Maxime stretching across a “rock fall” area in Capitol Reef National Park

Our fifth Fernweh Family are the Lebobes. A French-American family, the Lebobes were living and running their own business in Italy prior to launching their long-term travels. We caught up with Terry (41), Guillaume (44), and their three sons Maxime (9), Léo (7), and Noah (5) as they were tent camping in the Southwest United States. 

Please tell us a bit about your journey.

We were originally inspired by friends to do a 3-month trip in the summer. But after realizing how complicated it would be to organize

The boys made some friends who lent them their transparent boat in Moalboal, Philippines

putting everything on pause for three months, we decided to go all the way. We left our jobs and sold our business to travel for 15 months. We initially expected to be traveling more slowly but with one-month visas and a compelling desire to see everything, we have traveled more quickly than planned! We usually spend between four days and a week in most places. We tend to crave more time in places close to nature and move relatively quickly through cities as we find that we are all happier in nature! 

What was one of the most important ingredients in getting your family on the road – what did you do that worked out well? 

Selling our business and renting out our home were two essential yet potentially challenging items we needed to achieve before making this trip a reality. But in both cases, the universe was on our side. We found friends and acquaintances for both almost immediately!

What’s outside your window right now? What fascinates you about where you are?  

Does a tent window count? We’ve been camping for the past three weeks on a road trip through some of the most amazing American national parks of the southwest. The geology and nature in these places just take our breath away! 

Can you describe a time when learning for your kids or family happened organically and profoundly…when you learned outside the “plan” you started with?

We have learned so much about geology! We knew we would learn a bit but the US National Park Junior Ranger programs have sparked an incredible interest from the kids to learn about how these wonderful rock formations were first created! 

What have you discovered about your family by being on the road together?

That our kids are incredibly adaptable and can thrive in many situations if we give them the opportunity! For example, now they can sleep anywhere (and we parents almost can too).

Noah making art with nature in Canyonlands National Park

What does community mean to you, and how have you found it during your travels?

We have had less of a community than expected during our travels but we have met a surprising number of families traveling long term and have connected well with them! We clicked immediately with several of those families and have kept in touch and even met up in subsequent places on the road. 

What’s your favorite story to share about this experience? 

Seeing elephants in the wild in Sri Lanka! We prefer to avoid visiting zoos or even elephant sanctuaries, anywhere where animals are in captivity, so we were very excited to go on a safari in Sri Lanka to see elephants in the wild. And it did not disappoint! We spent hours

Working on zip line and jumping skills in Laos

following around an incredible group of 20 elephants and it was definitely one of the most amazing experiences of our trip. 

What are you excited about seeing/doing/learning next?

We’re excited to see where we will be one year from now as we currently have no idea! We will be returning home to our house and school for one year but the kids want to do another year of travel and the parents need to figure out what new business we will create! We are excited about the possibility of moving long term to a new city in Europe but only time will tell! 

We appreciated Terry and her family checking in with us to share a bit about their many adventures. To follow along with their journey, you can find them at @greentribu.ontheroad and  facebook.com/greentribu.ontheroad. 

Check out other Fernweh Families on this blog to get inspired and learn all the different shapes your Wonder Year might take.

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