It is our last day at Pousada Uacari. Situated at a tight bend in the Japurá River, a wide feeder to the Amazon about a mile away, it is a place so remote that its location was described to us simply as “two hours by boat from Tefé.” Our small room, at the end of a narrow wooden walkway, floats atop the river on enormous Styrofoam pontoons. It contains four single beds and a small bathroom with a shower that pumps recycled river water from a rooftop tank. Our countless roommates—roaches, spiders, and lizards—make us grateful for the bed nets that Mark tucks around the boys and me each night before crawling under his own.

The day before, Asher had speared a river piranha, and we ate it sushi-style for lunch. We’d ventured out in a narrow aluminum canoe for an evening paddle surrounded by giant caiman watching us from the water, all eyeballs and teeth. I’d been sucker-punched in the face by an airborne fish attracted by our boat’s headlight in the pitch black. Gathering on the floating dock back at the lodge, we had stayed up late to view a total lunar eclipse, munching popcorn like we were watching Earth’s biggest blockbuster movie. We would have liked to sit at the edge of the dock and cool our feet in the water, but we didn’t dare. We are fine to take nothing home with us. Even touching anything is risky business.

Our trackers meet us early this morning for a hike across a peninsula lying between the main river channel and an intersecting tributary. They are three local tribe members whose family roots run deep into the basin. Carrying blue jugs of water and red backpacks with white crosses, they have machetes hanging at their sides. We all do our best to bridge Portuguese and English, and with earnest intent, hand gestures, and lots of smiles on both sides, are able to communicate fine.

Our hike is an hour away by canoe. Ronan spends the journey deciphering birdsong and monkey howls. Storm clouds gather above the forest canopy, bathing the jungle in a grayish-yellow light as we slide our boat onto the bank. Disembarking into shin-deep mud, it’s clear that the land has spent most of its year underwater. Leaves with no crunch cover dank earth dotted with stagnant pools of water. There are thickets of thorny shrubs and beautiful orchids perched in the crooks of spreading branches.

There are no trails, and I hang a few paces back, watching my boys bushwhack their way through the dense vegetation. Everyone but Asher and our lead tracker, João, who are the same height, have to bend forward as we walk. The river fades from sight, but we can still sense the low hum of its flow as we trek to an enormous kapok tree taking center stage in the marshy glade. Its roots stand taller than all of us, and vines drape around its trunk, creating eerie spaces to walk through. Ronan spots a line of giant ants carrying larvae from one home to another. A guide shows Asher the tracks of a large jungle cat. Captivating creatures abound, but we’re in search of one in particular: the elusive sloth. Travelers from around the world come here to spot them, and we haven’t seen one all week. The boys are especially excited by the possibility of finding this exotic, smiley soul.

It’s Ronan who spots one first. Tapping João on the shoulder for confirmation, he points to his own eyes, then holds up two curled fingers. It is a mother two-toed sloth with a baby wrapped tightly around her back. After that, sloth “hide-and-seek” comes more quickly, and we soon locate several, so well camouflaged that they blend into the mass of leaves above. Our guides eye a three-toed male slowly returning to the heights of a giant fig tree. Sloths live in the trees and come down only once each week to poop in an ever-growing pile on the ground. Now, on his unhurried return climb, he is so close above our heads that we can see the gnats buzzing around his exposed face.

One of our guides points to his watch—time to go. We hack a new path through the jungle to the boat, where our gear is already loaded for the long trip back to Tefé. At the port, we heave our bags to the taxi driver on the other side of the gangplank and pile into his small car. Inside the tinted windows with the air-conditioning on max, the heat is staved off, but the smell is thick, ripe, and overwhelming—something like rotten fruit.

After we’ve been dropped off at the airport and are waiting in line, I notice Asher holding his nose. “That taxi smelled pretty awful, didn’t it?” I ask. He squeezes his nose tighter, shakes his head, and with his other hand, points at Mark.

Our heads lower to Mark’s “mud”-coated hiking boots. He was the one who had stood directly under the sloth. “Dad, you took something out of the jungle…” Asher says, with a grin spreading across his face.

For more stories and inspiration, check out our book, Wonder Year: A Guide to Long-Term Family Travel and Worldschooling. You can also sign up for our quarterly newsletter below and follow us on Instagram @wonderyeartravel. Our mission is to help you find your way out the door and into the world.

The post Stories from the Road – Somewhere in the Amazon, Brazil appeared first on Wonder Year Travel.

A week before, we’d taken our final safari drive in the lush rains of Botswana, parked the jeep at an airstrip, then flight-hopped across thirty-seven hours and nearly ten thousand miles to land in the frigid, leafless suburbs of Cincinnati. Jarring, but worth it to reach my parents’ welcoming home and spend the holidays together. Especially since we had no home to go to—not even a hometown. That also meant there was no pressure to return to a house and unpack, or to be anywhere else. No one knew we were back, so we could fly under the radar and get our bearings.

We’d been watching this house as we trekked across two continents. It needed loads of work, but there were job opportunities nearby, and it was on a sweet bit of land at the intersection of mountains and prairie. Having spent so much time in nature while on the road, we needed space to breathe as we put down new roots. We negotiated the purchase, but the house wouldn’t be ready for a while, so first we settled into a bland corporate apartment furnished with hard mattresses and hotel soap. It was bigger than most of the places we’d stayed during the past two years; I preferred the coziness of our RV and single-room rentals. We sold the RV, and I was sadder to see it go than anything we’d ever owned.

We tried to calibrate into a semblance of “normal,” although I wasn’t quite sure what that meant anymore. Ronan, fourteen, enrolled in an entrepreneurship program so he could meet some kids his age. He wouldn’t start school for many months and was navigating a rocky social road in the meantime. We visited California so he could spend some time with his old crew. For Asher, now eleven, we found a temporary spot in a quirky experiential school with self-paced learning, a chicken coop, and daily chores. He was psyched to be with peers again, but missed unstructured days and the ocean.

Setting up shop in a new place was like a tailwind of our Wonder Year, and we threw ourselves into becoming Coloradans. The boys learned to ski, and Mark and Ronan ran the BOLDERBoulder 10K with fifty thousand new friends. We went to concerts at Red Rocks. I worked for a state ballot campaign and joined a hiking group to stay connected to my boots and the earth. Our home served as a rest stop for friends and family heading into the Rockies, giving us a chance to be the hosts rather than the hosted.

That fall Ronan and Asher both started at new public schools. District administrators didn’t blink an eye at their unusual academic histories, slotting them into grade years based on their birthdays with no questions asked. Asher was elected to student council, and Ronan attended his first homecoming. Mark found a good job, the two-year gap on his résumé inconsequential. He was away a lot, and I missed him.

Months in, I couldn’t shake my attachment to the old crossbody purse that held my essentials while traveling. Remnants of both jungle and desert were ground into its worn surface. I missed the weight of the camera pack that was usually slung over my shoulder with it. Mostly, I missed being outside a ten-mile radius and spending time together as an unhurried, unscheduled family.

It became a running joke that we kept finding ourselves together in the same room of the house—four humans and a canine. Timber, our dog, was enthralled by the elk that passed through our woods but terrified of Colorado thunderstorms. One evening, we returned home to an enormous black bear in our front yard. For a fleeting moment, life felt wild again.

But: a creeping realization set in. The structure of our lives was looking a lot like before. Unconsciously, we had recreated the way things were prior to our worldschooling journey—and what a folly that was, since we had intentionally stepped away from the before to find ourselves. There was no shedding the impact of a Wonder Year; we were fundamentally changed, and things couldn’t just go back to the way they were. So why had we rebuilt our lives to look almost the same, just in a new place?

With that awareness, we spent the next several years undoing it all again. Finally untethered once more, we took a Wonder Summer, and some Wonder Weeks and Wonder Weekends, to recover the real us. We had a better sense of what us looked like now. We recognized those people when we saw them, and we liked inhabiting their skin.

The post Coming Home – Angela’s Family appeared first on Wonder Year Travel.

