Dear Kids,
-I didn't give enough credit to how difficult the language barrier would be for everyone. Because I've learned a language before, I just didn't give much thought to how trying to learn a language would AFFECT YOU. I thought you would pick things up through "osmosis" and by being around it. And, no doubt you've picked up lots of things, but I didn't give enough credit to how much BETTER it would have been to have some formal language training BEFORE we came. We are just barely getting to the point where we are understanding the language more, and we've worked on it hard. But part of the problem is that NONE of us had a base except for dad. I didn't realize how VALUABLE having a BASE in the language would be BEFORE getting here. I would definitely advise anyone to get their kids a base of the language before getting "on the ground".
-I knew we would be homesick, but I didn't have any idea how much homesickness would be a factor. I do think a big reason for this is that for 3 months we haven't done any "exploring" while we were working on the podcasts. That has caused the kids to be a little bit more "bored" and being in an apartment and with limited things to do, especially outside exploring, that has caused the kids to wish that they had other people around them to be with. We got into a groove of our everyday routine, and the kids just got bored with it and it really culminated in a lot of homesickness. I'm actually really glad that the kids have had the chance to understand what homesickness really includes, because it's an important awareness to have, I was just unprepared for what an emotional toll it would take on the kids, and then on me as a result, in order to keep their mental and emotional health in tact.
-I think with that in mind, Brent and I have talked several times that THREE months in any place that we want to travel and really experience would be the PERFECT amount of time. It would give time to explore and see things without being frantic about "seeing the sites" for 2 weeks and then rushing through a "vacation". Three months of travel in a place is the perfect amount of time. And in the future, we won't have a project like the podcasts we'll be working on, and when we're out exploring, homesickness isn't really a factor because of adventuring.
-I wasn't prepared for how much I would miss a car! If we are EVER going to be out of the country for a long time, I would ABSOLUTELY make sure our budget has a car factored in. Feeling "land locked" because of no transportation is a BIG DEAL, especially with a family and children.
-I'm VERY GLAD for this experience NOT having a car. It was good for everyone to really know what it means to rely on public transportation and to rely on walking.
-We didn't do enough research about the best way to handle banking out of the country. Just go with Schwab, every time, because of HOW much lower the costs are for transactions. We made about $150 worth of transaction mistakes with fees and stuff, which doesn't seem like a lot, but it adds up quick. And if we hadn't of caught it in time, then it would have been worse. Just use Schwab.
-I didn't realize how much I wouldn't learn the language as fast as I wanted. I think because of the podcasts we aren't out and about as much as we normally would be and we're not involved as much in running around. I do think that's a factor, but in the end we speak English in our home and so we have to make up ways for the kids to practice, especially when they don't have friends they can talk to. I would in the future try to get them in an educational experience that would allow them to learn Spanish better, or whatever language it is that we want them to learn. We had a tutor come in (Vanesa) but it still just wasn't enough. Something else I would factor in is having a nanny come, a Spanish speaking nanny, simply for the EVERYDAY language practice. That would have been huge for learning the language, especially to FORCE me to converse. On the mission we were FORCED into situations where we HAD to communicate, but being here as a family, it isn't that way. Having a nanny would definitely force us to converse in Spanish more.
-I would also add to that MEDICINE. Ibuprofen is SUPER expensive here. I think that's how it is in a lot of places. I would bring a big bottle of ibuprofen. Same thing with triple antibiotic ointment. It's SUPER expensive (like $15-$20 a tube). And good bandaids are hard to find. Antibiotics are EVERYWHERE, so that's easy to find. Also ESSENTIAL OILS are AMAZING for travel. The essential oils I used constantly, that I would bring SEVERAL bottles of each next time are: Frankincense (I used this all the time for inflammation, putting on kids throats, teeth issues, infection issues, etc.), Digestzen (I used this all the time! digestion issues over seas are a REAL THING that's for sure!), Helichrysum (for owies, bumps and bruises, used this A LOT), Tea Tree and Orange Oil for Skin care routine after shower (EVERY TIME I showered I would used these on my body. I know they helped me a ton), Peppermint roller for neck stuff, deep blue rub roller (for sore muscles and headaches and shoulder and back problems. We used this A LOT) Onguard (of course since this is a go-to for health), Breathe for asthma stuff and serenity for night time help. Those are definitely my TOP oils for traveling! They are compact and I would bring several bottles of each of these next time and then leave everything else. The other thing to have on hand is BENADRYL for kids and allergies that come up out of no where, as well as an inhaler for any breathing issues.
