Fernweh Families: González Cota

The story of how we met the González Cota Family is a totally humbling success story, if you will, of Wonder Year! Mafer and Dario were searching online for a worldschooling book and came across the Wonder Year website. They saw that Wonder Year was available at the local Boulder REI, and when they went to the store to buy it, the REI team member said, “Hey, did you know the authors live in Boulder?” Conveniently, we three Wonder Year authors had recently spent time in the store “huddling” with the REI team and signing books. To make a long story short, I think we were supposed to meet! Mafer reached out, we had coffee, and so began a friendship that we hope will last many, many years!  

We’re so excited to feature as our next Ferneh Family post, Part 1 of The González Cota Family, who graciously checked in from Portugal in late Autumn 2024. 

Please tell us about your family.

On this sunny October day, we write from the rooftop of a picturesque colonial house located in Tavira, a small town in southern Portugal. We’re the González Cota family! And we’re traveling the world for a year. We decided to give our experience a name that could identify us  all: #6onroad. We chose our adventure name carefully, considering many options and using AI to find the perfect fit. When we heard “Six on Road,” we knew it was the one. As our nickname well suggests, we’re a family of six: Darío (dad), Mafer (mom), Fermín (13), Carola  (11), Camilo (9) and Loreta (5). 

Our path is clear; nothing stops us / Under the rain in Santander, Spain

We’re from San Cristóbal de las Casas, a beautiful town in the mountains of Chiapas, México. Last year, we left San Cristóbal to start–what we thought would be–our two-year escapade to Boulder,  Colorado. We had no idea that a few months later, we’d take a totally different path. In Boulder, we found our chosen family: a group of diverse friends who became a crucial part of our lives and who somehow encouraged us to travel the world. When we arrived to Boulder, we missed our home–the grandparents, extended family and friends in México. However, being surrounded by new people who quickly stole our hearts, made our year in Colorado go by quickly and excitingly. 

One weekend in March, skiing way up in the mountain, Darío asked the kids where in the world they’d like to live. Camilo enthusiastically suggested South Korea; Loreta chose Querétaro (her favorite city in México); Carola thought Oregon would be great, and Fermín, being the oldest and most perceptive, said he was happy in Boulder and didn’t want to leave. Later, Fermín asked me if Darío was serious about moving again. I told him it was just a conversation, but we both knew that his dad wasn’t joking. When we returned home, Darío suggested spending our second year away in France; but I wasn’t convinced, thinking about the kids having to adapt–so soon–to a new city, school and language. He then pointed out that our current budget could cover traveling the world, and that it was now or never. And that  plan seemed much more exciting for all. So we shook hands on it,  sealing our pact. From that moment on, I’ve had butterflies in my stomach. 

Is travel something new for your family or are you experienced at living on the road? 

We could say that our children were born on the road. We like to think they’re well-traveled kids, used to traveling long distances without complaining (much). We’ve spent countless hours driving, often repeating routes to visit family in México and the United States –both  vast countries. 

Carola once asked me: “Mom, have you ever traveled first class?” “No, it’s too expensive,” I replied.  

She then asked: “Will we ever travel first class?” 

“I doubt it,” I said, “our family is too big.” 

She gave it a thought and then said, “Oh, that’s why we travel by  car!” 

We’ve had the opportunity to visit many countries and places with our kids, thanks to our family’s love of travel. We’ve gone on cruises with grandparents; explored beaches and mountains, made RV road trips across the US, and camped amongst nature. It’s definitely the best inheritance from both sets of grandparents: being adventurous and enjoying every trip. 

History is a treasure trove of knowledge and wisdom / Dario in a teacher mood, Louvre Museum, Paris, France

What factors are motivating you to want to travel for a year as a family? 

This past year we saw an opportunity and decided to take it. Darío’s job offered him a sabbatical year, which we had initially planned to spend in Boulder. To provide a more comprehensive experience for the kids, we decided to extend our stay and turn it into two years. So, last  August, I moved to Boulder with our four children to start school, and  Darío joined us in December. By March, we were already planning our  “second year”… this time traveling the world. 

