I wanted to write this before I left, but alas, the number of responsibilities coupled with the end of school activities made it near impossible. Now that we are on a slower timetable on a different continent, I feel more compelled to shirk the thousands of outstanding obligations that I didn’t have an opportunity to complete before we left. And write this instead. Somehow when you are away from home, it’s much easier to soak in a different world and float away.
To provide a little more context, a few months ago, my more spontaneous, adventurous half had the worst best idea ever. I am not earning any income. He started working on hpy full-time six months ago. The kids are off for two months in summer. We decided to spend it in Europe, immersing ourselves in local culture, cuisine and lifestyle.
We wanted to not only seize the opportunity to spend a summer fully connected to our family and expose the kids to different ways to learn, but we also thought it would be an equally fruitful glimpse into how well-being and longevity are experienced in another part of the world. In America, we are used to the hustle and bustle of daily life. We are used to keeping up with light-speed technology when our human minds and bodies aren’t physically and mentally capable of doing so. We are used to defaulting to social and systemic pressures and ignoring our priorities. We wanted to see whether this culture exists in Europe as well.
As to be expected, I have a lot of mixed emotions. I’m super excited. I’m excited not to be a tourist, but to really absorb all the minute details that make European life different from ours. I’m excited to learn, to reignite my passion for art and history, and to expose the kids to global experiences.
I’m nervous because I, myself, am flying out of my comfort zone. I am an avid traveler, but I’m also a known homebody. I love my bed, my daily habits, and my stability. This trip will be a true adventure - venturing off the beaten path, getting to know different cities and countries in breadth and depth. While juggling two monkeys with boundless energy in small apartments… with one bathroom…(sometimes one bedroom), no entertainment, and on a decently meager budget.
The kids are also going to make adjustments, but that is part of the lesson we are looking forward to (for now!). I believe the ability to be adaptable has massive benefits when it comes to mental health. When you have the ability to modify and change your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in response to change, you are able to better cope with stressful situations. “It also helps with emotional resiliency for future situations where you are able to problem-solve, not let situations ‘ruffle your feathers’ and maintain some semblance of optimism despite life’s difficulties and adversities” (Mental Health: Fortifying your Emotional Resiliency, 2024).
Part of what makes our kids so entitled and privileged is that they have everything they could ever want at their fingertips. They don’t have to endure minor inconveniences (like restaurants here closing in the middle of the day for siesta time) or discomforts. They won’t have access to their favorite foods, comfort items, privacy, amenities, luxuries and of course, Alexa that they have at home. I am teaching them a host of words from the languages of the countries they’ll be in. They are learning geography and cultural nuances (temperature and measurement metrics, vocabulary differences, etiquette, etc.). We don’t have access to a dryer for two months so we have to hang dry our clothes on a clothesline. Meals won’t have the same varietal menu since we’re on a budget and we’ll be moving around.
But so far, we are one week in and already fitting right in. The girls have been walking four to five miles a day with snacks and water in tow. They run and dance and cartwheel all over town with strangers smiling fondly at their crazy antics. They are excited to learn and they help with the chores in our small flat. We can only run the dishwasher and the washing machine sequentially since they are on the same power switch, not to mention the washing machine only can fit one day’s worth of clothes. Lastly, the Euro-portion control diet already has our shorts fitting looser since their meals are much lighter and comprise of fresh vegetables, fruit, nuts and milk.
We have no idea where this wanderlust is going to take us, but for now, the world is our oyster and we’re gonna shuck it right open.
My dear Meera beti. You guys truly are an adventurous family.
When I first heard from your mom I could not believe you were going to do it. But you did it and I am so glad you are there already. Enjoyed reading the details of how the life style is different from our life style here in the USA. Can't wait to read more of your adventures and fun beti.