At this hour, and without moisture to cloud the stars, we have no trouble seeing the universe spread above our heads. The boys remark on the profound quiet. There are no planes flying over, no road noise bouncing across the barren plains—only the distant sounds of jackals announcing a kill echoing across the vlei.

Ronan is psyched when he sees the safari truck, a repurposed Toyota Hilux with a mounted bed insert to accommodate nine passengers in open-air theater seating. We sit four across. Our guide hands us a worn woolen blanket, perfect for one but insufficient to shield us all against the bracing predawn wind. We rearrange and put the boys in the middle so they get the most warmth.

The road is like those we drove on yesterday to reach our outpost: gravel and dirt. Ninety percent of Namibia’s roads are unpaved, and although great effort is made to keep them in good condition, sections still make for a rough traverse. The temperature drops further as we near the entrance to the national park, where a wall of cool fog fills the valley. From the Sesriem entrance gate, our eventual destination is the Deadvlei claypan.

Along the way, we see mountain zebra, oryx, and ostrich, and we learn that there are five types of sand dunes. Those in Namib-Naukluft are star dunes, which means they have been formed by winds coming from multiple directions over the past several million years.

At Big Daddy, an over one-thousand-foot-high dune overlooking Deadvlei, we stop and venture out to climb one of those star dune’s rays. The dune is massive, and the line of hikers stomping up the ridgeline ahead of us nearly disappears in the haze between sand and sky. Ronan bounds out of the truck and starts the heel-toe-heel-toe trek along the narrow channel laid down by hikers across the years. Mark, Asher, and I fall in behind.

The air is warming quickly, and our elongated shadows stretch down the dune’s side. There are no climbers passing us on a return journey, and our guide explains that’s not the way out.

Instead, we turn perpendicular to the trail and launch down the southern face of Big Daddy toward the cracked white claypan below. High-stepping in the soft red sand, Asher calls out that he feels like an astronaut on Mars. He grips Mark’s hand as they serpentine to provide some semblance of control over gravity.

At the base of the dune is Deadvlei, famous for its austere beauty. About six hundred years ago, ephemeral waters that flowed into the marsh during the rainy season stopped when the river cut a new course. The acacia trees that had filled this basin died, and because there isn’t enough water to rot the wood, they still stand—blackened by the unforgiving sun. The combination of deep-ocher sand, pale-gray pan, inky acacia skeletons, and the brilliant azure sky make the vlei otherworldly. Astronauts, indeed.

Ronan directs a family photo shoot, and we capture a rare image of all of us together, frozen in time within our frozen surroundings. Even in the now-scorching heat, we want to linger, but our safari mates are ready to go, and our guide aims to secure a prime spot beneath the cooling branches of a tree for brunch. We marvel with our fellow hikers over coffee, fruit, and bread.

Our final stop is a nearby canyon. While the rest of our group climbs down into the gap, the boys elect to stay closer to the truck, weary. After many weeks on the road and the long drive the previous day, we feel stretched thin, diluted.

Back at the outpost, we have dinner in a common room lit only by candles. Asher eats kudu, an ungulate he’s seen grazing among the dunes. Our tent cabin has an upper deck, and we go up for stargazing before returning “down-ladder” to sleep. In the US, it is hard to find places far enough away from artificial light to really see the stars. In Namibia, the closest light is hundreds of miles away. Our eyes adjust easily to the darkness, and the universe takes center stage.

We are totally alone, together, lying on our backs as the stars come into focus. We don’t need to, but we whisper softly to one another. The boys point out satellites and meteors, and we try to identify the constellations, many of which are different from what we know at home. At twenty-four degrees south latitude, the universe is unfamiliar.

For more stories and inspiration, check out our book, Wonder Year: A Guide to Long-Term Family Travel and Worldschooling. You can also sign up for our quarterly newsletter below and follow us on Instagram @wonderyeartravel. Our mission is to help you find your way out the door and into the world.

The post Stories from the Road – Deadvlei, Namibia appeared first on Wonder Year Travel.

Full-time travel necessitates a shift in priorities and spending habits. Many families are surprised to find that, although they are bringing in only a fraction of their usual income, they are able to make it work because expenses are lower and their spending habits are relatively simple to change. They naturally buy less when both luggage and living space are limited. They also realize that although sacrifices are sometimes necessary, the benefits gained are worth it.

That said, travel expenses shouldn’t be underestimated. Here we review the types of costs you might encounter along the way.

Types of Worldschooling Expenses

Every family’s expenses will be different, but at a minimum, you’ll want to consider and plan for these categories:

• Expenses back at home (dwelling, storage, insurance, pets, etc.)
• Transportation
• Travel-related matters (immunizations, visas, and the like)
• Accommodations
• Food
• Medical (prescriptions, supplies, emergencies)
• Educational programs and activities

Some good news: A lot of expenses you are accustomed to at home may go away while you are traveling, including utilities, water use, vehicle maintenance, summer camps, sports programs, babysitters, music lessons, gym memberships, other recurring fees (like monthly subscriptions), and the ubiquitous costs of convenience.

Here are some tips for reducing costs on the road, several of which are discussed further in Wonder Year:

• Be flexible with your transportation plans—sometimes you can find significant savings just by adjusting things by a few days, taking an earlier departure, or adding a connection.
• Look for less expensive accommodations. There are many, many options for places to rest your heads, including campsites, free land, long-term rentals, house sitting, hostels, couchsurfing, and more (see the resources section for more details). Visit those far-flung family and friends you’ve been missing.
• As you prepare for your trip, you’ll read it again and again: pack light. In some countries, the cost of checking a bag can be nearly as much as the price of your plane ticket. Paring things down can save money.
• Similarly, don’t purchase too many items for your travels. Many families find that they overprepare and bring things they simply don’t need once they are on the ground.
• Cook at “home”; this can yield big savings. Kids’ finicky appetites can make restaurants a low return on investment, and eating out can quickly put a big dent in your budget. You can often enjoy local cuisine by visiting markets and preparing food on your own. Similarly, pack meals for full-day outings.
• If you’re traveling internationally, consider buying a local SIM card for your phone and paying as you go. In many cases, this will lower your costs quite a bit. If you need cellular coverage, using your plan from home can quickly rack up significant charges.
• Be aware of what you are paying to manage your assets. Are you paying market rates for your property manager? Can you prepare your own taxes using software?
• If you are working while traveling, note anything you are using for business purposes that you can claim as a tax write-off (cell phone, Wi-Fi, etc.).
• If you took out loans for travel or any other reason, check into adjusting your payment schedule based on income.
• Take public transportation. Not only can you save some coin, but you’ll also meet more locals.
• Be aware of tour and activity costs. There are excursions—snorkeling/scuba-diving trips, delicate ecological sites like glaciers or animal sanctuaries—you should only visit with a guide. For most other places, you’ll be able to put together your own itinerary for significantly lower cost. Perhaps your children can do research online and be your guides. Choose activities that don’t charge fees, like hiking, browsing farmers markets, visiting natural sites, or exploring a city on foot. Museums often have free admission days, and hotels might offer complimentary kids’ camps; you can also find online travel guides that provide self-directed tours.
• Track your expenses. It’s easier to understand what you measure, and recording your expenses can help keep costs down. A working budget is also a great teaching tool for kids.

As full-timers, you can travel during the off-season when transportation bookings and accommodations cost notably less. It’s possible to be a lot more flexible with dates given that you aren’t scheduling as tightly around work or school commitments, so you can shop around for transportation and lodging deals (this also makes things less stressful, as you aren’t fighting the crowds). In addition, you won’t need to budget for vacations!

Contingency Planning

In addition to your Plan A, we encourage you to have contingency plans in case the world deals you an unexpected blow. Doing a bit of scenario planning in advance and having a backup plan can provide peace of mind up front, and potentially welcome relief if it’s ever needed.

