Find out more about...
BYOC: South America! A Family Sabbatical Handbook

SOUTH AMERICA HAS GOTTEN A BUM RAP!

Most families do not even consider adding it to their travel itineraries.  But our family did!  Follow us and learn how you, too, can travel around this fascinating continent from the heart of the Amazon rainforest through ancient Incan civilizations and modern luxurious high rises to the thundering glaciers at the southern tip.  South America can be an exciting, family-friendly vacation destination and an increasingly attractive, affordable alternative to the sharply rising costs of a trip to Europe or even the United States!  This book will help you:    Prepare and budget for an extended vacation abroad  Choose places and events that will appeal to all family members  Access wildlife and off-the-beaten-path experiences  Save bundles of money seeing famous sites such as the Galápagos Islands and Machu Picchu  Select the best family-friendly language schools   Make the most of volunteer experiences Sample exotic cuisines and world-renowned wines Avoid falling victim to scams and dangerous situations  Understand and plan for the ups and downs of a long-term sabbatical together  Hear a child’s first-hand perspective of a year on the road  Successfully reintegrate into life back home

BOOK OUTLINE Chapter 1:  HOW DID WE GET HERE?  ·      Why South America?  ·      How do you successfully plan and budget for a year off?  ·      What special considerations do children need?  ·      Can you stay safe and healthy on the road?    Our one-year sabbatical involved years of planning and preparation.  This first chapter describes this exciting and, at times, stressful process.  The reader will gain some practical tools in determining where to go, a sense of how to prepare for the trip and accommodate the needs of all family members (including home-schooling), as well as what is involved from the germination of the idea to the moment that we board the plane.  The timely subject of safety abroad is also addressed, especially in response to recent threats of terrorism.

Chapter 3:  ANCIENT RUINS IN PERU ·      Differences between Ecuador and Peru  ·      Taking advantage of other tourists’ expertise while preventing others from taking advantage of you  ·      Making the most of Machu Picchu, and other treasures of ancient cultures  ·      Christopher needs hospital care    When asked where they would like to go in South America, most people mention Machu Picchu.  And why not?  These Incan ruins in their mystical mountain setting are every bit as spectacular as one can imagine.  However, independent travel in Peru differs from that in Ecuador, especially on the Gringo trail, and this chapter is full of ideas on how to see the fantastic sights and stretch your dollar while fending off unscrupulous Peruvian touts.  Obtaining hospital care is also on the agenda, with a humorous twist that saves the day.

Chapter 4:  MONKEY BITES IN BOLIVIA ·      A land of contrasts:  rainforest, pampas, Andes mountains, salt flats  ·      Dealing with culture shock, culture clash, and false policemen  ·      Volunteering with exotic animals in the rainforest  ·      Taking Spanish lessons when school is out on holiday  ·      Christopher puts on his first party!    Most travelers develop a love-hate relationship with Bolivia.  The exotic sights, including rainforest, pampas, Andes Mountains, silver mines, and the stark whiteness of the Salar, all stimulate the senses.  However, the Bolivian culture and way of thinking can be quite at odds with a more capitalistic mentality.  This chapter reveals some of the frustrations and stresses (including full-blown temper tantrums) when cultures clash and life on the road takes its toll.  Our Bolivian experience includes an encounter with false policemen and a monkey bite on Christopher’s arm.  On a positive note, Christopher comes out of his shell as he single-handedly organizes a game of Harry Potter, and we enjoy a traditional holiday with our adopted Bolivian family.

 

Chapter 5:  LUXURY IN ARGENTINA ·      Changing plans and pampering ourselves  ·      Wine-tasting on a 3-seated bicycle  ·      Visiting a local family for a traditional asado  ·      Argentine fear of the United States    When is it time to take a break from your vacation?  This chapter is full of changes in plans and explores the decision-making process in doing so.  The reader also learns about the dramatic difference between the previous three countries and Argentina, with its European influence and higher standard of living.  Find out what Argentine children think of the United States as a travel destination.  Come with us into the home of an Argentine family for a traditional asado, and visit some wineries on a 3-seated bicycle.  That experience is certainly a lesson in family cooperation!

