Family Travel Adventures Reach New Heights

Beyond the 9-to-5: The Wigan Family Who Swapped Everything for a Life of Global Adventure

For one family from Greater Manchester, the decision to sell their home, liquidate their possessions, and abandon their careers felt like the most logical step in the world. They chose to exchange the familiar comforts of English life for a boundless journey across the globe with their two young children. This was not a flight of fancy, but a calculated response to a world of shifting priorities, economic pressures, and a deep-seated desire to live differently. Their story taps into a growing movement of families who are redefining the meaning of home, education, and a well-lived life.

Selwyn Van Der Walt and Billie Van Der Walt, accompanied by their sons, four-year-old Bligh and one-year-old Rothko, departed from their home in the Wigan town of Atherton on a Wednesday to commence their new chapter of worldwide exploration. Their ambitious plan began with an immersion into the vibrant culture of South Korea, the first of many destinations in a multi-year itinerary. This radical life change was fuelled by a belief that a richer life awaited them beyond the confines of a conventional lifestyle, one that promised to foster deeper family connections and a world of experience for their young children.

The Tipping Point for Change

The seeds of this dramatic life pivot were sown in the day-to-day realities of modern British life. Billie explained that their substantial life change was a practical response to the challenging economic climate and a desire for greater family togetherness. Much like many families across the United Kingdom, they found themselves grappling with financial pressures that seemed to demand ever-increasing work hours, leaving little room for family life. The sentiment of working just to stay afloat, without seeing each other, became a powerful motivator. The dream was no longer about accumulating possessions, but about accumulating shared experiences.

The couple, who first connected back in 2017 when they were colleagues on cruise liners, has explored over sixty nations together. This shared history of exploration undoubtedly made the prospect of a nomadic life less daunting. After settling back into life in the United Kingdom just prior to the global health crisis, they acknowledged the increasing difficulty of managing their finances. The mother mentioned they would have been happy with just a couple of annual holidays, but the equilibrium between professional commitments and home life in England proved unsatisfactory for them.

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A New Philosophy of Education

A fundamental component of their plan was a different approach to their children's education. The prospect of the formal school system, with its rigid schedules and potential fines for term-time travel, was a major catalyst. Billie stated their reluctance to face penalties for educating their kids through real-world experience. Travel provides an incredibly worthwhile educational component, she added, by allowing one to observe different ways of life and engage with new cultures directly. This belief led them to embrace home education, a decision that quickly evolved into the concept of perpetual travel.

This educational philosophy, often termed "worldschooling," is gaining traction among families who see the globe as the ultimate classroom. Proponents argue that it fosters adaptability, cultural awareness, and a natural love of learning. Instead of enrolling Bligh in a primary school program for this September, they chose to act on their beliefs and truly commit to their travel ambitions. Their choice represents a commitment to the idea that observing different lifestyles provides lessons in history, geography, and social studies that are deeply personal and memorable.

Practicalities of a Nomadic Life

Embarking on such a journey required immense practical and financial planning. The family financed the initial leg of their adventures by selling all their possessions. This clean break was a powerful symbol of their commitment to a new, less materialistic way of living. They plan to chronicle their experiences on their Instagram account, WanderingVanDerWalts, creating a digital record of their adventures for friends, family, and a growing community of followers interested in their alternative lifestyle.

Selwyn also left his role at Wren Kitchens. He has since acquired new skills in coding and software development to find freelance opportunities during their travels. This move into the tech industry was a strategic one, aiming to secure freelance work that could be performed remotely from anywhere in the world. His transition reflects a broader trend of professionals seeking location-independent careers that offer the flexibility to blend work with travel, a cornerstone of the digital nomad movement.

The First Steps Abroad

The family’s expedition began with South Korea as their first destination, a country chosen specifically because neither parent had visited before. They wanted to immerse themselves and their young boys directly into a completely unfamiliar culture, viewing the initial culture shock as a vital part of the adaptation process. Their itinerary features a two-week stay in South Korea, a six-week tour of Japan that includes a special visit to Disney Tokyo to celebrate the second birthday of Rothko, and then a six-week period in China. Following these trips, they intend to reside for longer spells in Vietnam and also Thailand.

This route demonstrates a desire for deep cultural immersion rather than a fleeting tourist experience. By spending several weeks in each country, they aimed to move beyond surface-level sightseeing and gain a more nuanced understanding of the places they visited, allowing their children to form more tangible connections with their temporary homes.

