Why?

The concept of living abroad has always been around for us. We have both traveled extensively in the past – Ania through Southeast Asia, India, Europe, Rob through Central America. We have lived in London and Kenya together, and separately in Japan and Poland. Our oldest kid, Ella, had been to 15 countries by the time she was 3-years-old.

This was a new idea, however.  While we’ve always had wanderlust within us, it’s one thing to take a backpack and explore a new country or a place without kids, schools, mortgages, and so on and another thing to pack up our whole family and go.  We don’t travel light, schools are a big issue, there is a big mortgage to pay, and well, and we have our careers that support us to worry about. All that said, there are too many excuses of why we shouldn’t do this. So instead we’re focusing on why we’re taking a ‘gap year / sabbatical’-  we’ve boiled it down to three reasons:

• Midlife crisis, of course! (Who are we and what do we want to do with our lives?)
• Potential gift to our kids
• Language (Spanish)

We’ve been working now for nearly 20 years and it often seems that we’ve been focused on doing what’s right. The right schools, the right degrees, the right jobs, the right experiences, the right companies, and so on. I’m grateful, but I’m not sure that through it all we have had much time to think about what we really want, especially since having kids.  I understand that this is a first world problem.  Not that this year will provide all the answers but perhaps it will help to assure us that we’re on the right path or steer us towards a new one. We are driven to spend a greater amount of time with our children, escape the pressures of work and discover new cultures, lifestyles, passions, and dreams that we’re still young enough to have.  And besides…if the millennials are doing it, shouldn’t we?

In fact, we’re not that original with this idea.  There is a huge and growing trend of ‘family gap years’ where families take time off to explore, travel, and learn.  And, I’ve been here before. One of the biggest motivators to do this has been my experience of moving to United States from Poland when I was 12, and having to assimilate in a new country, learn a new language, make all new friends, etc.  It was challenging, but now, 30 years later, I see how these challenges have not only helped me to build resilience, but also more importantly, opened up my world in unimaginable ways. It may be naive to believe that I can replicate my experience as a gift to my kids, but I will never know unless I try.

I’ve been a fan of Anthony Bourdain for years.  I think I’ve seen all of his shows. As he recently sadly passed away, I’m more inspired than ever by one of his quotes, “If I am an advocate for anything, it’s to move.  As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply across the river.  Walk in someone else’s shoes, or at least eat their food. It’s a plus for everybody.”

So here we are.  We are hoping to discover and learn more about ourselves.  In spare time we want to learn to play instruments, volunteer, become better writers, photographers, dancers, parents and think broader about adding creativity into our lives as a family. We want to grow to progress in our careers or change them if it feels like it’s the right time to do so. We want space to think, dream, and explore. And we know that we are fortunate to give this gift to ourselves.  While giving up two Silicon Valley jobs may seem crazy initially, if we come back to the basics and what’s really important to us, this is just another step into the unknown similar to other milestones that occur in our lives.  Thanks for joining us on the adventure!