Hello and welcome — we're so glad you're here!
We're Mylène and Joey, parents to two curious, energetic kids (Edward, seven, and Emma, nine years old), and we have one big idea: to press pause on 'normal life' and spend a year travelling as a family around the Pacific Ocean. We're not sailing but making our way by plane, train, tuk-tuk, ferry, and the occasional rental car. And, yes, we are bringing the kids along!
We've talked about this journey for years and are finally doing it: trading our routine for the unknown. This blog is where we'll share our messy, magical, and meaningful journey as we figure out what it means to live, learn, and grow as a family on the road. For those who followed us during our road trip across Canada and the Northwest USA years ago, you know that we will keep it real.
Wait… What?
Yes, we’re doing this. A whole year of family travel. Four backpacks. Two suitcases. Endless snacks. Shitty WiFi. And probably a few meltdowns — from the kids and us.
This is something we’ve dreamed about for a long time. Joey and I have always loved to travel. Long before we became parents, we spent our summers travelling in Europe, to the northern countries, National Parks, and more. We didn't stop travelling once the kids came along; we adapted. We brought them with us from the start, even if it meant Hawaii with a 2.5-year-old and an 11-month-old (oh god, Joey suffered on that flight with a severe migraine and a yelling baby, lol). But we always wanted more-not just more destinations, but more time, depth, and space to be together and grow. This gap year is about precisely that.
Why We’re Taking a Gap Year (Besides Temporary Insanity)
We want to grow—as individuals and as a family. We want to face challenges together, get lost, find our way back, and learn that we can do more than we thought. We want to step outside our comfort zones (and maybe our personal hygiene standards).
We want to build resilience—not just for our kids but also for ourselves. For example, how do you stay calm when your kid licks rocks in a temple courtyard? We’re about to find out. Okay, maybe that's more my goal than Joey’s. Haha!
We want to explore the world, not just through museums or monuments, but by talking to people, learning new ways of living, trying unfamiliar foods (and probably some unusual bugs), and enjoying fantastic food and experiences.
We want to learn from other cultures, open our kids' (and our own) eyes to different ways of thinking and being, and return home with a deeper appreciation for what we already have. We want them to realize that they are spoiled rotten!
And, honestly, we want to enjoy life while we still can. We're healthy, in decent shape (talking for me and the kids), and in a place where we can make this happen. We know not everyone gets that chance, and we don't take it for granted. Life is unpredictable. You never really know what's coming next, so we're doing this now.
Where We’re Headed (Sort Of)
We're spending a year travelling around the Pacific region—not in one perfect loop (since there is no direct flight from South America crossing the Pacific Ocean), but starting in Yukon and ending in Japan, if things go as planned. Our rough path includes Mexico, Peru, the Galapagos, Ecuador, Tahiti, Fiji, New Zealand, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and several other destinations.
We will try to travel slowly and light (as light as a family of four can) and to experience the places we visit rather than just ticking them off a list.
What You’ll Find Here
This blog will be our digital travel journal—a record of the beautiful moments, the meltdowns, the logistical fails, and all the weird stuff that happens when you leave home for a year with your entire family and only one pair of shoes each.
I think you can expect:
Honest travel stories (the kind with sweat and missed flights)
Helpful tips (and things we learned the hard way)
Reflections from the road (and maybe from the airport floor)
Occasional deep thoughts in between snack runs
So, whether you’re planning your own adventure, stuck at home dreaming of one, or just here for the chaos, welcome aboard. We’re happy to have you with us.
Let the journey begin (send help and snacks).
— Mylène, Joey, Emma & Edward (aka Teddy)
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