Speaking of people who do incredible things most people only dream about… I’ve been meaning to write a review of Pins on a Map for weeks. It’s also one of those books that I had to devour during baby’s long afternoon nap.
Who doesn’t dream of packing up the fam and heading around the world for a year?!
Pins on a Map is the true story of David Boesch, who, along with his wife and 3 kids, traveled to 17 countries on 6 continents in 345 days. Each chapter shares the lessons his family learned about other cultures and people and themselves, as well as practical tips for other would-be world travelers.
I loved every page.
Even the opening chapters about how the family prepared financially and logistically for the undertaking were exciting. And the final chapter, in which David talks about his bittersweet feelings at the trip’s end, how he missed his family and his resignation at the tedium of “normal” life, left me feeling a bit blue.
Inbetween are comical and sometimes brutally honest stories about the family’s experiences. You get to find out which places they loved (Japan) and why, and which places they didn’t care for so much. You find out how the family and kids adapted to constant changes and travel (surprisingly well). You also get to learn about some of the frightening events that took place, such as losing your loved ones in a chaotic Bangkok flea market, or your daughter breaking her leg while on the other side of the world.
As a homeschooler,I enjoyed reading the reaction of the school system upon learning of the Boesch children’s travel plans. An employee at the school district where the two younger children attended told them not to worry about the school they would miss during their year off. He advised them to just bring along a math book and a pencil, and that… “The travel will take care of the rest.”
I bet you would enjoy living vicariously through the Boesch family’s adventure of a lifetime too.