It's been 12 days since we flew out of Seattle with eyes set on Agadir, Morocco...our 4 month trip is officially underway.

​Agadir was my hometown for 14 years. It's feels about 4 times the size it was from when I left. I hardly recognize it, but will occasionally experience a flashback.

So far, the trip has been great. We're safe, healthy, adjusted to the time difference and enjoying mostly sunny, 68-70 degree days (though we're entering a patch of colder, rainier weather).

Over the next few months, my goal is to write an email about once a week and give bits of insight into various aspects of our trip (kids, school, work, things we're learning, fun stories, etc...).

Ostrich In The Street

Last week, we ate Moroccan BBQ, at a very local place with tables on the sidewalk. You go up to the butcher (behind us in the picture), order various cuts of meat, and then hand it to a guy behind a grill who adds some Moroccan spices and hands it back.

In the middle of dinner, to the left of the photo above, we notice a man walking down the street next to the restaurant, arm around an ostrich's neck, walking together like they were out on the town.

That's Morocco. A million wonderful things you expect, and then something really random that just makes you stare...wondering.

Kids

Gideon, Greta, and Oz are thriving. We are incredibly proud of them and thankful the adjustment has gone well so far.

Greta, almost daily, gushes about how much she loves Morocco.

Gideon is talking about coming back on his own around 16 or 17 with some friends to help family and friends of ours that live here are are working to build homes for the most vulnerable Moroccans were left destitute after a massive earthquake in 2023.

Oz loves that Greta and Gideon include him in their antics and is generally happy to be wherever his siblings are.

Work & School

This trip isn't a vacation as I'm working the entire time (well, taking some actual days off here and there) and the kids are continuing their homeschool.

Both are progressing well. We're adjusting to the new routine, many of my evenings here taken up with meetings with my team and clients back in the US.

Kirsten and I are using various AI tools to craft much of the kids' curriculum over the next few months. With geography, history, writing and more tailored to each country we're in. They are learning a lot, asking lots of questions, and being curious...which is the main goal of education anyway.

They all got excited when we told them part of their curriculum on this trip would be days free of math, writing, or grammar where there only task would be to work all day making a movie to show us.

Naturally, the current story line involves a body boarder and shark encounter...limbs being eaten and all 🙄

We'll also be teaching the older two how to prompt using AI to create characters, a plot line and then turn it into a short book they read. It's kind of incredible how much we're using AI on this trip, for travel, work, school, and even translation.

I'm excited to expose them to what will undoubtedly be a gigantic part of their future.

Favorite Things

The beach wins in this department. The kids want to go swim, play soccer in the sand and body surf any chance they get. The weather is cooperative at times.

Food takes second place. Moroccan food is so good, but especially when I spent the majority of my childhood enjoying it. It brings back many memories.

The weather, though rainy and cool at times, it mostly sunny with clouds. It is a wonderful break from the grey and dark of Washington. Light and sun are just incredible. I know there's more research being done about their affects on us, but I don't think we'll ever fully understand how significant they are to our physical and mental health.

Stay Connected

As I said earlier, I'll aim to write every week. If you ever have questions or want to get in touch, just reply here.

​Beslama!