A: There weren’t many classic trip
obstacles, like luggage snafus or
schedule shenanigans—all the
bumps in the road were either
internal or interpersonal. The
biggest personal challenge for me
was staring my need for personal
space right in the face. The five of
us were together almost 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week, many times
in tight guesthouses. I had to learn
creative ways to get the sensory and
emotional space I needed so I could
emerge a better traveler, wife, mom,
and human. I had to create cocoons
however I could—with an eye mask,
earbuds playing soothing music or a
distracting audiobook, mandatory
quiet times some afternoons... It kept
me sane on the road.
56 Solutions
Q: Was there a funny or scary
experience that stood out in
particular?
A: There was nothing scary, to be
honest, which sometimes people
are disappointed to learn—but I
think it goes to show that most parts
of the world are largely benign and
cordial. But we all still laugh about
our daughter’s 10th birthday at a
safari camp out on the Maasai Mara
in Kenya... The local staff came out
dancing with drums and flaming
torches, slowly inching their way to
our family’s table at dinnertime, then
presented her with a machete to
slice a chocolate cake. They sang
another loud song, complete with
more drums and shouting—she was
mortified, her middle brother was