Publication Date: March 2012
Categories: Travel, Memoir
Description:
A heartwarming travel memoir filled with temper tantrums, disorienting jetlag, and zany, once-in-a-lifetime family adventures.
Who says you can’t travel with kids? Dan and I find out we can do just that as we set off with our two very young kids, first to live and work on an island far out in the Pacific, then on to the continent of Africa with a few stops in between. Armed with strollers, diapers, and too much luggage, we travel to over twenty-five countries throughout a ten year span, while working together as international overseas educators.
After surviving typhoon Yuri, almost being mauled by lions, and, being nearly shot by a presidential guard, we happily endure all of the good times and bad, while living life to the fullest. A decade’s worth of experiences and lifelong memories remain with us, as we return to the U.S., now with two teenagers in tow, and begin to experience our very own version of reverse culture shock.
My Thoughts:
How many of us have considered selling our homes, packing up our belongings, and traveling the world? For many people this is a dream. (At least it is for this girl!) The Dobbe family made it come true.
This was a delightful book told in a conversational style. I felt as if I were sipping a cup of coffee with a friend while she told me about her shenanigans across the globe. And shenanigans there were!
It was lovely to read about the people they met and the different schools they attended and worked at. Most gratifying was reading about how they dove into each culture with a desire to learn and enjoy themselves.
I have to commend Jill and her family. They’ve lived a true adventure and they did it their own way. I wonder if they’d notice if I hid myself in one of their suitcases next time around?
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The Relentless Reader 
This is one of the topics you think about but you never dare to do. When I did The Way of St James I realized how easily you can travel with a bag and a few clothes, you need very little; walking all the day and going wherever you wanted, but making a life of that is so different.The book sounds really interesting.
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Right! You tend to think of this as an impossible dream but you just have to MAKE it happen 🙂
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I do wonder that if I was single, if I'd be able to do something like this. Or even (maybe a little more realistic than traveling the world) just pick up and move to a different part of the country. Could I really leave my life behind and start over? Some days it doesn't seem like such a bad idea.
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That sounds great, to just pack up and go on an adventure with the family like that. Very cool.
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My youngest is 13…maybe I'll take off for parts unknown in 5 years when she's of age 😉
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Doesn't it??? Sigh 🙂
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I don't think I could do this with kids. Wow. Better them than me. Hahaha!
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I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed this, now I have to read it! I've definitely dreamed of packing up and traveling the world. (And have fond memories of living overseas w/my family as a kid!)
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Ha ha ha!! Yea, I'd much rather so something like this SOLO. 😉
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I did, it was a sweet little read. There were parts that definitely made me chuckle 🙂
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This sounds like tons o'fun. I'm so glad you reviewed it!
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It was a fun read 😉 Easy and sweet
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This sounds like such a cool book! Reading about escaping is almost as close as the escape itself, right? 😀
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It is darn close! Especially because I didn't have to sell my house or pack a suitcase, lol.
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What a crazy experience to have as a kid! I'd be curious to read this just to find out if they enjoyed it or mostly just found all the moving schools difficult.
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You'll have to read it to find out 😉 LOL, no spoilers from this girl!
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I have, and still do, consider travelling the world. Resign my job and just travel the world for a year. Whether I can afford it, is another question. Sounds like nice read.
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Yep, I think it's the money factor that stops most of us from doing it.
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I need this book!! Actually I kind of dream of writing this book. Hub and I LOVE traveling and many of our conversations revolve around just dreaming up trips to take. Kids throw a new wrench into the wheel but we've had our first successful big roadtrip and we're already planning out next summer. But ya–if only we all had infinite money supply to do that traveling. 😉
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I could totally see you guys doing this for some reason!
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I think they might notice you, but be happy to have you there. :)What a wonderful way to teach your kids about the world!
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That would be the best, imagine what your kids would be able to learn/see/do!
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this is kind of my dream! If I didn't have cats, I think my wife and I might try it!
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Right?? I guess cats aren't known for being great travelers are they? 😉
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Oh yes! Who hasn't thought about abandoning everything they know and traveling the world to learn and seek enlightenment! Then– I snap back to reality. It sounds like a great read though to discover a family that does just that…and survives to tell us about it.Happy Reading,Rebecca @ The Key to the Gate
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Stupid reality anyway 😉 It was great to read their tales. I felt almost proud of them 🙂
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I would LOVE to pack up everything and head out into the world! I don't have kids, but I have dogs, so that might be more difficult. I'm very much attached to them.
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Take those dogs and go for it 😉 If I didn't have kids…oh man, I'd be on the first plane! 😀
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