Double Digits! An Interview with a Nomadic Child

I can't believe the not-even-2-year-old we took with us as an only child has now transitioned into double digits and many more countries and siblings. In honor of her birthday, I interviewed her on her favorite and least favorite things about being a nomadic child and each country she has lived in.

 Do you remember anything about Guatemala? That's where you were 2-3 years old.

• I remember playing with sidewalk chalk and one time watching the ashes from a volcano explosion. I remember playing in a kid blow up pool. I remember Blanca; I miss her.

• I did not like that in the rainy season it rained so much our food or clothes got moldy easily.

 


 What are your memories from Ruwais and Abu Dhabi?

• I loved Abu Dhabi! There were lots of nice parks, the streets were really clean and the people were nice and the houses were big and clean. It was easy to make friends there. My friends Jaden, Tasneem and Elias live there.

 

• I sort of enjoyed the heat, but I didn't like the call to prayer. It was long and mournful and it felt creepy.

Do you remember visiting Spain and Portugal?

• YES! I liked the greenery and the farms, fruits and vegetables! And there was a mouse that ran up the wall of our cabin, in Portugal. I sort of liked him! 
• In Spain it was hard for us to get food at our normal supper time. 

How about San José del Cabo, Mexico?

• I liked Cabo because I met the best friend I've ever had there, Melissa. It had a nice climate and we could go to the beach!! There were several beaches close to where we lived. I liked the food, too! We never rode a horse on the beach, but we saw them several times and if we go back there I would like to ride one. I liked that they spoke Spanish, and I could communicate easily.

• There wasn't very much grass and it was really rocky in our yard, so we had to be careful when we ran and played.

What do you think about our current country of residence, Cambodia?

 

• People are really nice here and I like all of the new fruits. Things are cheaper here compared to other parts of the world.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

• There is a lot of air pollution and trash everywhere. And they dry rotten/fermented fish outside and it smells really bad! 

 

 

  What are some benefits to traveling around the world?

• We get to learn lots of new things and see new places instead of staying in one place our whole lives like a toad on a log. We get to learn new languages and try new foods and make new friends.

What is something you don't like about traveling?

• As soon as I make friends, somebody moves away. I miss my family in my home country.

Which countries are you interested in visiting again/next?

• I would really like to visit Sweden! They have lingonberries, fikka, foraging and snow! 
• I would like to go back to Portugal. I like all of the natural parks and hiking trails and animals.