One Month In

So we've been at this global travel thing for a month (and by "global", I really mean one small country).  So far, so good - In particular, I'm really pleased with how well O&R are doing.  I was definitely a bit concerned initially that they would not take as well to months of travel as Yo and me.  But they really seem to have embraced it, even while conceding that they do miss their friends and lives in Brooklyn.

A couple of lessons learned so far:

1.  Go slow.  This is the most important learning for me to date, and it applies to both daily schedule and overall travel plans.  When I travel, I'm always tempted to do more and see more.  But there is real value in doing less - more time to relax and reflect, more time to read and study, and less stress, particularly for the kids.  And moving slow gives us more time to get to know the places that we do see.  In concrete terms, this means that we try to do only one thing a day, and that we try to stay in places for a minimum of three or four days, with some longer stays of two to three weeks interspersed.  The highlight of the past month was the three weeks we spent in Cuenca - it felt like we really got a sense fo the place, and we got to know some people in more than a passing way - and I'm looking forward to replicating that experience in other places.

2.  Routines matter.  Our kids seem to be happier when there is some kind of daily routine. At home, daily and weekly routines are the foundation of our lives.  And while it's not always possible or desirable to have the same routines while traveling, I have come to see the value of establishing small routines during our trip.  Some examples: we try to wake up at the same time we do every day at home, and end each day with some reading as we are accustomed to. 

3.  Restaurant meals can be challenging. I hadn't realized how difficult it would be to eat out for so many meals.  Weeks or months of long waits and rich food can weigh on our moods. We all loved eating in our house in Cuenca, even when it was only take-out chicken or pasta. And it was fun to check out the markets (and much less expensive).  So we'll be looking to stay in more places with kitchens.