I am so happy today to share a fellow travel writer, Candice Broom. We met at TBEX '09 this past summer.  She's taught first grade in China, and University in Laos. Right now, she's working at the Vientiane International School in Laos. And she shares life abroad, with a family, on her website, entitled www.MomMostTraveled.com. On Mom Most Traveled, you can find all kinds of things for families (traveling or not): giveaways, family resources, intercultural resources, and stories of living overseas with her family. We were lucky enough to sit down and talk with Candice about her site, raising intercultural kids, and more. Here's what she had to say...

WE: Please tell us about your site, Mom Most Traveled...

CB: MomMostTraveled.com is about our family experiences traveling as a young family. I also do product reviews and giveaways, not always related to travel, but usually related to children.

WE: What was the genesis of your site?

CB: I never let having children slow me down as far as traveling goes. My firstborn flew with me to Asia from the US at the age of 7 weeks. Friends, family, and strangers would look at us and shake their heads, saying things like, "I don't know how you do it!".
So I decided to blog about it, and show them exactly how we do it!

WE: You live in Laos - what do you do there?

CB: Until recently my husband and I taught at the National University of Laos (NUOL), but as of this year, Nick is teaching secondary math at the international school, and I am working as a substitute.

WE: What are the challenges and rewards of raising your kids abroad?

CB: Well, one big challenge is that they can have trouble fitting in to their host culture. I thought that since Jojo has lived in Laos since he was 7 weeks old, he would learn the language naturally and effortlessly.

For some children that might be true, but Jojo has had language learning difficulties. When he was in preschool last year, he had a really hard time making friends. The school was in English but all of the children spoke Lao. So on the playground, Jojo was left out. I felt so sad for him.

He is learning Lao, very slowly, and this year he is attending the international school which has a more diverse student body. He is enjoying it lots more and has made a "best friend" out of an Australian boy.

Deeds is 2 years old and seems to have a good understanding of Lao, but he isn't talking a lot yet so we will see as he gets older.

Another challenge is lack of things like beautiful clean parks to play in, or a public library filled with English books. Medical care is not up to international standards here. So if something bad were to happen we have to go over the boarder to Thailand for care.

My husband had a serious illness from a mosquito in 2006 and had to be rushed to Bangkok via a 9 hour ambulance ride.

Something I really like about raising my children here is that they are removed from commercialism. I especially appreciate that at Christmas time. The rest of the country isn't celebrating Christmas, so I can do it however I want. There aren't Christmas sales and commercials for the latest toy bombarding us.

I also just love learning about different cultures and love that my kids can learn about them first hand.

WE:  What advice do you have for parents that would like to pick up and live
overseas?

CB: Do it! Make plans and do it! I have lived in Belize, China, and Laos, and I have found that the scariest part is just committing to go. After that, once you get in the swing of things, you will find routine in your new place.
Our days are pretty similar to what they would be in the states: wake up, eat breakfast, go to school and work, come home, eat and sleep. But we get to do it all in an exotic locale.

Teaching is a great way to work your way around the world. We are certified teachers, but throughout Asia, native English speakers can find English teaching jobs even without certification. Your pay won't be as good as if you were certified, but you can still find work.

We aren't independently wealthy; we are just normal folks. If we can do it, you can!

WE: Thanks so much, Candice! I am so impressed with your site, and glad to learn the backstory. I highly recommend your site to our Wandering Educators.

For more information, please see:
www.MomMostTraveled.com
 

All photos courtesy and copyright Candice Broom