-I LOVE my purse that I have for travel, but next time I would get the small backpack instead of the sling purse. Mainly for my shoulders and keeping my shoulders in balance, a backpack is better for that.
-Piano practicing goals while overseas that the kids can practice at the church. I wish we had planned better for that. We could have brought songs that they already knew and they could keep up on, as well as practice books for scales and such. I would have liked for them to have a ONE SONG goal to learn while being away.
-Talia's ukulele SAVED us with music. I would bring that EVERY TIME. Music was a huge thing we have missed while being here and I'm so glad she brought that ukulele to practice and keep her music skills up.
-I'm SO GLAD the kids learned "Peace in Christ" in Spanish to sing to the ward. I think ONE song to sing to people in THEIR language is a GREAT thing to add wherever we are.
-I'm SO GLAD we brought the massager gun! That has been a HUGE help!
-It's been interesting to see how much the kids have needed predictability with QUALITY time with Brent and I while we've been here as well. We are always together as a family, but it's been super important to the kids to still have date nights all by themselves, as well as snuggle time at night. They have needed to know when we would pay attention to them individually FOR SURE. That as a part of the schedule is always very important.
-I brought too many clothes. I could have cut it down by 1/2. I have used my really comfortable clothes a lot and my nicer clothes not so much. I would have brought TWO swimming suits instead of one.
-I LOVE that we did the Mexico shirts! They have been a HUGE success with pictures and memories.
-Making a rice heat pack with a sock is something we should have done THE FIRST WEEK that we were here. Brent finally made one the other day and it has been a huge help for neck stuff.
-Next time I would plan better HOW to help the kids with their own blog and youtube videos while traveling. We brought a drone and everything in order to take some cool shots and video and we haven't done that at all. I would have planned better teaching them HOW to do those things BEFORE getting on the ground so that they were prepared with how to work with that technology. I think part of the issue has been that our mental energy has gone to the podcasts and we haven't had as much mental energy to help with projects like that, not as much as we originally wanted.
-I'm REALLY glad that we've taken the time we have to teach the kids about street smarts. They are learning more and more about how important that is, and their observance of things around them is improving, as well as their ability to see someone who might be dangerous, and turn the other way and make sure to NOT put themselves in dangerous situations.
-I'm so glad that we've had as much time with Brent as we have. It's been SO FUN to have him home full time and to take a break from work. I want to stay like that forever! It's on my wish list.
-It has opened my eyes to traveling with Brent when we are older and the kids are out of the house. It's so cheap to travel as a couple! We could live overseas for NOTHING.
-I LOVE how much this experience has opened up the kids eyes to other people and how they live. They have really started to recognize how blessed we really are with where we live. I'm really glad they are opening their minds and their eyes to all of our blessings.
-I LOVE the exposure this has given all you kids with other areas of the world! The ocean! searching for seashells in the Caribbean! traveling around Cozumel in the Hulk car and having a blast! Seeing cenotes, seeing fish in the ocean, being on the ferry, going through air travel and what it's like on the plane, living in an apartment and not a house and understanding the difference, getting used to being the minority with language and skin color, using taxi's, using buses, ordering food in another language, seeing ruins, going to Tulum, going to Coba... they've had so many homeschooling experiences while we've been here! I love that!
-So glad we got Ipads for travel. Everyone has used them A LOT with school and travel. Also AUDIOBOOKS are a travel companion for children LIKE CRAZY. Talia finished Harry Potter series while we've been here, and Elijah is almost done! I wish we had more books for Gabe since he's a huge book reader, but he's been listening to "7 Habits of Successful People" while we've been here and that has been a GREAT book for him to dive into.
We are so blessed! I love you kids,
Your Mom
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