EER009: Digital Nomad Family Life – Where’s Sharon

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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

• Penang, Malaysia
• Bali, Indonesia

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