A Vacation of a Lifetime

There are a few moments in life when you’ve just got to bite the bullet and go with your gut instinct.

Time is something we all run out of eventually. 

The kids grow up way too fast. You work long hours stuck in an office cubicle or in a classroom in my case. You blink and suddenly the kids are off to college, and you’re staring at an empty nest.

My husband and I decided that we weren’t going to wait that long and went for a big vacation this year. 

A vacation abroad.

A vacation of a lifetime. 

One where we could make memories as a family away from technology like the internet, computers, and cell phones. One where our kids could have the best time of their lives before the awkward hormones set in.

A summer spent with the people who matter the most. 

Family.

How often do you have quality time with your loved ones?

Life is meant to be lived and treasured. 

Work shouldn’t dictate who you are. 

Everyone needs a work / life balance. Otherwise, what’s the point of living without any fun?

Quality time away with those who matter the most, is vital. It’s not just important for our well-being but to make memories and enjoy ourselves.

When you travel to different places, you see a part of a different world. You get a different point of view. You understand better about the world and the people.

We are lucky and have so much on offer on our doorstep and surrounding states, but I have a big birthday this year and I dream of something different.

I’ve always wanted to see Paris. The kids have asked about Disney World so many times this past year because one of our friends went there with his family last summer.

I’ve always said no because a vacation to Disney World is simply out of our price range. As time went on, the thought lingered.

My husband said to me one evening a few months ago;” Why don’t we just bite the bullet, and do both?” 

“But we can’t afford going all the way to Paris!” I exclaimed.

“It’s only money, and we both work.” My husband reasoned and added with a twinkle in his eye; “If you sell a few more books in the future we might pay it off by the time we retire…” 

We both laughed at the idea of paying for a vacation that long. 

Then he got serious.

“Let’s do it, Lizzy. Let’s take our family on the holiday we deserve. Let’s go to France!”

Before the voice of reason could sink in, we had booked the flights, a hotel and Disney tickets. I prayed that I wouldn’t faint when checking my bank balance next time.

My kids have never been abroad before and never flown in an airplane. We always drive and stay overnight for long journeys to visit with family.

Seeing my boys’ excitement as we announced our vacation was worth every Dollar we spent. Then it got even better once we got to France.

France is beautiful. 

The first thing I noticed was the air quality, and the cleanliness everywhere. Even the main freeway round Paris was clean. French drivers were weaving expertly in between the tourists at break necking speed that kept all our eyes glued on the traffic and scenery.

We sped through Paris while landmarks whooshed by our windows in the distance with my kids shouting out each one. 

“Mommy, daddy, look! There’s the Eiffel Tower!”

We had not told them yet that we would be climbing it during our vacation.

Our hotel had everything we wanted, including a communal pool. Our boys didn’t waste a moment and jumped in while we kept watch. My husband and I joined them as soon as we could don our swim gear. My swimsuit was at the bottom of my bag, so I lost our little game by being last at the expense of my kids and husband giggling like monkeys.

Do you play little silly games with your loved ones to keep it exciting?

We braved a trip to a French Inter Marche (Food market) to buy food and necessities. None of us speak much French so it was an interesting trip trying to decipher the cheese from the butter and the choices of bread alone…

Oh my, we all loved going shopping in France. Who knew? Normally, we get our groceries delivered because we work long hours, but in France we had all the time in the world.

My boys discovered new brands of candy to try, and of course we had to taste fresh croissants, baguettes, and crepes.

I think the only way to really understand a different country’s culture is to immerse yourself in it. I can honestly say that it worked because we have all picked up basic French by speaking it with the people we met. 

Yes, people gave us strange stares, and I could see prejudice in some. However, if someone sees you genuinely try to speak and blend into a culture — locals will help.

At the end of the day, we are all human beings, and our body language can speak universally for us. Failing that, we have fingers to point with, right? Lol.

We all learned how to ask for ice cream, drinks, and bread in French. 

Have you ever tried to explore another culture that was different from your own? How did you feel?

Yes, it’s hard work being a tourist on foreign soil with a different language and customs. It’s so worth it though, and I’ve had the best time away.

Time away from everything you know and take for granted is something we don’t often do. 

We took our boys to Disneyland in Paris, and we had a great time on the rides and attractions. I’ve been to Disney World in Florida, so I know the parks are similar. 

The only major difference is that in Paris, Mickey Mouse can speak both French and English. My boys thought that was awesome.

Our vacation abroad will live in our memories forever, and the bank balance will recover. 

What have you been doing this summer? I hope it’s been a great one.

My name is Lizzy. I’m a trauma survivor, a wife, a mom, a teacher, and an author.

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For more about me: www.elizabethwoodsauthor.com

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