International Travel, It’s Not Just a Stamp in Their Passports
Feb 20, 2026 | by Yuliya Patsay
International travel, it’s not just a stamp in their passports
International travel, what is it good for? Absolutely everything.
April 2022
Our twelve-year-old is about to embark on her class trip to Mexico. I’m not given the opportunity to chaperone. So I micromanage instead…
“The suitcase can’t exceed 22 lbs. This is 47! You have got to pare this down! I see a lot of dresses, but did you bring anything you can get dirty in?”
This is met with a groan.
“Oh, and listen to Mr. Kyle’s email:
‘The children will be in classes from 1:30 to 6pm Monday to Friday. School requirements: be punctual, wear clean clothes, wear shoes all the time, and be respectful. The children will be integrated into all the curriculum classes and all the activities that the school may have.’
Wow, so you’re going to have to speak Spanish while you’re in school? Should we maybe practice speaking Spanish at home so you feel better prepared?”
This is met with an eye roll.
“Who are you rooming with?”
This is met with an extemporaneous speech about the unfair, cruel teachers who are trying to ruin her trip to Mexico.
“Okay, well, I know you’re not exactly best friends, but this is a good learning opportunity for you. And remember the New Village School rule: you don’t have to like everyone, but you have to love them.”
This is met with a dramatic sigh.
“Will you remember to eat a vegetable every once in a while? And not have too many sweets?
How about sunscreen? And a hat? You know if you don’t wear your hat in the sun you will get sunstroke and DIE.”
This is met with, “God, Mom, you are so dramatic.”
(Well, isn’t this the pot calling the kettle black?)
Dad takes matters into his own hands and emails the teachers:
“With the weight restrictions and liquid restrictions, we're concerned that we won't be able to send enough sunscreen and bug repellent to last two weeks. Is it possible to provide full-sized bottles of both to put into the checked bag? We can provide several so that the whole group can use them.”
Señora Cabrera responds cheerily, “Don’t worry, we can buy more in Tapalpa!”
But obviously, we feel nervous about more than just adequate sun protection.
This is our baby. Our firstborn. Traveling internationally for the first time without us.
What if she forgets something at home?
What if she’s homesick?
What if she gets sick?
There are many fears and many unknowns. But this is what we signed up for.
We did our research. We went on countless tours. And this is the school we picked for our daughter, for our family.
We were won over not just by the campus or the fresh Sausalito air. Not just by the teachers hailing from every corner of the world. But by the alums who came to speak at open houses.
We were won over by the steady, self-assured way they spoke and looked us in the eye. By the strong sense of self they possessed, a quality I frankly envied as a young mom.
And every single one of them spoke of how travel, especially international travel, was a key component of their development. How it helped them figure out who they are and how they fit into the greater world.
Pretty soon, they are off on their red-eye flight, and we await an update with bated breath.
Mr. Kyle delivers:
“¡Estamos aquí! We’re here.
We are staying in a lovely little hotel just above the intimate town plaza. We settled ourselves upon arrival, rested a good moment, then ventured out for a relaxed brunch of eggs and pancakes, chilaquiles and tacos, fruit, fresh juice, and other tasty little bites.
By the early afternoon, we went for our first adventure: horseback riding and zip lining. Good times were had by all (with more photos to come). Then it was back to the hotel, where remarkably, even the most anti-nappers among them found themselves sound asleep for a solid stretch.
We’re now off to bed. More good hours of sleep to come before our first morning activity (clay) and day of school in the afternoon.
We will also head to Doña Rosa’s for our meals beginning tomorrow morning. I have heard for years about her legendary cooking and am quite excited.
Buenas noches, con amor, de nuestro pueblo mágico de Tapalpa, Jalisco, Mexico,
Señora Cabrera, Mr. Kyle y sus niños.”
What helps settle my nerves is knowing that while our children are in the care of these teachers, they become their children.
What these teachers provide for our children on these trips is incredible. They are mother, father, and auntie all at once. Soothing nerves. Setting boundaries. Settling upset tummies.
We hit refresh on our emails a few times a day until finally another message arrives:
“We made it to our hotel in Manzanillo around midday, and in a jiffy, everyone was in their swimsuit and in the pool or in the ocean. Throw in the buffet restaurant and the children were in absolute heaven.
Our days were relaxed and fun, but active and long. Following hours of swimming and playing and chilling in the water, we ended our first two days with memorable shows put on by the hotel. I don’t want to spoil any stories best heard directly, so I’ll just say that we had some very brave ‘volunteers’ participate on stage the first night, haha.”
I know when she comes home she will have so many stories to share.
Stories she has because she has had the opportunity to discover who she is, separate from us and our influence.
But it’s not just about the memories she is making. And it’s not just about how she has grown and matured in these last two weeks.
It is also about us.
Our practice of letting go.
Of trusting that what we have taught has taken root.
And that she is capable of making her own way in the world without us.