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Embracing the Digital Nomad Family Trend

This family is part of a growing global phenomenon of digital nomad families. Historically, the digital nomad lifestyle was associated with solo travellers or couples. However, with the normalisation of remote work and the development of more family-friendly resources, an increasing number of households with children are choosing a location-independent life. This trend is reshaping traditional ideas about family life, creating a global community of parents who blend professional work with the adventure of travel.

This lifestyle offers the potential for more quality family time and stronger bonds, as the flexibility of remote work allows parents to be more present in their children's daily lives. Shared experiences and the collaborative effort of navigating new environments can foster deep connections. While the lifestyle presents challenges, such as maintaining routines and ensuring stable income, many families find the rewards of a life filled with exploration and togetherness to be a powerful draw. For many, it is a conscious move away from a consumer-driven culture towards one that prioritises experiences.

The World as a Classroom in Practice

The concept of worldschooling, which the Van Der Walts have embraced, is built on the idea that learning is a natural part of life and not something confined to a specific building or curriculum. It encourages children to learn through direct, hands-on experiences. For example, exchanging currency becomes a practical maths lesson, navigating a new city's transport system teaches problem-solving and geography, and interacting with locals provides authentic language and social skills development.

This educational approach allows for a highly personalised learning journey, tailored to a child's individual interests and pace. If a child develops a fascination with marine biology while visiting a coastal region, their learning can focus on that topic. The world offers endless opportunities for this kind of organic, interest-led education. While there are considerations, such as ensuring children have the necessary academic support and social connections, many worldschooling families find creative solutions, connecting with other travelling families and utilising online resources to supplement their children's learning.

The Emotional Landscape of Leaving

While the family’s decision was driven by excitement and a sense of purpose, it was not without its emotional challenges. They concede it has involved some emotional farewells. Billie spoke of the strong sense of community in their town, a place where local business owners, like their regular chip shop proprietor, showed heartwarming kindness, even giving the children presents for their journey. These connections made leaving a bittersweet experience.

The most difficult farewells were for close family members. Billie highlighted the particularly strong relationship her children have with her aunt and uncle, whom they consider their grandparents. Leaving them behind was a significant emotional hurdle. This aspect of their journey underscores a common challenge for travelling families: the distance from loved ones and the established support networks of home. However, the family drew strength and confidence from the stories of other families who had successfully navigated similar paths, which helped to make their own ambitious dream feel achievable.

Navigating New Cultures with Young Children

Travelling with young children, particularly a four-year-old and a one-year-old, presents a unique set of challenges and rewards. The logistics of navigating airports, new foods, and different sleeping arrangements require patience and adaptability. However, children can also be incredible assets in breaking down cultural barriers. Their natural curiosity and openness often lead to spontaneous and genuine interactions with local people that adults might not experience on their own.

For Bligh and Rothko, growing up in a constantly changing environment is likely to instil a remarkable degree of flexibility and resilience. They are learning from a young age to be comfortable with the unfamiliar and to adapt to new situations. Their early exposure to different languages, customs, and perspectives will undoubtedly shape their worldview in a profound way. The family's journey is not just a trip around the world; it is a foundational experience in shaping global citizens.

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A Sustainable Future on the Road

Selwyn’s transition into a freelance coding career is crucial for the long-term sustainability of their lifestyle. The tech industry offers a wealth of remote opportunities, from web development to software engineering, that are well-suited to a location-independent life. This career path provides the flexibility to manage work schedules around travel plans and family activities, a key element in achieving the work-life balance they sought. Success in this field requires discipline and the ability to network and find projects while on the move.

The family’s financial strategy, which began with the sale of their assets, will need to evolve into a model based on consistent freelance income. They will need to manage their budget carefully, taking into account the varying costs of living in different countries. Their journey is a testament to the idea that with the right skills and a strategic approach, it is possible to build a sustainable career that supports an existence of exploration and discovery, freeing oneself from the constraints of a fixed workplace.

An Inspiration for a New Generation

The story of the WanderingVanDerWalts resonates with a growing number of people who are questioning traditional life scripts. Their decision to prioritise family time and life experience over material wealth and a conventional career path is both bold and inspiring. They represent a tangible example of how it is possible to break away from the norm and design a life that aligns more closely with personal values. By sharing their journey publicly, they provide both encouragement and practical insights for others who might be contemplating a similar path.

Their adventure demonstrates that with courage, careful planning, and a clear sense of purpose, it is possible to turn a dream of global travel into a reality, even with young children. They are pioneers of a lifestyle that may become increasingly common as more people seek alternatives to the high-pressure, high-cost nature of modern urban life. The Van Der Walts are not just seeing the world; they are actively creating a new one for themselves and their children, one experience at a time.