The Reid Dynasty
Kharron: A software developer who makes geek look chic. Grew up in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and went to college at Boston University. Kharron loves everything technology including building phone applications for fun, writing software to make the chicken coop door automatic, and working at his San Franciscan based marketing company.
Jenna: Psychology major turned mortgage company Account Executive looking to find her dream job during this life adventure. Grew up in the mountains of Santa Cruz, California where everyone recycles and thinks of earth first. Jenna enjoys giving back to the community and raising environmentally conscious children.
Azalea: Otherwise known as Ze or Woo, born January 19, 2012. We like to call her spicy, this girl can throw some 3 year old attitude. Not only is she beautiful, she’s hilarious and can talk more than a teenage girl on the phone.
Titus: “Little Man” was born October 5, 2014. So far he likes, breast milk, his amazing sister, Mommy, Mommy, and Mommy. Sometimes he does offer his other roommate “Daddy” a smile.
Rigley: Part boarder collie & part mutt, Rigley is our athlete. He would leap tall buildings for a Frisbee or a ball. We picked him up from an animal shelter while on a road trip a few years ago.
Tasha: Her majesty was a packaged deal with Jenna. She’s a sensitive girl who loves her food and would weigh 300 lbs if we let her.
Bala: Adopted after our move to Nicaragua to ward off mice. This cat will eat an entire gecko. We recently found the remains of a rat head and intestines on our patio. He is now the ruler of the animals and enjoys swiping at Tasha just for fun.
So why on earth would we move this Fabulous Four +2 to another country? We decided to move abroad for many reasons; the chance to learn Spanish, get out of the American rat race, expose ourselves and children to a different culture and simpler way of life, and for the adventure. We could feel our family becoming consumers and forgetting what was important in life and began to realize time wise, we were in the sweet spot. Jenna’s income was decreasing with the rise in mortgage rates, Kharron was already working remotely, and the kids weren’t in school yet. If we just went for a couple years we could put our life in the States on hold. We could come back in time for Ze to start kindergarten and Titus to go to the preschool up the street. We would have a strong knowledge of Spanish and Jenna might find a new career path that better aligns with who she is as a person.
Travel is very important to us. Jenna traveled extensively growing up and with friends after college and Kharron has always had aspirations to see the world. When we dated we often talked about moving abroad for a few years…we didn’t realize then, that we’d be doing it with two kids.
We’ve decided to take the road less traveled by, it could make all the difference.
jennajahn2@hotmail.com
Thanks Jenna. I signed up to get email notifications.
Jenna,
Also thinking about moving our family down to Nica. Our kids speak Spanish and are a little older than yours. Have you looked into local schools? What does it take to enroll?
Thanks
I Jeff. I’m actually about to write a blog about my daughter going to a local school for this month. It seems its very easy to enroll, but the education isn’t great. You could do some home schooling along with a local school…
Please forward a copy of school blog once posted. My kids are 5,6,7 and I would like to get them into the local environment. Thanks
Just published!
Appreciate your comments re schools. It sounds like there are a few options down there but you chose to send the kids to SJDS. How far behind do you feel the local schools are compared to what they would be taught in the states?
I would say pretty heavily behind. For instance last week there was no school for a day, I think it was because the teacher couldn’t be there and the local schools don’t have substitute teachers. Yesterday I think the school director was the teacher and today, school got out at 10:30am instead of 11:30am. Sending kids to a local (free) school would be fine if you supplemented with home schooling.
Jenna,
We are traveling to SJDS over the thanksgiving holiday. My wife and I would appreciate meeting for coffee to discuss your experiences there. Will you be around? Thanks
Nice chatting with you Jeff. I hope to see you in November.
Hey Jenna + Kharron~
Our family is en-route to move to Nicaragua this week from Santa Ynez, California. ( Via Wisconsin six years ago)
We’ve loved your blog, advice, thoughts…stories! You guys are truly lovely in so many ways!
We have for boys Max + Fin, ( 16) Sigerson (15) + Gus (10).
If you’re open to it, we’d love to meet up! We are renting various houses until we find land to buy and build.
My e-mail is tracy@poeticwanderlust.com
My husband Johns is John@poeticwanderlust.com
Thanks so much! Looking forward to meeting you!
Cheers!
xx
Tracy + John Porter
Thank you for this blog! We will most likely see you in August…our Kiddo Denali will be in 3rd grade at the SJDS Day school. I feel like all the people we talk to in SJDS are clones of us(in a good way)…because we are all seeking the road less traveled, and clearly have a lot in common already. We do a lot of business in Detroit and noticed K watching the Lions – woot woot! We love beer at the park. I will miss my chickens dearly and look forward to having Nica chicks – you seem to have sussed that out! Love. It is super comforting to see you all happy and thriving as we get ready to make this leap. We also really debate about the “touristy” scene in SJ, but also appreciate all it offers, and I loved reading you had done the same and chose to stay…we also will not be taking a trip to investigate before just taking the plunge, although all speak spanish abad have traveled extensively throughout Mexico and Central Am. Thanks again, I’ll look forward to your next post and perhaps we will get to cheers in the park one day soon! Love. Alisha
Great! Can’t wait to meet you!
Thanks for your information here we are building in El Encato Del Sur.
Great!