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Digital Nomad Family life is unconventional but extremely rewarding. Sharon Gourlay (from Where’s Sharon) and her family were essentially neighbors of ours for a few months, her home a mere 15-minute drive up the northeast corner of Penang island, in Malaysia. Despite the proximity, Sharon and I didn’t get a chance to meet face-to-face, as one of us was always working (usually me) or traveling (usually her).
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Digital Nomad Family Life – Where’s Sharon
We have, however, been in touch virtually from time to time through various sites and Facebook groups, and I’ve been a fan of her family travel blog for years. In this Epic Education Interview, Sharon tells us about where they’ve been, what they’ve learned and how they are learning to be a digital nomad family.
EPIC INTRO
- Sharon Gourlay, her husband, J and her kids, S and Z (3 and 4 years old)
- Hold passports from: Australia
- Type of travel: long-term and indefinite experimenting into the digital nomad family lifestyle.
- A few places they’ve been: USA, Caribbean, Southeast Asia
On the web: Where’s Sharon | Digital Nomad Wannabe | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
EPIC HABITS
- Have breakfast sorted ahead of time, even if that means the night before
EPIC ECONOMICS
- Multiple sources — via blogging and niche sites. See Sharon’s blogs and other niche sites. Sharon’s husband is a freelance programmer.
- Track income and spending via spreadsheets
EPIC ESSENTIALS
- 1 Laptop: Acer Aspire
- 1 Smart device: iPad
- 1 Kelty Redwing 40-liter
- Baby Carrier: Ergo
- An umbrella stroller model (something that can easily fit into the trunk/boot of a car)
EPIC INSIGHT
- Kids go to pre-school in Penang, where they learn Bahasa & Mandarin.
- Pre-school for one month in Malaysia is the same as Sharon would pay for one day in Australia.
- Some pre-schools in Penang have corporal punishment, so they asked other families about where they recommended first.
EPIC RESOURCES
For kids:
- Art Maker by Playschool
- ABC Reading Eggs
- Pepper Pig World
- Youtube: “The the kids videos of upcoming destinations. Check tourism authorities for high-quality content.”
For parents (websites):
- Skyscanner
- Our Travel Lifestyle: “Where we first learned about digital nomads.”
- Travel with Bender
- Smart Passive Income
- Mathew Woodward
- Tripcase
EPIC ADVICE
- Carve out time for yourself. Sharon and her husband take their own separate solo trips (Myanmar & Japan, respectively) while the other stays with the kids.
- When traveling with kids, have realistic expectations.
- Travel with kids isn’t a holiday in the traditional sense. Especially if it’s long-term.
- With little kids, it’s always good to know where the next meal is coming from. Always have water and snacks soon after you arrive at a new place.
- Location is the most important aspect of a hotel for us: Access to public transport is good, but food and amenities within walking distance is even better with little ones.
EPIC DESTINATIONS
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