Chapter 6:  PENGUINS IN PATAGONIA ·      Wildlife Galore:  penguins, guanacos, and ñandús  ·      Puerto Williams and Ushuaia, the southernmost settlements on earth  ·      Passing through the Beagle Channel on a barge  ·      Rugged Landscapes of Torres del Paine National Park, Chile, and the Perito Moreno         Glacier in Glacier National Park, Argentina    Patagonia is becoming increasingly popular as a travel destination, but there is no need to take expensive tours.  The incredible sights of Torres del Paine National Park, the Perito Moreno Glacier, and the southernmost towns on the earth are easily accessible and currently very affordable.  Wildlife lovers will particularly enjoy our encounters with penguins, guanacos, and ñandús.

Chapter 7:  CARNIVAL IN RIO ·      Where is Carnival in Rio?  ·      Connecting with old friends  ·      Finding an authentic Carnival experience   Despite the glamour and excitement of Rio during its world-famous Carnival festivities, this book may be the only place where you will find reasons NOT to go there during that time.  Find out why the Brazilians flock to Salvador instead.  If you do choose to visit Brazil during Carnival, this chapter will help you make the most of your time there and stay as safe as possible.

Chapter 8:  PUSHING THE LIMITS IN THE LAKE DISTRICT  ·      Rambling through lakes and twisted forests  ·      Contrasting wine tasting in Argentina and Chile  ·      Hiking an active volcano     An odd juxtaposition of hiking and wine-tasting is on the agenda in Argentina and Chile.  Christopher tries his first chocolate fondue in the beautiful alpine city of Bariloche, Argentina.  I push myself to the limit as Fran and I climb an active volcano and emerge victoriously at the top!  At this stage of our sabbatical, this chapter reveals what we would have done differently, and how our family transforms through life on the road.

Chapter 9:  NIGHTLIFE AND WILDLIFE IN AND AROUND BUENOS AIRES       ·      Flowing water; beachers, rivers, marshes, hot springs, and falls  ·      Pursing the famous Evita  ·      Dealing with illness and bribing border officials in Paraguay  ·      SARS and the US invasion of Iraq  ·      A crushing blow to Niagara Falls  Water seems to be an overriding them as we travel throughout several countries (Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazil).  Find out our favorite family-friendly places and those we could do without.  We encounter such challenges as accessing the health care system in Paraguay and bribing border officials to let us into the country.  This chapter also provides insight into the reaction of others towards us following the SARS epidemic and the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Chapter 10:  CIVILIZATION IN THE AMAZON BASIN  ·      Speaking in foreign tongues, including English!  ·      Cruising the Amazon River  ·      Which one is for you?  Comparing and contrasting the Guianas  ·      Volunteering with the largest turtles in the world, the mighty Leatherbacks  ·      A decadent Caribbean holiday at the end of our vacation  ·      Why only one day in Venezuela?    In this chapter we explore the fascinating city of Manaus, a place where civilization struggles to maintain a toehold in the encroaching Amazon jungle.  We struggle to comprehend new languages (including English) after achieving various levels of fluency in Spanish.  I compare and contrast the Guianas, and give some tips about traveling in each.  Come experience the incredible leatherback turtles with us, and see how we handle a difficult volunteer experience.  Our family also uses several coping strategies in coming to terms with the return home.

Chapter 11:  EXTRANJEROS IN OREGON ·      Reentry into home and work life  ·      Undoing what’s been done (including unpacking, insurance, finances, etc.)  ·      A reflection on the growth that Christopher experienced through long-term travel   ·      Flash forward:  How our trip has continued to affect our lives    This final chapter provides much-needed information on how to ease back into U.S. life and dealing with the end of such an adventure.  The virtues of the sabbatical are highlighted, as we stayed within the budget and opened up new business opportunities.  Furthermore, the ways that travel enhanced Christopher’s growth and development are explored.  Perhaps best of all, Christopher shares his insights into the best and worst parts of the long-term vacation, so that young readers and their parents will know what to expect when they set off on their own adventure.   ¡Feliz viaje!