Our Background

 

by Jess Marsh

These beautiful images above are from my very first trip abroad. As a native Californian from a family without resources to travel much beyond the neighboring state of Nevada, it took until I was 21 years old to board a plane. I took these photos in Costa Rica when I was 26 on my first international trip, traveling solo. It is a highlight of my life.

Since then, I've lived and worked in 4 countries; I've visited more than 30 countries (honestly I've lost count). My British husband, James, and I met while working at an international school in Germany and had our son, Leonato, in England; he's currently 5 years old. We've already traveled as a family many times to multiple countries and continents.

As internationally-minded educators, we want the world to be Leo's primary classroom. We want to support his learning and development in as many ways as possible. Creating the Worldschooling Quest platform is our way of making this lifestyle a reality for us and easier for others too, because we believe that it's what education should be.

We also realize that not everyone has the opportunity to travel the world, so this platform is for global learners to connect and develop empathy through intercultural connections. Please join the community to 'buddy up' with a school, class, or family across the globe to chat, have a virtual field trip, or plan to meet in-person one day. We can all benefit from the knowledge and passions you share.

We'd love to hear your backgrounds too!

Essential Skills on the Road: How our Worldschooling Journey is Shaping our Son’s Future

As a worldschooling family, one of the most rewarding things we’ve witnessed is the development of our six-year-old son’s 'soft skills’ AKA essential or professional skills. These aren’t skills you can learn from a textbook, but they’re essential for success in both life and work. Watching Leo, our 6-year-old son, grow in these areas has been nothing short of amazing.

Traveling and meeting people from different cultures has made Leo a natural communicator. When words fail, he’s been quick to use non-verbal communication, learning to navigate conversations with children who don’t speak English. It’s in these moments that we see him truly practising empathy, conflict resolution, and finding compromise—skills that are invaluable in any setting.

Leo’s passion for toys has also become a surprising platform for developing his presentation and leadership skills. He’s learned how to bring others into his world, refining his ability to explain games and captivate other children’s interest with enthusiasm and clarity. It’s all about how he communicates and shares, even at such a young age! 

Leo has set challenges for himself to climb higher, even when it scares him.

Chores are another learning experience on this journey. Leo isn’t just helping out; he’s learning about the value of money, how it’s earned, saved, and spent. It turns out, according to a long-running Harvard study, that chores can predict future happiness and success—so we’re all-in! Leo is learning responsibility, time management, and the satisfaction of a job well done.

Creativity is another area where we’ve seen tremendous growth. There are no “bad ideas” in our worldschooling environment. Whether Leo is coming up with new ways to build, play, or create, we’re constantly encouraging him to explore and let his curiosity run wild. His self-defined goals keep him motivated—whether it's saving up for something special, challenging himself to climb higher, or even meditating for 15 minutes.

Leo playing with blocks at Biblio Playa (Torre del Mar, Spain).

The best part of all this? As parents, we get a front-row seat to Leo’s growth. We’re watching his confidence and independence flourish every day, and we couldn’t be prouder of the little world citizen he's becoming.

Worldschooling isn’t just about what children learn academically—it’s about preparing them for life with the essential skills that will help them thrive. And for our family, this journey is just beginning.

Leo and the Alhambra (Granada, Spain) in the background.

We would love to hear how other worldschooling families have seen their children develop these skills! 🌍💬

Follow along at http://worldschooling.start.page and join us at http://worldschooling.quest 

Explore, Dream, Discover

Originally written: 7th September 2024 

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

These words, often attributed to Mark Twain, have echoed in my mind for years, a constant reminder that life is too short for regrets. Today, as we stand on the cusp of a grand adventure, they resonate more profoundly than ever.

As a family, we've made a decision that, to some, might seem radical, even reckless. Several people have called it “brave.” We've deregistered our son from traditional schooling, packed our bags, and set off to explore the world. We're trading textbooks for temples, classrooms for cultures, and standardized tests for the unpredictable lessons life throws our way. 

The prospect is both exhilarating and terrifying. We've lived abroad before, but never as a family. This time, we're not just visitors; we're citizens of the world, embracing the nomadic lifestyle of worldschoolers.

Upon return to the UK from a summer US trip, the pressure of limited time to pack up our home and get on the road is intense. The packing process alone has been a revelation. It's forced us to confront our attachment to material possessions, to distill our lives down to the essentials. As we pare down our belongings, we're also shedding old habits and expectations, making space for new experiences and perspectives.

Another quote attributed to Mark Twain: "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco"
- when and where this photo was taken. 

There's a certain vulnerability in stepping off the well-trodden path, in choosing the unknown over the familiar. But there's also an undeniable thrill, a sense of liberation that comes from defying societal norms and forging our own unique path.

We're not the first family to embark on this kind of journey, and we certainly won't be the last. The worldschooling movement is gaining momentum, as more and more parents realize the transformative power of experiential learning.

But it's not a decision to be taken lightly. It requires a willingness to step outside your comfort zone, to embrace uncertainty, and to trust in the resilience of your family. It demands flexibility, adaptability, and a healthy dose of humor.

Virginia City, California, USA

Most importantly, this quest requires a deep belief in the value of education beyond the classroom walls. We're convinced that the lessons our son will learn through travel, cultural immersion, and real-world experiences will far surpass anything he could glean from a textbook.

We're embarking on this adventure with open hearts and open minds, ready to embrace the challenges and celebrate the triumphs. We know there will be bumps along the way, but we also know that the rewards will be immeasurable.

Our hope is that our journey will inspire others to question the status quo, to reimagine what education can be, and to dare to dream big. Because in the end, it's not the things we do that we'll regret, but the chances we didn't take, the dreams we left unexplored.

So to anyone who's ever felt that tug of wanderlust, that yearning for something more, we say this: don't let fear hold you back. “Explore, dream, discover” - the world is waiting. You might just discover that the greatest adventure of all lies not in the destination, but in the journey itself.

Follow along at http://worldschooling.start.page and join us at http://worldschooling.quest

Leo, 6, and bug at our UK home.