to take the airline up on their offer for a free hotel, get a temporary visa at the airport, and make our way into the city of Guangzhou, and that’s what we did.

You are stronger than you realize

Luckily, my son didn’t have any meltdowns on the flight over, but I was going by myself into a foreign country with my son. I was nervous, but I figured it was the only way we were going to make it through the long layover. We would be able to take a nap and I knew we would both desperately need it by that time. We got on a bus arranged by the hotel at the airport (so I felt rather safe), but I was still nervous.

As we started driving away from the airport, my nerves went away (for the most part) when I looked at my son. His facial expression as he looked out of the window let me know I made the right decision. He was in awe. He kept squealing with excitement, telling me to look out of the window because he wanted to make sure I saw everything that was new to him. It made my heart smile. When we arrived at the hotel, we ate in the hotel restaurant, and he tried the local food. He was looking around the entire time, soaking it all in. We then went to our room, took a long nap, and made our way back to the airport. The look of awe rarely left his face.

The turning point that completely changed my perspective

When we returned to the airport, what I saw there would completely change my mind about taking my son with me overseas. As we were sitting in the terminal, waiting for our plane, my son wanted to play on the moving walkway. It was the middle of the night, and the airport was fairly empty, so I let him play. A little Chinese boy smiled at him and before I knew it, the two were playing together, smiling, and laughing the entire time. Neither one of them understood the language spoken but they understood the universal smile, and that was all it took.

I realized from that moment, that not only was I opening his eyes to a new culture and perspective, but he was learning to see people for what they had in common and not for their differences. He learned that even though he couldn’t understand the boy, he was still a friend because he smiled, and that’s all that mattered. I loved that I gave that experience to my son and from that moment on, I wanted to fill his life with many more experiences like that.

Author Erika Bud and her son feeding a kangaroo in Australia

We ended up having an incredible time in Australia. My son got to feed kangaroos and pet koalas. He was surrounded by people who sounded different than him, but he didn’t care because they were so nice to him. He tasted his first pancakes with ice cream and swam in the Indian Ocean. It really is just like reading a book with your child when they are young. While they may not remember every character or every story, when they read the story, they are forming their perspectives and ideas of how they look at other people and the world in general.

Traveling to other countries broadened my son’s perspective and introduced him to new cultures and for that, I will forever be grateful. I have now chosen a career that allows me to travel with my son. I will still travel on my own as I do have a different experience when I travel with adults, but I will keep traveling with my son a priority. I now understand just how much it will contribute to the boy he is and the man he will one day become.

 

Written by: Erika Bud. You can find out more about the  author, Travel Rangers book series, and travel podcast at:  http://bigworldpub.com/