Lee Strongwater, a financial advisor and partner at Colorado Capital Management, provides a few specific pieces of advice for long-term travelers:

* Build a medical safety net fund, with consideration for what your insurance will and won’t cover. Hopefully, you’ll never need it, but it’s smart to be ready for the worst-case scenario.

* Budget for living expenses after you return, to cover the time you may need to spend looking for employment, a new home, or other essentials.

* Things most likely will cost more than you think. Pad your budget accordingly.

Some Words of Encouragement

Remember, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. If you can’t travel full time (yet!), take shorter trips, read about far-off places, save your “someday” ideas as inspiration, host exchange students, and incorporate a worldview into your education plan. And, although easier said than done, we encourage you to do your best not to compare your experience with that of other families. Every experience is unique, and any type of worldschooling can be amazing. Keep your values in mind, and make the most of your version.

The post Worldschooling Costs: Types of Expenses and How to Save appeared first on Wonder Year Travel.

• You are responsible for paying federal taxes each year, no matter where you are in the world and how your income is earned; taxes are based on worldwide income.
• This is true even if you don’t live in a fixed place and are traveling full-time.
• Tax and filing rules are usually the same, whether you are physically in the US or abroad.
• State taxes are more complicated, and you are generally required to pay state taxes for your state of residence. Many states require you to file a nonresident income tax return, even if you are overseas or traveling full-time; be sure to check the rules for your home state.
• If you plan to reside in a single other country for most of your Wonder Year, be sure to research the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion law, primarily aimed at US expats.
• If you are staying in the US and traveling to multiple states, review the laws for each state where you earned income, as requirements may vary.
• If you have a family business, own an LLC, or operate under another framework while working on the road, keep track of your expenses; some may be tax deductible.
• Some expenses associated with volunteer work, such as food and lodging costs, may be deductible as well; keep track and consult your tax advisor.

Given the unique circumstances of each family’s worldschooling travels, we recommend looking closely at the potential tax consequences of your trip or consulting with a tax accountant before you go to review your needs and plans. Getting clear on the details up front can help you avoid surprises and stay focused on the journey ahead.

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Passports

To travel internationally, you must bring the right documents, including up-to-date passports. Without them, you could be denied boarding, or even worse, entry into the country you’re intending to visit. Make sure you allow plenty of time in your planning phase to get all family members a valid passport.

Passport rules vary by country and change often, so research them thoroughly for each destination you plan to visit—before you leave home. Some countries require that your passport be valid for six months after your departure date. For US residents, passport initial application and renewal instructions can be found on the USPS website.

Some additional tips:

• If you or a family member needs a passport, you should start the application process at least three to four months before your initial departure.
• If you need a passport sooner than the lead times quoted by your passport service office, you can pay additional fees for an expedited passport.
• If you need a renewal while abroad, you can visit the local embassy. It may be able to offer a faster turnaround time. Keep in mind that you won’t be able to cross any borders until you receive your renewed passport.
• There are many third-party companies that will help you navigate the passport application process and obtain any visas you require (for a fee).
• Make sure the names you use to book travel match exactly the names on your passports. If you’ve recently gotten married or divorced or changed your name for any other reason, ensure the name on your passport is how it appears on your travel documents.
• Travelers can select male (M), female (F), or another gender identity (X) as their gender marker on passports; this identifier does not need to match the gender shown on supporting documentation like birth certificates, state IDs, or previous passports. No medical documentation is required to change the gender marker on passports.
• Put a unique sticker on the cover of each family member’s passport—this is a great way to identify quickly whom each passport belongs to, without having to flip through to find the ID page.
• Make a photocopy of each family member’s passport and other key documents to keep in a separate place while traveling in case the original is lost, stolen, or damaged. Put a scanned digital copy on your laptop or in cloud storage. While these can’t be used in place of the original, copies can give you a head start in replacing a passport.

In addition to passports, a limited number of countries require that parents present an unabridged birth certificate for each of their children up to age eighteen to gain entry or secure a visa. Concerns about child abductions have made government officials around the world wary when only one parent is traveling with a child, and sometimes even when both parents are present. If traveling as a single parent, in addition to your passports and your child’s birth certificate, you should bring written, notarized consent for travel signed by all living parents or legal guardians. Check destination-country rules online. Customs and border agents take these rules very seriously, and we’ve personally witnessed families getting turned away at international borders.

Visas

You’ll be able to enter some countries without a visa or obtain one upon arrival. For others, you’ll need to obtain a visa ahead of time so that you have it in hand when you arrive. Embassies and consulates will have the most current information for each country; for US-issued passport holders, this information can be found at the Department of State’s website. A couple of other recommendations:

• Make sure you bring additional passport-sized photos with you. Many countries require one or two for entry visas and/or trekking permits. Trust us, you don’t want to get stuck using the grossly overpriced (and often painfully slow) airport photo booths, or worse, be turned around at a border due to not having a photo.
• For each country in your itinerary, research visa and immigration “insider tips” online before you go. These will often provide info about how to navigate the process, whether you need to pay in cash (and whether they prefer US dollars or local currency), and how to avoid scams at the border.

Visa applications typically require information on your planned length of stay and departure date, and they often require documentation showing your plan for exiting the country (such as proof of a purchased plane or train ticket for onward travel). If you plan to stay in a country for an extended period, a tourist visa might not be possible. You should always check visa rules if you’ll be spending more than three months in one location.

Special note: The Schengen Area is a European zone of countries that have abolished internal borders, allowing its citizens to travel from one country to another within the region as if it is a single country. In general, the residents of non-Schengen countries need to obtain a visa to visit. Websites are available to help travelers track their lengths of stay and visa rules within the Schengen Area.

International Driving Permit

If you plan to drive in a foreign country, you’ll likely need an International Driving Permit (IDP), often and incorrectly referred to as an International Driver’s License. An IDP is a document you use along with your valid home driver’s license that allows you to legally operate a motor vehicle while abroad. You can get an IDP at most AAA offices, and it is typically valid for one year after issue.

Make sure you understand the local rules of the road for all countries you’ll be visiting. Also, research whether your credit card provider and/or insurance company covers car rentals overseas, particularly if you’ve made changes to your policy prior to travel. Annika’s auto insurance company wouldn’t cover a camper van in New Zealand, so her family had to buy local insurance for that portion of their trip.

Other Documents

There may be other documents from home you’ll need on the road. Depending on your circumstances, these might include a power of attorney, which is a written authorization that allows another person to act on your behalf, including giving them authority to conduct financial transactions, sign legal documents, or make health care decisions if you cannot do so. Some families find it helpful to identify a trusted helper in their home base who can help coordinate or execute needed duties and transactions on their behalf.

Notes on Currency

These days, it’s typically easiest to simply pull money from ATMs once you’ve arrived at a foreign destination. Watch out for foreign transaction fees, which are often imposed by both the ATM owner and your own bank. Check for debit cards that bypass some or all of the home-bank expenses, and do some homework to know the best places to retrieve money locally in the country you plan to visit. Load your bank info and credit cards into your digital wallet to make things even easier.

There will be times when you need funds and won’t have them. Your credit card won’t work, or a vendor will only take cash or digital-wallet transactions (and transaction vendors, such as Venmo in the US, vary widely by location). A good tip is to carry along a bit of US cash from home. A US\$20 bill goes a long way in many countries when local currency isn’t readily available.

Navigating Airport Security

If you are considering worldschooling, you may have already navigated through airport security with your kids. Here’s some good news: if your Wonder Year includes air travel, your kids will probably get very good at it. Here are a few ideas to help make the process easier on everyone:

• Practice your security-line process. Even young kids can know which items they’ll need to remove from bags and backpacks and how to pack them in a way that makes doing so quick and easy.
• Be prepared to encounter long lines or make last-minute security checks. Sometimes you’ll be selected for secondary screening when traveling with your children. Be sure to remain calm and polite throughout the process.
• Bring snacks, entertainment, and a plan for bathroom breaks. Your kids will appreciate it if you’ve considered these things ahead of time, especially on long-haul flights.
• Be patient. Security procedures can seem long and tedious, but with enough preparation, you and your kids will be able to handle them with ease.

