Written by Laura Helen November 9, 2018
WE'RE HEADING OUT TO ROMANIA, YOU ASK WHY…?
IS IT FOR THE HOT, SUNNY WINTER WEATHER?
IS IT BECAUSE OF ITS DREAMY LOCATION?
NOPE, IT’S BECAUSE IT’S FREE! YES, YOU HEARD THAT RIGHT – IT'S FREE!
People even crazier than us (we, a family of digital nomads) share their properties online, looking for house sitters. Thanks to our location-independent lifestyle, we get to reap the benefits of this. So, here we are, sat on a plane, with each flight ticket costing just £17!
We’re flying out to a country we've never visited, to meet people we've never met, speaking a language we are yet to learn. No wonder people think we’re crazy… but we love the adventure of the unknown. We love travelling with kids.
We arrive by taxi at 3 or 4 in the morning, local time. Not only are our hosts up to welcome us, but they also help unload and carry in all our luggage while we struggle with heavy, sleeping children. They show us to our room and assure us there’s no need to rush to get up the next day – just rest and get up when we’re ready.
Just the welcome we needed at that crazy hour! The next morning, the kids were super excited to see where we’d landed and to meet some Romanians. We headed down for ‘pancakes’ for breakfast, and the kids were thrilled – they ate loads!
Afterwards, we packed up, loaded into their car, and they drove us nearly two hours to their property to help us settle in. They treated us to lunch and drinks on the way, packed extra blankets, pillows, and games for the kids, and even provided us with a local SIM card to use during our stay. They shared so much about themselves and the area we would be staying in.
We arrived in the dark, and once again, the children went straight to bed while we unloaded and thanked these lovely people.
The next morning, we woke up with our little one in bed with us (this often happens on the first night in a new place). He jumped out of bed, looked out of the window, and excitedly described everything he could see. Then it was “Vamos, Daddy! Let’s go!” (we had flown from Spain).
They went off to explore our new home for the next few months. We love travelling with kids – they find the magic in everything.
In a separate part of the building, there were three small kittens, and the children instantly fell in love. There’s plenty of space, both indoors and out, for them to explore and play. I spent most of my day creating Romanian flashcards for the little ones to start learning the local language.
We even had a live-in host for the first few days, helping us with everything we needed to know. Super helpful, friendly, and polite. After a tasty dinner together and story time, the children snuggled up in bed and drifted off to sleep, leaving David and me to reflect on yet another crazy adventure.
Did we really know what to expect?
Did we even know this place existed?
Did we know we’d be welcomed by such a lovely, hospitable family?
NO!
We didn’t, and we completely underestimated their kindness and how welcome we would feel. We’re so happy with the start of our latest adventure.
English Author, Entrepreneur, Minimalist and Digital Nomad.