For the past eight months, Kourtney and Justin Orzias have lived with two (previously three) checked suitcases, two carry-ons, and a diaper bag while traveling through Mexico. They are currently in Medellín, Colombia.
As well as the couple, their 3-year-old son Xavier and 10-month-old daughter Whitley will also be traveling.
A young black family who previously lived in Georgia made the big decision last year to become fully nomadic. In 2021 alone, he took Xavier to five countries. Now they are excited to be fully immersed in a different culture.
The decisive factor in moving was having a baby daughter. “She realized that if she didn’t go now, she would only have a harder time,” Courtney said.
“Get out”:This mom is using endless road trips to inspire black family vacations
learn more: best travel insurance
Remote work has also helped make that possible, according to Justin. Two of them work in tech. “We were traveling back and forth between Mexico. We love it here and it felt great here,” he said. “Why don’t you move there?”
American tourists can stay in Mexico visa-free for up to 180 days.
What is a digital nomad?
A digital nomad is someone who can work from anywhere with Wi-Fi and make it a lifestyle of traveling to new places.
Conventionally, most digital nomad They were freelancers and online businesses, but the increase in remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic has opened the door for others to experiment with the nomad lifestyle. The movement becomes bigger, too, 15.5 million Americans Recognized as Digital Nomads in 2021, a 112% increase from 2019.
Mr. and Mrs. Orgia gathered their belongings, donated some, and put the rest in storage. They then sold everything else at the estate sale and said goodbye to the house.
According to Courtney, the family left the country on June 1, 2022, which was “poetic” to them given the date’s significance.
A big motivation for their trip is to expose their children to different cultures while they are young, but the parents also want to be a resource for other black families interested in nomadic life.
Delta black farmers:What would a museum dedicated to black farmers look like?
Resources for Black Families
The Orgias family chronicles their adventures as follows. Oh Family Adventures Instagram or blog Orgias Family AdventuresThey share tips on visas, traveling with kids and their favorite things to do at the destination. They also share what it’s like to travel to these places while being black. To do. I chose Guadalajara As a first stop in Mexico because of the “close-knit black expat community”.
The couple wrote on Instagram that Xavier goes to school with kids who look like him, and the community has helped make their transition easier.
“We want to show people, especially families, especially black families, that the world is big and life is short.” I love being able to show.”
General concerns of digital nomads
The couple constantly receives direct messages from other families of color asking how they can live internationally or become digital nomads. .
“Everybody wants to know if it’s safe, but when families of color, especially black families, ask it, it turns out that it means a little bit differently. It leads directly to questions about diversity in specific geographies. It was comforting to experience racism and a lot of questions like that,” Courtney said. be asked questions.
“It was really hard to find people who looked like us.”
The Orgias, especially as a black family, spend a lot of time scrutinizing destinations before they go to make sure they’re safe. Justin investigates conflicts in that city or country.
“You don’t want to go somewhere, but you’re thrown in the middle of chaos with two young children. Other factors include what the weather is like and whether the city is walkable. And so on.
More than 71% of black Americans and Canadians Safety first as “very or very influential” on destination decisions.
They also turned to other influencers on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok to see if there was a good place to bring their kids and what other Black families had experienced during their visit. I understand what it’s like.
“If there is a better place for my children to be freer and safer, why don’t we look for it?” Courtney said.
MORE THAN JUST ADVENTURE
There is a deeper reason why the Origias wanted to raise their children on the road. Kourtney felt as if she had grown up in a “bubble” and she wanted to give her children a different, more global perspective at an early age. When Xavier was younger, he lived a typical suburban life, Justin said. “I enjoy doing something new every day.”
“I think Xavier loves adventure,” Courtney said. “He really enjoys being in different places and meeting different people.” He’s learning Spanish and is always trying new kinds of food.
For Whitley, travel will be “the only thing she knows,” Courtney said.
Courtney wanted her children to grow up to “understand different places and cultures” instead of thinking that American culture was “their default”. Traveling at an early age is benefit their development When it comes to language, empathy, and open-mindedness later in life.
Last November, the family was in Mexico for the Día de los Muertos, and the children witnessed a cultural event not often celebrated in the United States. For Christmas, the family traveled to Morocco, where Xavier learned why some people wear fez and hijabs. They also rode camels and learned about the history of the indigenous Berbers.
Then there’s the issue of safety. This is important for all parents. especially, school shooting recovered after the pandemic.black parents feel good particularly heavy burdenSchool crackdowns have been found to disproportionately affect Black students. Courtney said looking for another place to live outside the United States was also about finding a place where her family could live “more freely and safely.”
“Frankly, the United States has done a lot, especially when it comes to being able to safely raise black children. We believe in the idea that it is easier, safer, and better to go elsewhere.
Kathleen Wong is a Hawaii-based travel reporter. You can reach her at kwong@usatoday.com.