While preparing travel documents may not be the most glamorous part of worldschooling, it’s an essential step in the process. Taking the time to ensure everything is ready can save your family time, stress, and even money along the way. Think of it as building a strong foundation beneath your travels: once it’s in place, you’re more free to explore the world with confidence.

The post Your Worldschooling Journey: Travel Documents appeared first on Wonder Year Travel.

Staying Connected on the Road

People have different reasons for seeking connection. It could be for support, to gain information, or to stay in touch with your community back home. It could be to get a break from your immediate family or to give them a break from you. Many worldschoolers want to connect with others to cultivate their shared vision of community, and help the kids and adults find new friends.

Social Media and Online Platforms

Your friends and family back home are going to want to know what you are up to during your Wonder Year. A website or blog with trip reports is a great way to keep lots of people apprised of your whereabouts. Get creative with your kids and include photos, journal entries, or poems, as well as other records of your travel activity, such as itineraries, names of towns, restaurants you loved, and more. Years out, you’ll be happy to have a colorful, detail-rich archive of what may well be the best time of your life.

With so much communication happening on social media these days, we all know it can be a powerful tool for connecting with others—and that it can quickly become consuming. Decide how you want social media to fit into your family’s time. It can be a small part of your day or an intensive quest for the perfect capture. Some families are super creative, and they get into digital storytelling and produce professional-grade content, but please know you don’t have to become an expert videographer with a drone and professional editing skills. We encourage you to relax and keep it fun. Or maybe, just send a postcard to Grandma and call it a day.

Social media also makes it easy to connect with other travelers and get timely information about the locations of current worldschoolers. There are many active social media communities of worldschoolers or full-time traveling families. There is also a slew of inspirational accounts on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube where families post about destinations and worldschooling experiences. Note that the most popular platforms and active accounts are always changing.

If you’re looking for families who are currently traveling, you can join and inquire on the Facebook Worldschoolers page. You can also explore popular hashtags such as #familytravel, #takeyourkidseverywhere, or #brownfamiliestraveling to discover more opportunities for connection. Sometimes good old-fashioned Google searches can lead you to a cool family. We’ve found that an account is most active during the first year of a family’s adventure and seems to wind down over time or when they return to a stationary lifestyle. A few entrepreneurial families find longevity and are able to fund their ongoing travels with an online presence.

Some of the most effective ways to use social media during your Wonder Year might be the following:

* Solicit input on where to travel based on your criteria: “Our family is looking for a place that offers this, this, and this… Any ideas of where we should go?”

* Ask for specific information about a region you plan to visit or are currently located, such as educational opportunities or places to check out or things to do or learn about while you’re there.

* Connect with others ahead of time, or even in the moment: “We’re going to be in Lyon, France, in late April—anyone else?” or “We’re currently in Bozeman, Montana—anyone else here?”

* Inquire about current hubs, pop-ups, and other organized communities (see more on that in a few pages).

* Seek ways for you or your children to connect with others virtually. Ask a parent-to-parent question, find Minecraft or D&D groups for kids, request pen pals, or just have a chat.

* Ask questions and share resources about travel or worldschooling. While we hope this book is answering most of those questions, we believe social media can still be a great supplement.

Visiting Your Home Crew

Virtual is all fine and good, but let’s face it, sometimes you need to connect in person. If you want to move out of the digital world, a great option is to swing back home for a visit with family and friends. This can be part of your itinerary, a surprise, or in response to medical or family necessity. Whatever your reason, that first hug is amazing.

Set up some playdates, let your teens loose, eat at your favorite restaurants, have grown-up conversations with someone other than your partner, or host a family gathering. These things can fill up your bucket. It’s okay to enjoy some of your old routine and get a taste of what you might return to after your Wonder Year.

If you do come home midtrip, it might feel a little awkward. You’ll be in travel mode while your neighbors, friends, and acquaintances are on ordinary time. It’s okay. We talk more about in our blog on reentry.

The Crew Comes to You

Having your friends and family visit you on the road can be equally fulfilling and may be an even simpler solution. The anticipation of an in-person visit is a great antidote to homesickness and travel fatigue. Kids have a chance to be the travel guide by showing their friends or grandparents around a new place. Friendships and relationships may deepen during these times around the campfire, at the dinner table, or walking along the beach.

There are benefits for your visitors, too. They get to go somewhere that might be on their bucket lists while spending time with people they’ve missed. Perhaps friends and relatives who travel with you will understand your Wonder Year a bit better upon your return, easing your reentry.

Finding Community on the Road

Worldschooler Gatherings

For all of the together time during a Wonder Year, the road can get lonely. For some, family is enough, but others might need connections with adults and kids outside of their traveling unit. Some traveling families tweak their plans to connect with others for a couple days or weeks. These touchpoints might allow them to restock their ideas pantry, refresh their lists of books to read or places to see, or just present a chance to kick back, laugh with other parents, and let their kids play together. Some families build their plans around connecting with other worldschoolers at both temporary and permanent locations around the world.

Hubs and Pop-ups

Worldschooling hubs are more established communities in a specific location where attendees tend to stay longer. They may be run as a co-op or by an owner/sponsor, and they may be for profit or not for profit. Hubs might offer classes, workshops, meetups, trips, activities, and other events. Costs vary dramatically.

Pop-ups (sometimes called meetups) are temporary, time-limited gatherings to bring worldschoolers together and allow them to explore surroundings and participate in organized events or educational offerings. Some pop-ups are organic, one-time occasions organized at a grassroots level. Others are planned and managed by centralized organizations, which may offer several pop-ups each year across various locations.

Most often, gatherings are started by former or current worldschooling families, then shared and publicized through Facebook groups, social media posts, and word of mouth.

What’s key across all of these events is this: the offerings and locations are always changing, and even most of the published lists of hubs and pop-ups become outdated quickly; it’s often easiest to ask a question on the Facebook groups to find out what is currently available.

Given the investment of your time and resources required to attend, it’s good to have a “know before you go” approach for all these gatherings. Here are some things to keep in mind:

* Consider what you are looking for. Some criteria might include location, length of stay, cost, educational offerings by age group, workshop topics, daily/weekly schedule, living situation (coliving as a group or individually booked accommodations with social gatherings), social activities for kids and adults, interaction with local communities and culture, volunteer opportunities, and the amount of coordination required by the family rather than handled by the hub/pop-up sponsor.

* Each gathering will have its own vibe—from laid back and homegrown to more scheduled and organized, and all the shades in between. Use websites and social media to find out what is offered, and make sure it’s a good match for your family.

* In addition to the community built during the event, attendees note that it’s great to connect with other traveling families ahead of time (via WhatsApp or other messaging or social media apps) and afterward. Many cite lasting friendships, some even sharing that they now plan portions of their travel around reconnecting with families they met at worldschooler gatherings.

Newer organizations are also emerging, offering worldschooling communities with a wide range of services and pricing options. A few to explore include Boundless Life, Domestic Detour, and Working Without Borders.

Connecting with Expats

Expat communities can be a wonderful resource during your Wonder Year. Expats are typically tied to a geographic location through work, family needs, visa requirements, or simply by choice. This used to mean a family was in place for an extended period, but the line between “expats” and “slow travel” is increasingly blurred as more families are becoming nomadic and home base options grow more flexible. Many expats are already worldschooling by design, either because they are oriented to living outside their home country and learning from the broader world and/or because they use their expat location as a home base and then travel around it with a worldschooling focus.

It’s encouraging to connect with people who share a common background and are in the know about your chosen destinations. Because expats typically stay in one location longer than other travelers, they tend to build expertise about the area—and thus, become an excellent resource for things like local schools and alternative education options, accommodations, safety and emergency information, governmental processes, employment opportunities, things to see and do, and ways to plug in to the local culture and community.

