1.  What prompted you and your husband to sell everything, pick up your family, and move to Italy?  
Tim and I had reached a critical juncture in our marriage. Nothing seemed to be working.  We had a beautiful home outside of Los Angeles, two great kids, and a full social life.  However, the demands of the life we had built together, our version of the American Dream so to speak, began to take a toll on us emotionally and spiritually. 

Unexpectedly, while on a business trip to the Italian Riviera, we made an unexpected decision, fueled by faith and the desperate desire to keep our family together, to step out of our lives and give each other and our children a new start. A more authentic existence without the material excess we had come to regard as the norm. It is a decision we will never regret.

2.Why did you choose to live near Genoa rather than a city like Florence or Rome?
Honestly? We chose the area because we were sitting there when we made the decision to move.  A small quaint town on the sea just seemed to be the right fit.

3.Did you home school your children?  
Katie and Matthew, then 15 and 11, attended the American International School of Genoa.  www.aisge.it  The school had an American curriculum and used the same textbooks that they would have used at home in California.  Both Katie and Matthew thrived in this unique setting making lifelong friends from many countries.  

4.Did either of you work while you lived there?
No. We lived off the profit we made when we sold our California home.  

5.What did you do all day?  Did you ever get bored?
We were never bored, not even for a minute.  Having space in our day to simply experience life around us at our own lazy pace was intoxicating. We walked along the sea, explored every nook and cranny of the region, ate impossible amounts of food, and enjoyed traveling to other countries with our children.  

6.What did you do about Health Insurance?  
Though Italy has socialized medicine, we bought insurance from International Medical Group, a company that caters to people who travel or live abroad.  It was affordable coverage and our claims were promptly paid.  

7.Did you need a visa to live there?
Yes. There are strict regulations regarding visa requirements. If you are considering such a move, it is wise to research this early.  

8.Why did you come home?
When we left for Europe our journey was open-ended.  We had no idea what we were in for or how our lives would unfold.  We figured we’d let God lead us into the future.  Well, God forgot to warn us how expensive it was over there.  After about six months we knew that it would be tough to stretch it a second year and still be somewhat fiscally responsible. There were also complications regarding Katie’s upcoming SAT tests and other college admissions requirements.  Though all signs pointed back to California by the end of the year, it was extremely difficult to leave.

9.Do you think that all families should live abroad for a year?
This experience was the most powerful and inspirational experience of our lives.  That being said, it was not always easy.  Living beyond one’s comfort zone may not work for everyone. Only you can know what is best for your family.

Family adventures don’t have to include uprooting lives to be life-changing.  The magic and restorative power of travel comes when you all decide to put each other first and enjoy time together doing something new, whether that be for a day, a week, or a year.