We are Jason and Deborah von Meding and, together with our five children, we will be setting off from Australia to travel for the rest of the year. We plan to spend the majority of our time in Vietnam and will set up base in Hanoi, where Jason will spend time collaborating with a local University. We hope that the trip will allow us to explore many of the surrounding countries, as well as around Vietnam itself!
Jason is an academic at the University of Newcastle and his research looks at risk, disasters and vulnerability. His work has brought him to Vietnam several times before so it just made sense for this sabbatical period. Deborah is an nurse, artist and educator, sacrificing most of her time in this phase of our lives to home-education. Yes indeed, we do home-educate 5 kids (crazy right?!). As tough (and rewarding) as this is, the educational freedom that it yields is actually another big reason why a 6-month Asia trip is possible!
We have 5 beautiful kids aged from 2-11, 3 boys and 2 girls. They are great friends as well as fierce rivals. They are all such interesting characters and every day is an experience in the VM house.
The kids are really excited about the trip but will miss their friends in Australia. We made the big leap from Belfast in 2013 and miss everyone in Ireland (North and South) terribly. This goodbye is different though, since we already have our return tickets! It is certainly a bit daunting to go to live somewhere that you don't know anyone and don't speak the language. (Well, as a family we have been trying to learn to Vietnamese and succeeding to various degrees - our 7 year-old is definitely the most advanced!) These guys and girls are up for anything though :)
This blog will follow the von Medings as we go off into the unknown for the rest of 2016. We can't wait to share some of our adventures with you!
Jason & Deborah
Great stuff - enjoy the journey! :-)
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