Expat groups tend to be cooperative about sharing information and resources, and they often have a “We’re in it together” vibe. They can also offer a helpful way to find quick connections within an established community; we know worldschoolers who have used expat groups to find local nannies, dentists, and hairstylists and to connect socially via barbecues and book clubs. Many expat communities have Facebook and WhatsApp groups, so poke around to find out what you can join.

Connecting with Locals

Homestays and house-sitting arrangements make it easier to feel part of local communities, but while longer-term stays can help you plug in, they aren’t necessary. Some families find ways to connect through kids’ programs such as summer camps, sports, and hobbies or lessons like surfing or fishing. Place yourself in residential neighborhoods, go to parks, eat at locally owned restaurants, strike up conversations at markets, and attend community events. You’ll often find parents who are thrilled to have new playmates for their kids, which can give the adults a chance to connect, too.

Also, ask for help. People the world over love to help visitors. Angela’s family was lost on a side street in Japan, searching for a raved-about restaurant at the address posted online. An older woman watering her flowers nearby noticed their confusion and gestured that the restaurant had recently moved its location. Rather than try to provide directions across the language barrier, she instead locked her door and led the family on foot to the new location six blocks away, turning around and waving farewell once they could see the restaurant’s sign.

Connecting Through Commonalities

You can build connections around your personal interests. There are existing affinity groups you might tap into for community and resources related to your specific type of travel, such as the PanAmerican Travelers Association Facebook group, Vanlife Facebook group, or multiple RV member organizations and affinity groups online.

The Or family, who are Chinese American, visited Chinatowns everywhere they went. It was great to speak their native language with other people, and often they would connect socially with store owners’ friends and family after their initial visit.

Annika’s family found immediate connections at vegan restaurants, talking philosophy, recipes, and poetry. Dog owners meeting during evening walks at campgrounds can swap stories of breeds and best off-leash hikes nearby. Joining local sports clubs/teams, religious services, or holiday camps can also build connections.

Of course, your family may not be “joiners” or feel the need to seek connection. Or you may want to leave it all to chance and serendipity. Julie’s son Johnny met his buddies, Gabe and Remi, while biking in the Coconino National Forest. Annika’s family clicked with a solo Chilean female traveler named Paz while trekking in Nepal; they stuck together for weeks and keep in touch to this day.

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Leaving home for an extended period of time is quite different from departing on a two-week vacation. Entire portions of your life need to be closed down, or at least temporarily paused. On the flip side, being away from home for longer may mean you need to take parts of your life with you that wouldn’t normally be needed on a short holiday.

Your Residence

Figuring out what to do with your current residence is likely one of the first decisions you’ll encounter. If you rent, will you depart when your current lease is up, and if not, are you able to sublet the property? Check in with your landlord to discuss options. If you own your home, do you plan to keep or sell it? If selling, you’ll want to contact a real estate agent or begin preparations for self-listing. If you’ll be renting out your home for the short or long term while you are traveling, start exploring ideas for marketing, listing, and getting it ready to show. You may need to research property managers or work out an arrangement with a trusted friend to deal with emergencies. You’ll also need to make arrangements with local services (utilities, trash, internet providers, etc.), just as you would when relocating.

Work

Although it isn’t always possible, most people try to leave work behind when they go on vacation. But what about for long-term travel? Will you be working for an organization during your time away? If so, you’ll need to sort out details with your employer. It may mean a change in scope, responsibilities, or reporting relationships, and it helps to start those conversations early. You’ll also want to start thinking through the logistics and technical requirements for working remotely and talk with your family about how that will impact where you go, when you go, and how you spend your time.

If you are quitting your job to go worldschooling, you’ll need to decide how much notice to give your employer (and maybe how to keep your plans quiet in the meantime). Instead, maybe you’ll ask for an extended leave of absence, work sabbatical, or other special arrangement. Regardless of your proposed plan, most employers will appreciate you coordinating with them as early and as flexibly as possible. If you own a business, you might need to find someone you trust to manage it while you’re away, or at least be on the ground to coordinate with you while you travel.

School

One of the most significant steps in closing up the home shop is arranging for the education of your school-age kids while traveling. In the US, decisions about education requirements are governed by each state. In all fifty states, you have a right to withdraw your kids from school to travel, but the specific rules for doing so will vary from state to state, including reporting procedures. It’s important to know before you go whether you must educate for a set number of hours per day and/or days per year, notify administrators of academic progress, submit to any testing requirements upon reentry, or adhere to other rules.

In some states, the process is simple, with few requirements. In others, you may have to register your traveling child as a “homeschooler” for the time you are away. (School districts and states likely won’t know the term *worldschooler*, so you won’t find that word on any documents or forms.) If your family already homeschools, you may be aware of the legal requirements. If you’re new to the process, check in with your school, the district, or the state for details. Research your state homeschool law as a starting point. If they are not returning to their home state after travel, some families also investigate other states’ laws to determine whether residency elsewhere would be advantageous to their worldschooling plan.

Because education is such a key part of a Wonder Year, we dedicate an entire chapter of our book Wonder Year to it. The takeaway here is to understand your rights and responsibilities before you depart. And regardless of the rules, we encourage you to reach out to the homeschool point of contact in your school district, a current teacher, or one who teaches the grade your child will enter upon your return. Good suggestions and relationships can emerge from this proactive outreach.

Belongings

In this blog we talked about how to sort your personal belongings before embarking on a Wonder Year. After you’ve decided what you’ll keep, you’ll need to figure out where to store anything you aren’t taking with you. You might have movers pack and take it to long-term, remote storage, which is often less expensive than local self-storage options. The latter may work better if you’ll need access to your belongings during your Wonder Year. Angela’s family returned to their storage locker several times, exchanging seasonal clothing and returning things they were tired of carrying. If you’re lucky, a friend or family member might offer some extra room in their basement or garage. You might even be able to leave some items in your home, either in a locked area or accessible for your renters’ use.

Give yourself time to sort out your vehicles, too. Some families sell their cars for travel money and to eliminate insurance and maintenance costs while away. Others lease or lend them out. If they won’t be used, vehicles will need to be stored somewhere secure, either at your residence, a storage facility, or possibly in a friend’s driveway or garage.

Financials

Review your other financial payment records and responsibilities to determine what needs to be addressed before your departure. These will be specific to your family but might include the following:

* Car insurance (if you’re planning to park and leave your vehicle or lend it to a friend)

* Health insurance (if you’re moving to a different plan while you travel)

* Cell phone and internet services

* Monthly subscriptions for TV streaming and satellite radio services

* Gym memberships

* Instrument and hobby equipment rentals

* Home and lawn maintenance

* Anything else with a recurring payment or on autopay—perhaps a quick look at your bank account and credit card statements will help you review other financial obligations

Additionally, you may need to consider how you will handle taxes and tax filings while you are traveling. This might include gathering documents earlier than normal, taking them (or photos of them) with you on your travels, and/or arranging for a friend or tax preparer to assist you while you’re away. Another option might be deferring your tax filing until after you return. The IRS allows taxpayers a six-month extension if you need more time to file, and it grants extensions automatically if you complete the proper form on time. Be sure to check your state tax laws and department of revenue for additional guidance, as some states accept the federal extension while others require a separate form.

Mail

The USPS will hold mail for up to thirty days, then it must be picked up or forwarded. Many people use a trusted friend or family member to receive, sort, and forward their mail. There are also virtual mailbox service companies that will receive your mail, send you a scanned copy of the envelope, and ask if you want the interior to be scanned as well. Many of these services can mail you the hard copies or forward your mail and packages in bulk. As of this writing, these services cost between \$25 and \$60 (USD) per month depending on the volume and number of scanned items you request.

Some people use a PO box to receive and hold mail, but contents must be picked up periodically or the postal service may discard it. Also, sensitive items like a driver’s license or ATM card might need to go to a physical address. In the US, you can have mail sent to the attention of General Delivery at a local post office (make sure the closest branch offers the program) or UPS store. Poste restante is a similar service available at some post offices outside the US, or mail can be sent to hotels, campgrounds, businesses, or new friends willing to receive it for you.

