The Scott Family~ From Las Vegas, NV to Chiang Mai, Thailand

   Meet the Scott family. The Scotts have decided to try something new and expose their children to the wonders of international travel. Their previously home-schooled children will now become world-school children as the world becomes their classroom. This is their motivating story below! 

    1.   Where are you all living now and where did you move from?

         Chiang Mai, Thailand from Las Vegas, NV

2.   How long have you been in Thailand?

         We arrived on Oct. 25, 2016 so 17 days now

3.   How many kids do you have and what are the ages?

         We are traveling with our 2 youngest children 13 and 15 years old.

4.   What was the reason for the move?

  We wanted to try something new and give our children the gift of international travel. Our children are home-schooled so we just turned it into world-school. We believe that the best learning tool for our children was to allow them to learn and experience different cultures. We want our children to be “out of the box” thinkers and not be trapped by the status quo. It is our responsibility as parents to raise great adults and we believe that through travel they will be.

5.   How did you prepare for the move?

    We sold most of our belongings, moved out of our 4000 sf home and into our RV to save money and prepare for the possibility of not living up to our usual western standards.

6.   What were the travel requirements (visas, passports, etc.)

   We needed to have updated passports; since we are traveling in Southeast Asia we can get visas in arrival in most countries.

7.   Have you all had any bouts with homesickness? 

   We have not experienced any yet, in fact we are in no rush to  return back to the states

8.   How did your extended family respond to the decision to move abroad

   Honestly, they thought we were crazy but that’s nothing new to us. We have always been different.

9.   Did you all travel on a regular basis before moving?

     Yes, we always do road trips and once a year we take big trips.

10. Are your kids in traditional school or home-schooled

     Home-schooled

11. Are your kids learning or have learned the local language?

Yes, our children have a language tutor and are learning the local language.

12. How has the move affected your family (pros & cons?) 

It forces us to be thankful for what we have. It causes us to be open minded and willing to try new things. It teaches us to respect others and to be patient with ourselves.

Cons: None

13. Have there been any cultural shocks?

The food is very different than even the Thai food back in the states. Traffic is crazy here and they drive on the opposite side of the street. Very few locals speak English and the smells in the city takes some getting used to.  

14. Have you experienced any racism in Thailand?

We have not experienced racism as a family from the local people but, there have been a few times that my husband was out alone and could not get a tuk-tuk or taxi. My husband and I have experienced racism in the form of dirty looks and under the breath comments from some pale-skinned Australians and southern pale-skinned from the states.

15. Do you think it’s important for black families to travel and if so why?

Absolutely! Wow where do I start… It is very important for our children to have heroes and they should be us as black parents. We should be the ones to introduce them to the world and help them to understand their place in the grand scheme of life. They need to know that they are respected and loved by others. They deserve to experience something other than the culture of hate and racism that plagues the United States. It is also important to understand how the world works and how to thrive in it. Unfortunately, in the states black people live in constant fear of being themselves which causes deep emotional turmoil. We live with a slavery mindset and feel inferior to others, which breeds self-hate. Going abroad teaches many things about self and also how to trust your inner voice. It brings you closer as a family and closer to the global family as a whole. Travel also removes the “self-entitlement” belief and teaches compassion for others.

16. Did you secure employment before the move?

No

17. Do you plan on staying permanently? 

Staying abroad permanently…yes, not necessarily staying in Asia permanently.

18. Any advice for potential expats who want to raise their children abroad?

Yes. Don’t be afraid, YOU can do it. Do some research on where you would like to travel. Get the children involved by watching documentaries, reading books and searching for info on the web, the internet has made the world very small! If possible, try and reach out to someone already there. Don’t overwhelm yourself and trust yourself. You know what is best for your family.

19. Obviously people looking to live abroad need an income to sustain, do you have any suggestions of businesses or employers hiring there and what qualifications might be needed?

English speaking teachers are a hot commodity right now….you need a 4 year degree for these jobs.

20. What do you love the most about living in Thailand?

The people and the food!

21. Best advice for someone who wants to move to Thailand?

Bring as much U.S. currency in large bills. The exchange rate is much better plus the ATM here costs $6 per withdrawal.

22. What do you find most appealing in your new environment?

Weather

23. What is something that took your family a bit longer to get used to?

The pace of life is much slower here and the language barrier.

24. What is your family’s social life like in Thailand?

There are quite a few brown skinned expats here in Chiang Mai so we have met a lot of great people. The locals are very nice and there is always stuff to do here.

25. How would you say the cost of living compares to life in America? What can someone expect to spend on housing, utilities and food in the area you live in?

Wonderful! You can get a nice condo for less than $600/month. Most meals cost under $1. Thai massages cost $8 average and even tattoos are very inexpensive!

26. What would you say to other black families to encourage them to travel more and even move abroad?

It’s not as hard as you may believe, just try it!

27. Many people who move abroad often find that the places they move to teach them things they didn't learn or experience in their former communities. What have you learned?

Freedom!

28. Favorite family memory thus far?

Sunday night street market shopping!

29. How we can we continue follow your family’s journey?

Unfortunately, we don’t blog/vlog our travels.