Darío is a creative person who doesn’t like to be idle. With the idea of not repeating the same experience (which was actually great) and having available time, we decided to make this dream trip a reality; a “sueño guajiro” as we say in México for something that seems unreachable but exciting. It’s now or never! Once in a lifetime, for a lifetime! 

We considered it the perfect moment, due to the kids’ ages,  besides al there were other factors aligning in our favor, such as: time, good health, enthusiasm, friends found worldwide for us to visit, family support, guidance from the book “Wonder Year,” planning time in Boulder, and the advice and support from friends. 

Carola writing her daily journal

Please tell us a bit about your journey.

One of the highlights of our story was having decided to plan it while living in Boulder. We were already out of our comfort zone, and while being comfortable in our routine, home, and community could make dreams seem impossible to achieve. Leaving our comfort zone–again–wasn’t easy. We shared our idea with our families and our new friends in  Boulder; many of them had traveled the world or lived abroad. Their support and suggestions gave us proof that our dream could become a reality. Everyone’s encouraging comments motivated us to make it  happen. We planned a geographically logical route. First, we’d return to México to spend time with our family. Then, we’d head to Europe; a familiar and relatively safe destination to adjust to the extreme 24/7  togetherness. Darío and I had lived in Barcelona for two years after getting married, and years before that, I had spent a year in Lyon, France. 

Our current plan includes: 

– One month traveling Europe in a camper. We’re covering Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Croatia, Italy, and Switzerland. 

– A more relaxed month in two borrowed homes; one in rural France and the other in southern Portugal. From Europe, we’ll fly to Africa for: 

– One month in Namibia, camping and exploring national parks in a 4×4 vehicle. 

– Darío will climb Mount Kilimanjaro while I visit tribes with the kids in Tanzania. 

– We’ll experience Kenyan culture and go on a safari in Masai Mara. 

Next, we’ll travel to New Zealand via Qatar and explore both islands in a camper, enjoying the scenery without rush. We’ll spend Christmas and New Year’s there. In January, we’ll head to Australia, then Southeast Asia to savor delicious food from Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Finally, we’ll conclude our year-long journey in Japan. Our plan, we think, is complete and quite exciting. 

Simple life! Picnic everywhere, sometimes even the back of the van / Evian, Switzerland

What are some of your biggest questions? Challenges? Fears? 

For us, the biggest challenge is the constant and absolute 24/7 togetherness. Finding individual downtime and personal leisure spaces will be crucial. Hopefully, we’ll learn to achieve this balance successfully. 

We’re traveling with two teenagers, which adds flavor to our family dynamics. Our 5-year-old, no longer a toddler but still young, requires attention. And let’s not forget our family’s intellectual, who needs guidance to resolve his endless questioning and theories. 

Initially, schooling was a concern. However, after talking to families who’ve traveled with kids, reading about experiential learning, and discussing it with our friend Julie from Wonder Year, we feel confident about our ability as parents to teach and learn alongside our children. We’re convinced that this year’s experiences will surpass any traditional school curricula. Our children will learn extremely valuable lessons, and so will we. This will surely be an exceptional educational year for everyone. 

What are you really excited about? 

We’re eager to soak up every experience! Our emotions are bittersweet; what unsettles us also thrills us –sharing this journey with our children, witnessing them grow, and guiding them as they navigate the world (quite literally). It’s a thrilling project. 

One of our dreams is to raise aware and responsible global citizens who cherish cultural diversity, marvel at nature’s beauty, and contribute to making our community a better place when they return home, sharing their stories, knowledge and experiences. 

With our hashtag #6onroad, we are sharing our incredible adventure with the world, inspiring others to step out of their comfort zone and explore all that the world has to offer.

Thank you very much to Mafer, Dario, Fermín, Carola, Camilo and Loreta. We love following your adventures and appreciate you taking time to share your experiences with us. It makes us smile through and through to hear about your educational adventures and that parents and kiddos are enjoying learning together across continents and seasons! 

Instagram @sixonroad