Voting

US citizens can vote in federal elections via absentee ballot when they are away from home. If you are a US citizen overseas, you can request an absentee ballot online. Be ready to share your voting residence information (the address in the state you last resided in or that you use as your home address while traveling). You can receive a ballot by email, fax, or download link, depending on your home state. Note that you must submit a new request each year to vote in US federal elections. Absentee voting is also available in state elections; check your home state for valid reasons for voting absentee, key deadlines, and instructions for requesting and returning your ballot. Tip: all of these processes can be great worldschooling opportunities, so involve your kids as much as you can.

Pets

We all love our pets, and one of the most important—and sometimes one of the hardest—questions you may face when planning for long-term travel is how they will be cared for. It’s tough enough to find trusted care for your pets when you go away on vacation, much less an extended journey! Here’s the good news: it is doable. All three of our families had pets to consider when planning our time away, and we can happily report that we each returned with, or to, healthy and much-loved four-legged friends.

Fortunately, there are many avenues for finding pet sitters. Family or friends may be willing to take your pets in, even for a longer time frame, in support of your adventures. They might even be happy to reside in your home with them, providing house-sitting services, too. Either of these choices works particularly well if your animals already know the sitter. It may be the most comforting option for you, as you’ll have a direct line of communication to the sitter, and you’ll know your pets will be well loved.

You might also look at professional boarding options. This can be quite expensive, so consider asking for a volume discount. Boarding can also be stressful for your pets, especially as you’ll be away for such a long time. An “in-between” option may be professional pet sitters who offer boarding services in their homes. Ask pet-owning friends for recommendations, or see if your veterinarian’s office can refer you. We’ve had great luck with online services such as Rover that match vetted pet sitters with families seeking care. If you choose this option, make sure the sitter and your pets have plenty of time to get to know each other before you embark on your journey.

Depending on your circumstances, it’s possible you may have to look at rehoming your pets. This might apply if you will be away for several years or if you have no return date at all. Only you will know what is right for your family—we just encourage you to start thinking and talking about it early on so that everyone has time to prepare.

What if you want to bring your pets with you? This option can be great if you are traveling via RV or camper van. It could also work for those slow-traveling abroad. Some ambitious pet lovers even find a way to country-hop with their animals. Be sure to check transportation rules and immigration and quarantine regulations for any country you want to visit with your pets. Julie took her dog along on their RV adventure; Annika had friends host her menagerie of creatures in their homes; and Angela leveraged a combination of almost every option listed above for her mutt!

Wrapping up life at home before a worldschooling journey can feel like a crazy mix of spring cleaning, checklists, and emotional goodbyes, but it’s all part of the process. As you cross off the final to-dos and pack your bags, remember this isn’t just about leaving—it’s about stepping into a life-changing adventure.

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But for many travelers, that’s exactly the point of being out in it. There’s a delicate balance between being careful and remaining open to experiences, and there are ways to plan ahead so that you can enjoy being in the moment. Also, kids will pick up your cues; be aware of what you transmit, and encourage open dialogue.

Staying Found

Kids like to wander and explore, and as worldschoolers, we want to give them space and freedom when we can. To help keep track of their whereabouts, here are some tips:

* Know where you’re going and help your kids get familiar with your destinations before you arrive.

* Teach them to freeze when they are lost or hear your voice from afar.

* Make sure everyone knows their identifying information—their full name, plus your name and cell phone number. If a kid can’t relay this information, write it on their arm, have them wear an ID bracelet, or put a card in their pocket.

* Role-play asking for assistance.

* Have a contingency plan in case the family gets separated—choose a meeting spot and make sure your kids know who to approach for assistance.

* If your kids have cell phones, add key contacts to their phones and enable location tracking; show them how to turn on cellular coverage and make that expensive call if you get separated.

Nature and Animals

Many kids like to pet animals. Unfortunately, any animal can be dangerous. In the US, it’s common to see posted rules, signs, and physical boundaries that control for most of the risk, but that’s not true everywhere. Teach your kids never to approach or feed wild animals, even if the animal approaches them and seems friendly, and talk together about safe distances. Help kids understand that the best thing they can do for wildlife is to stay away from them and not contribute to their harmful taming. If anyone in your family does experience a bite, scratch, or other animal-related injury, seek medical attention.

Natural Disasters

Travelers should research a destination’s risk for natural disasters before visiting. Travel alerts and disaster threat information can be found on the US Department of State website listed in the resources section. Events such as tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, and tsunamis can injure large numbers of people, disrupt local services, and catalyze the spread of disease, and it’s wise to avoid areas during high-risk seasons. If you are in an area of risk, learn the local warning systems, evacuation routes, and gathering locations. Carry important identification and travel documents and a list of emergency contacts, and talk through your response plan as a family. If disaster does strike, pay attention to what the locals are doing and follow their lead.

Political Unrest

As with natural disasters, it’s important to research current events and be informed about the likelihood of political unrest in your destinations prior to travel. Understanding the history, culture, and politics of your intended destinations is a helpful start, and you can gain additional perspective from the US State Department country reports and Amnesty International’s annual report on human rights.

Avoid known conflict zones whenever possible. Have a family response plan in place ahead of time, and if you do encounter protests once you are on the ground, leave the area immediately and seek safe shelter. Regardless of how you feel about the demonstration’s aim, don’t participate—as a visitor, you may not fully understand its reasons or risks, and even attempting to photograph or record the events may be illegal or inflammatory to the participants. Confirm exit plans and identify transportation contingencies in case your first option gets shut down. To keep abreast of status changes, follow trusted news sources and your local embassy online.

Use Embassies as a Resource

If you have a true emergency or serious safety concern, your embassy should get involved—quickly. That’s its job.

The main purpose of an embassy is to assist its citizens who live in or are traveling in the host country. The embassy staff can usually assist you if you’ve been the victim of a crime or are seriously ill or injured, although the level of service varies by country. It’s important to know that if you travel to a high-risk area, you may not have embassy coverage, so it’s a good idea to research this in advance.

Always carry the contact information for the local embassy with you, and don’t hesitate to call upon its services if you need it. In fact, many embassies prefer that you register with them upon arrival so they know where you’re planning to go and can be on the lookout for any potential problems. Some request that you enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.

Contingency Scenarios

Another way to prepare yourself mentally and physically is by running through worst-case scenarios, maybe with your partner or family, and creating corresponding contingency plans. In his book *The Last Lecture*, based on his famous presentation, “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams,” Randy Pausch calls this the “eaten by wolves factor.” You can run scenarios ranging from a missing passport to a lost kid. You can also think through what you’d do in various types of medical emergencies, which came in handy when Angela got altitude sickness in the middle of Lake Titicaca. (By the way, her kids love to tell that story, mostly because it gives them a chance to say *Lake Titicaca* repeatedly.)

Staying safe on the road doesn’t mean saying no to adventure—it means being ready, staying aware, and empowering your kids to explore with confidence. Hopefully these tips help you along the way!

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Insects and Infectious Diseases

In addition to immunizing against disease, or if you are a family that doesn’t routinely vaccinate, you’ll want to have a solid plan for navigating infectious disease risks where you travel. Diseases spread by mosquitoes, including West Nile virus, dengue, yellow fever, malaria, chikungunya, and Zika, are common in many parts of the world. Tick-borne illnesses, such as Lyme disease and babesiosis, are also prevalent, particularly in some parts of the US.

A key aspect of prevention is to help your kids avoid getting insect bites in the first place. Some people swear by natural approaches such as garlicky foods or citronella, either in candles or creams, to keep bugs away. Other families may prefer chemical intervention. Use insect repellent (specific recommendations for repellents by age of child can be found online, and the Environmental Working Group publishes consumer guides for bug repellents, sunscreens, and other consumer goods on its website), and cover skin as much as possible by wearing long sleeves and pants. Permethrin can be applied to clothing as an extra deterrent—spray it on ahead of time; protection lasts through several rounds of laundering. Another line of defense is to sleep in screened rooms and under bed nets wherever possible—you can even purchase lightweight nets that are easy to pack and bring with you. Stroller nets and face nets that fit over hats are also available.

