When we met Joanna a year ago she told us about her wonderful experience in Boundless Tuscany. This Spring, we had the pleasure of welcoming her back - this time, to majestic Syros. 

I caught up with her to learn more about how she has created a ‘hybrid’ approach to life by dividing her time between Boundless living and time spent in her ‘home base’.

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Joanna, you joined Boundless Life last spring in Tuscany - what made you take the first step?

Travel has always been important to my husband and I. It wasn't so much about covering every corner of the globe, but simply exploring new places that were different to our everyday lives and routines. 

After having kids we found it important to keep a routine within reason, but also continue to travel and occasionally skip that daily routine. Boundless Life was appealing for many reasons - with the core being our love for travel. My husband's job is not as flexible in terms of working remotely. Boundless Life allowed me the opportunity to be in a foreign country without my husband and still feel safe. It also gave my family a community in an otherwise foreign place. Travelling by myself can be lonely but Bounldes afforded me the opportunity to make it a reality. 

You can learn more about Joanna’s experience ‘Flying Solo’ in Tuscany here. 

You’re living the Boundless Life 3 months per year and staying in your home base during the rest of the year. Can you tell us a bit about your setup with your daughters’ school back home? 

For the past two years, we have withdrawn our kids from their traditional schools in Tampa, FL. In our experience, the elementary principal has been very supportive. We have to legally withdraw them from the school district (the two that attend public elementary school) and then I re-enroll them over the summer.  It is worth highlighting that my experience might differ from that of others - as there can be differences by country, district, state or even school. 

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What are your tips for having the first discussion with the school principal?

I think it is most important to believe in what you are doing and how important this experience could be for your family. Most of the time, people will say “Wow, that sounds amazing, but I could never do that.” Your principal or administrator will probably have the same sentiments. Be prepared to create a plan with your principal as you are probably the exception, not the norm. For us, it was more about telling the school what our plans were and determining what the legal requirements were. For some families, who might be speaking with a private school, this conversation might sound different as private sectors can decide whether or not to save a spot for your child/children. Know what you want and work as a team with your school! 

This year you were in Boundless Syros. Next Spring, you’re heading to Andalusia, Spain. Please tell us why this hybrid lifestyle feels right for your family.

Everyone’s situation is unique, but for our situation, we felt that our kids were flexible with temporarily moving location and were academically equipped. We were comfortable with their progress within the FL state standards and felt they had a solid educational base if the Boundless Education wasn’t completely aligned. If necessary, I was willing to supplement educational resources. Whatever they might miss in education, I know we would make up in cultural experiences. As a prior educator, the opportunity to travel and receive an education was priceless. If it didn’t work out, we could always go back. Obviously that isn’t the case because we’re returning for our 3rd cohort, Spring 2025! 

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You have 3 daughters aged 5, 8, and 10. How are they handling the transition from their normal school to Boundless Education each year, and then back to normal school? Any tips for other parents?

Again, this answer is VERY individualised but in our experience, our children have had an easy transition. I did find that traditional school this past year was not their favorite, but thankfully they had wonderful teachers. However, when it was time to leave for Syros in April, they were all thrilled to head back to another Boundless cohort. My Advice? Just try it. While 3 months might seem like a long time, it will not make or break your child's educational experience, but it could engrave lifelong memories beyond the educational element.

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Huge thanks to Joanna for taking the time to introduce her family to our community, and for sharing more about her wonderful design for life!