Week One: The Highs, the Lows & Everything In Between

After a long day of travel the kids just wanted to swim!

Our first week of full-time travel feels like a blur of airports, noodles, malfunctioning eSIMs, scooter rides, jungle humidity, and those “I can’t believe we’re actually doing this” moments.

We finally did it! We stepped out of the Australian routine and into something brand new. The kind of break-the-script living we’ve been dreaming about for years.

Here’s how Week One unfolded.

The Highs

1. Watching the kids come alive

New places, new food, new experiences and suddenly the world feels like one giant classroom.
Maddie’s curiosity has cracked wide open, and Emmett is thriving without the pressure of traditional school.

Watching them learn about Vietnam from Vietnam… that’s the good stuff.

2. The Mekong Delta magic

This was the moment it all clicked:
“This is exactly why we left home.”

Floating markets at sunrise, tiny canals edged with coconut trees, a guide who knew everyone on the river, breakfast served boat-to-boat.
Life slowed down. We breathed deeper.

It felt like stepping into someone’s story and being welcomed like old friends.

3. The kindness of strangers

Vietnamese people have this way of showing up for each other instantly, no hesitation, no fuss, just pure community.

It’s humbling and beautiful to witness.

4. Finding our rhythm

It took a few days (and a few minor meltdowns), but we’re slowly building our own flow:
• Slow mornings
• Schoolwork before play
• A mix of adventure + downtime
• Saying yes to spontaneous moments

The Lows (aka The Learning Curve)

1. Two-hour customs line with tired kids

We questioned all our life choices somewhere between “stay behind the yellow line” and “no, you can’t climb on the railing.”

2. eSIM issues

Travel Rule #1: Fix your internet before leaving the airport.
Travel Rule #2: When that fails, keep breathing.

3. Sugar + kids = chaos

Vietnamese people like things sweet, so lots of sugar, which is great… unless your kids don’t handle sugar well. We’re learning to say no more often, or find alternatives to all the juices, sweet buns and everything else.

Standout Moments

• The kids on the back of scooters through Ho Chi Minh City — pure joy.
• We got sprayed with mysterious farm chemicals — instant showers all round.
• Ben the chef teaching us cooking in the Mekong — a legend.
• Buffet breakfasts.
• Kia’s birthday on the Mekong — sunrise boat ride, floating market pho, and one very full heart.

Lessons We Learnt This Week

• Slow travel isn’t just a pace — it’s a mindset.
• Kids thrive when we let go of the “shoulds.”
• Vietnam works on trust, community, and resourcefulness like nowhere else.
• Behind every chaotic moment is a story we’ll laugh about later.
• Our family is stronger, more adaptable, and more capable than we realised.

Week One Reflection

This week reminded us why we left:
To slow down.
To connect.
To live while our bodies work, while the kids are young, while we still can.

It’s messy and unpredictable, but it’s also magic.

If Week One taught us anything, it’s this:
Life feels better when you run wild together.