Additionally, it’s important to know that anyone is at risk for malaria, a serious and potentially life-threatening infection. If you are headed to an area where malaria occurs, talk with your doctor about antimalarial medications or vaccines. These drugs are not 100% effective, so it’s still necessary to heed precautions against bug bites.

Motion Sickness

Motion sickness is common, especially in children. It is caused by repeated, unusual movements sending strong and sometimes conflicting information to the brain, disrupting the vestibular system that provides a sense of balance and stability. Motion sickness can be triggered or exacerbated by anxiety, unfamiliar smells, or multitasking (reading, watching a video, or looking at a map) while on the move. Symptoms include nausea, disorientation, dizziness, sweating, headaches, feeling cold, and fatigue. These typically go away when the journey is over; however, some people might still feel a sense of movement hours later when trying to fall asleep, or even longer.

The best way to stop motion sickness is to stop moving, but that isn’t always possible when you are a family that is, well, on the move. It’s helpful to focus on prevention techniques, including eating light prior to travel, staying hydrated, breathing fresh air, avoiding strong smells, positioning yourself so that your eyes are attuned to the movement, and avoiding reading or other similar activities while in motion. Kids who struggle with motion sickness might benefit from closing their eyes and listening to an audiobook or even sleeping en route. For the worst cases, your physician may be able to recommend natural treatments like acupressure wristbands or prescription medication like scopolamine patches. Before embarking on your Wonder Year, try to take various forms of trips as a family to find out who might be prone to motion sickness and test any recommended remedies.

Ear Pain

Many adults and even more children experience ear pain during air travel. The rapid altitude changes experienced during takeoff and landing in an airplane can mean the air pressure in your ears doesn’t have time to equalize to the outside air, stretching the eardrums and causing a sense of fullness, discomfort, or pain. Children are more susceptible due to a still-developing anatomy, compounded by the fact that they get more respiratory infections than adults do. Younger kids may react by crying or tugging at their ears. While usually more annoying than concerning, this discomfort can become more serious and result in ongoing pain or hearing loss. Adults can usually equalize this pressure by swallowing or yawning, but kids don’t have the same instincts, so they may need assistance. Many families keep pacifiers, gum, or breath mints handy because the suction in the mouth can help pop ears, or at least provide a distraction.

Jet Lag

The pain is real, folks.

It’s bad enough to deal with jet lag as an adult. But managing it with kids can be downright rough. Here’s the good news: Since you are traveling long term, you might not be flying across enormous distances all at once. You may be able to break up your journey or plan things so that the time changes aren’t so drastic. Most importantly, you might have more flexibility to take time for you and your kids to recover. These are some other ways you could prepare for time-zone shifts based on your family’s needs:

* Start shifting bedtimes in the days leading up to your travel, a bit more each evening.

* Take an overnight flight if you think everyone can get more rest. Set your watches to the new time zone, and try to sleep as if you’re already in it.

* Dress comfortably and bring cozy blankets and pillows on the plane—anything that will encourage the kids to head to “bed.”

* Stay hydrated. It will help your body adjust and feel less funky.

* Once you arrive at your destination, spend time outdoors, in the sunlight. Follow the light and the dark, and your family’s circadian rhythms will soon stabilize.

* Don’t schedule much for the first day or so after arrival; this will give your family time and space to acclimate without pressure. The general rule of thumb is that it will take one day of adjustment for every time zone crossed.

Expect some possible discombobulation, clumsiness, disrupted schedules, and upset moods during your first days on the ground. Parents may need to be even more attentive than usual to help keep everyone safe.

Altitude Sickness

Altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS), typically occurs at altitudes over 8,000 feet, but some people can experience symptoms as low as 6,300 feet above sea level. AMS is caused by reduced air pressure and lower oxygen levels at high altitudes. Symptoms include headaches, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, dizziness, fatigue, and mood swings. If your child develops more severe altitude sickness, they might be confused and have a pale or blue complexion. They might also have difficulty walking, experience shortness of breath, or develop a cough. AMS is not something to take lightly, and if you are traveling to higher elevations, you need to study its effects and be prepared.

Here are some ways to help prevent altitude sickness:

* Acclimatize: This means ascending over multiple days to give your body time to adjust gradually. With long-term travel, you can often work this into your itinerary, enjoying time in each subsequent, slightly higher location. Avoid flying directly into high-altitude cities such as Cusco, Peru, and La Paz, Bolivia. Guidelines based on destination altitude are available online.

* Adhere to the climber’s adage: “Climb high, sleep low.” Explore higher elevations during the day, but return to lower altitudes to sleep. Your breathing slows during sleep, so the risk of AMS is higher overnight.

* Stay hydrated, avoid alcohol, and eat lots of carbohydrate-rich foods.

* If you or your child has had AMS in the past, talk with your doctor about medications that might help. Some work best when taken in advance of high-altitude travel.

People acclimatize at different rates, so make sure everyone in your family has adjusted before going higher. Experts say there is no correlation between overall physical fitness and the risk of altitude sickness. Even if you and your family do everything “right,” anyone can still develop altitude sickness at any time. A person experiencing symptoms should never go higher until the symptoms have gone away. Altitude sickness can be more difficult for children, as they may not know how to communicate their symptoms. Be sure to research prevention and treatment methods before your journey, and talk with your family physician about any concerns.

Gastrointestinal Issues

It’s often a myth that you can’t drink the water outside your comfy domestic dwelling. In fact, many places in the world have excellent water quality. That said, gastrointestinal (GI) upset is among the most common illnesses experienced while traveling. You’ll need to understand water sanitation and safety issues relevant to the places you are headed, and this information is often easy to find online.

We’ve all heard the advice about drinking bottled water in areas where water safety is a concern. Some other good things to know:

* To lessen the environmental impact of plastic bottles, you might consider boiling water or bringing your own water filtration or treatment system. Annika’s family carried UV-light filters that attached to their water bottles for a minute of active swishing to make any water drinkable.

* In some areas, local water is placed in used water bottles, recapped, and sold. Always make sure your cap has the original seal.

* Have your kids brush their teeth using safe water, and remind them not to ingest water in the bath or shower. If you have small children, watch out for bath toys ending up in little mouths.

* Eat foods that are cooked and served hot or that you can peel yourself.** Be aware that fruits, vegetables, and salads may have been rinsed in contaminated water.

* Avoid ice cubes, as they are usually made from local tap water.

* And of course, wash hands often.

Symptoms of food poisoning or GI upset can include cramps, nausea and vomiting, sweating, skin flushing, and diarrhea. These can be serious in kids due to the risk of rapid dehydration. The best treatment is usually to imbibe plenty of fluids. While there is often no need to take medicine for GI issues, many families travel with a prescription broad-spectrum antibiotic for each traveler and some rehydration powder, like Pedialyte, just in case. Ask your doctor if you think this could be helpful, especially if anyone in your family is prone to stomach bugs.

Food Allergies and Preferences

There is growing acceptance of, and willingness to support, people with dietary restrictions due to health concerns, religious reasons, and/or personal preferences. Airlines, cruise lines, and lodgings are all stepping up to accommodate these needs via expanded menu offerings and the creation of separate areas for storing and consuming food. Many airlines have eliminated common allergens in their snacks, and some even offer a “buffer zone” around customers with allergies to prevent exposure from other passengers’ foods.

If finding suitable food is a concern, you might consider bringing nonperishable items in food containers as backup. If you use them, bring EpiPens from home. You can also create laminated cards detailing food allergies in the local language and show these at restaurants and gatherings.

There are even companies that offer free, printable allergen translation cards. If the issue is severe enough, you might consider limiting travel to areas with medical infrastructures adequate to support your family’s needs.

Outdoor Water Safety

Time spent in water can be one of the great joys of traveling. A few thoughts to help make sure that things stay fun:

* If your kids aren’t yet swimmers, start swimming lessons before you leave. Depending on their ages, you may be able to get them water-safe before your trip, an investment that will save you worlds of worry.

* Even if your kids are comfortable in the water, it’s important to remain cautious, just like you would at home. Drowning is a leading cause of death for those who travel abroad, and kids should be closely supervised at all times. Life jackets aren’t readily available everywhere, and even when they are, tour operators and local staff don’t always encourage and monitor their use. Make sure you ask about availability, or bring your own. Inflatable water wings are also a great packable option.

* Watch out for local creatures; they can be fun to learn about but may carry risk of a bite or sting. Make sure you know what might be lurking in the sand or water and how you would treat any ouchies, should they occur.

* And then there are the creatures you can’t see—freshwater can harbor protozoa, bacteria, or viruses, and some experts recommend that children never swim in unchlorinated, nonsalted water. Depending on the circumstances, you’ll need to decide how to balance those risks with your own sense of adventure.

What to Carry With You

Angela’s family likes to be prepared. When they were traveling in their RV, they carried a robust safety kit that included not only first aid items but also food, water, warming blankets, and safety flares in case they became stranded. When traveling internationally and only carrying their backpacks, they whittled their kit to the key essentials. You’ll know best what your family needs to bring along, but here are a few ideas to get you started. For a complete packing list, check out the Bonus Content on this website.

* First aid kit: Many families prefer to travel with their own first aid kit. Some items to include are Band-Aids, blister tape, antibacterial or tea tree ointment, Aquaphor, and gauze pads. In addition to first aid supplies, you may want to bring a few key over-the-counter medications, including Benadryl for allergic reactions, ibuprofen for inflammation and pain, Orajel for tooth pain, and probiotics and antidiarrheals for gastrointestinal upset.

* Prescription medication: You’ll want to bring any prescription medications along with you, as many countries do not permit pharmacies to fill (or refill) prescriptions that originate outside their borders. As long as they are in clearly marked containers, you probably won’t have trouble traveling with them. If you’ll be traveling internationally for extended periods, you can often make special arrangements with your prescribers and insurance company to fill several months’ worth of prescriptions ahead of time. In a pinch, you can make an appointment with a local provider to explain your medical condition, show your old prescription, and get a new written one that can be filled nearby.

* Toilet kit: Carry some hand sanitizer, toilet paper, menstrual products, and a plastic bag to dispose of your trash.

* Sun care products: Sunscreen is available almost everywhere, and unless you or your children require a particular brand, this is one item that’s often more easily purchased at your destination. Try to purchase reef-safe products that protect marine habitats, and talk with your family about why this is important. Watch out for overpriced sunscreen at hotels and tourist sites, and instead aim to purchase it when buying groceries or other items in town.

* Insect repellent: This can be a bit tougher to find, so you may want to bring repellent from home. Wipes travel well and are easier to get through security checkpoints than aerosol bottles.

Tip: It never hurts to take a first aid or wilderness first aid class before you depart on your worldschooling journey. The Red Cross offers suitable classes for kids, too. It can be a family event—a kickoff for learning together. Basic first aid knowledge and a good first aid kit may be just what you need for that more adventurous outing.

Car Seats, Strollers, and Babyproofing

In some developing parts of the world, vehicles might not have seat belts. When booking local tours or transportation between locations, you may want to ask ahead about vehicle safety restraints. Angela’s husband, Mark, insisted on a replacement van to Sapa, Vietnam, after their initial one arrived without its promised seat belts. Given that the driver then operated the second van at warp speeds, Mark was glad he’d insisted on them.

If you are traveling with small children, you might want to bring your own car seats, as they may not be available in many countries or be compliant with US safety standards. That’s certainly more to carry, so you may have to get creative with your packing. Strollers can be cumbersome, too, and some families might opt for kid-carrying (slings, backpacks) in lieu of another wheeled vehicle. Only you know what is best for your family when trying to balance convenience and safety with the amount of gear to haul. Just be sure to research checked and carry-on baggage rules ahead of time.

You may be staying in many places that aren’t as baby- or childproofed as back home. Always check the operation of doors in your accommodations (take it from a friend who once woke up to his younger kiddo sleepwalking out the hotel-room door) and ask for lower-floor rooms if that’s helpful. You can also bring along a small rubber doorstop to help prevent unwanted entry or exit.

Many major cities have rental items—from strollers and car seats to books and toys—that can be reserved online and delivered to your accommodations. Some places even offer babyproofing prior to your arrival. These services may be less expensive than hauling along your gear, so consider researching offerings at your planned destinations.

Tip: Bring along some duct tape! It’s great for covering outlets, padding sharp corners and edges, and securing other risky items out of reach of kids’ hands.

Toileting Around the World

How do they poo in Kathmandu? You’d be surprised by all the different ways we can interpret something as universal as toileting.

In some countries, people squat over a toilet seat that is flush to the ground so that no body parts ever touch a public surface. In others, toilet paper is considered unhygienic. Instead, they use a bidet and their hands to get clean. Sometimes, privacy stalls only go up to shoulder level, so you might be looking a stranger in the eye while you’re doing your business. Yet other countries have high-tech toilets where you can choose bidet water temperatures, seat-heat settings, air dryers, and your favorite accompanying music.

We are creatures of habit, and sometimes these differences can be… unhelpful to the process. So, bring supplies to make it more comfortable, like toilet paper, soap, and hand sanitizer. Some families are committed to reducing their environmental impact and travel with a washable bandanna. Expect the unexpected. Everything is an adventure. The only universal imperative is to wash your hands.

Seeking Medical Care on the Road

Okay, so you’ve prepared, and then prepared some more. You’ve packed a first aid kit, brought along medications, and done your best to avoid hazards along the way. And yet—something happens anyway, and you need to find medical care on the road. Maybe urgently. How do you find it when you’re far from home?

* First, keep basic medical information for each family member in your daypack so you’ll have what you need if you must take a trip to the emergency room or village doctor. Include a summary of each person’s medical history, such as a list of ailments, allergies, and current medications.

* If relevant, wear a medical-alert bracelet or pendant for specific conditions.

* You might even want to get a letter from your doctor detailing your family member’s medical requirements, in case this information is necessary for treatment. If bringing paper copies isn’t convenient, take photos of the documents with your phone.

* Carry a list of your family physicians and their contact information, in case you need to reach them for guidance. When one traveling friend got sick in South Africa, the first thing she did was call her doctor’s office back home to get medical advice. Her situation was an emergency, and she was glad to have the contact information readily available in her phone.

Domestic travelers can usually use traditional means for finding a doctor on the road. If you are traveling overseas and one of your family members needs medical care, you can do the following:

* Reach out to your health insurance company for assistance. Many insurance providers have an emergency phone number you can call for advice and referrals to local caregivers. This also helps start the coverage process when you are seeking care outside your home country, especially for services that require preauthorization.

* Contact the local embassy for a list of international physicians. Be sure to specify if you need English-speaking providers or translation services.

* Ask a local, especially if your need is urgent and you don’t have time for a phone call. Rely on your rental host, hotel staff, local restaurant employees, or tour providers, who are accustomed to helping travelers.

* Research or inquire on expat websites. Rely on local English speakers who are in the know.

* Sites like USEmbassy.gov and other apps can help connect you to physicians and hospitals in your area, translate drug names, and provide a list of local emergency contact numbers by country.

* Splurge on a nice hotel if someone is sick. Sometimes concierge services cover medical help and might even arrange for a house call by a doctor.

* We really hope it doesn’t come to this, but if anyone needs an IV or a shot, you might offer a crisp $20 to the health care worker and ask that a new needle be opened in front of you. That’s why you keep some cash handy.

We hope this blog has boosted your confidence that with preparation, flexibility, and the right tools in your bag, you can handle most health hiccups and keep your journey rolling safely and smoothly.

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