ABOUT US
Read our Declaration of Independence, Why We Blog and How We Got Itchy Feet to Travel and See the World
BHAG: Big Hairy Audacious Goals
We Say NO to Status Quo.
Live Small. Live Green. Give Large. Take Little.
Take Notice. Take Action.
We are a family of three, with a passion for travel, seeking out new experiences, meeting new people, and living simply. We are striving to relocate, yes, you read correctly, as in MOVE, to Thailand Ahhumm – as of July 2010, we did move. We did it! we sold just about everything we own in a city we’ve lived for 30 yrs and relocated to Chiang Mai, Thailand with our now 7yo daughter.
We want to experience Asia sloooooowly! And when we are done with Asia– well, how about we just wait and see which continent the wind will take us to next! (Why Asia you ask? Click here to find out!)
When we return to the U S, every so often and whenever we fancy, our goal is to live in an RV much like our inspiring friends @Technomadia hopefully, somewhere along the Pacific North West!
We share our stories to:
1) document travel memories for our daughter,
2) showcase that service to others and travel could be combined,
3) travel in and of itself is an educational experience for our child,
4) live with only the *necessities* without the need to overindulge in material possessions, and
5) inspire other families to get out of their comfort zone and explore (even if it means in your own backyard!). It can be done without breaking the bank!
“@GotPassport” as we’re known on Twitter is comprised of three major characters:
“The greatest service you can ever do is to teach your Children how to make Good Decisions.” ~Mike Wesely
DisneyWorld Spring Break 2009
Starring: Emma – (We post Emma-isms on Twitter: @EmmaGotPassport) A child with an enormous personality for such a small “package.” You may hear us refer to her affectionately as “our package.” She’s attending a Montessori School in Texas and we think she’s a genius…:-)
As of May 2009, she’s into Tae Kwan Do, composing songs and chatting endlessly!
As of March 2010 she’s enjoying mad science, directing plays and still chatting endlessly!
As of May 2010 she enjoys singing, dancing to her own tunes she composes and hungry most of the time. Discovered YouTube! Eeek!
“The most beautiful make-up of a woman is passion. But cosmetics are easier to buy.” ~Yves Saint Laurent
Horseshoe Bend, Page Arizona Summer 2009
Co-Starring: Aye - @BhagNow She’s a Burmese American self-employed Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) by trade, but loves to dabble in anything that interests her. For example, she also has earned a Massage Therapy License (LMT), and is also a Burmese Language Interpreter and Certified Zumba Gold Instructor (Confession: not one class taught yet though attended many, hee hee!!). She often makes time to give back to the community as a volunteer working with the Burmese Refugees, the Mexican patients on Mexico Medical Missions and numerous other efforts over the years. However, her first love is TRAVEL! She’s the main driving force behind our excursions around the globe, and most of the posts on Twitter, and the blog are from Aye (pronounced “A”). Aye also loves to cook and eat, especially anything sour & spicy. The hubby has learned to never ask her (or her mom) whether a dish they’re having is spicy, as when they say “No,” his mouth is already on fire.
“Life would be dull without garlic, lime and chili peppers” direct quote by Aye!
Burmese Buddhist Temple, Chiang Mai, Thailand Summer 2009
The other Co-star, The Professor: Jack - @JackGotPassport He’s the muscle to Aye’s brains. Not really – regarding the muscle, not Aye’s brain. He’s a Psychology professor (students call him “Dr. C”) who is passionate about teaching, and inspiring students to live to serve the greater good. He is working on combining his online teaching (Distance Learning, or “DL”) with Service Learning, “SL.” Jack is in many ways a typical guy – loves cars, electronic gadgets, and sports. His jump shot was legendary (insert joke here) back during his intramural sports years at U.T. Look for pictures of him practicing Tai Chi as we travel!
While we do not define ourselves only by our academic credentials (Social Worker and Psychologist), we feel that our educational training and life experiences have provided us with unique lenses to view the world. We hope to not only share those viewpoints and experiences with y’all (see, we’re Texan after all), but to have conversations with folks who desire to break free from the trappings of everyday life.
So what’s YOUR BHAG?
Read our Declaration of Independence post written while we were in Thailand Summer 2009, Why We Blog and How We Got Itchy Feet to Travel and See the World!
Cheers!
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller
What luck to find this blog. My daughter is also in a Montessori school currently and I also think she is a genius and I also want to make a life helping others, seeing the world and helping my daughter understand the world! I have a BA in psychology and am getting my MSW right now. In may I plan to go to Mae Hong Son for a while to volunteer. That’s a lot of commonalities between us! I can’t wait to dig through your blog but after reading this first page I just had to post something. Hope life is treating y’all well (I was born in Texas).
I think your dream took more energy – but I can certainly relate to living a dream. Nice to be able to check in on you all and know all is soooooo good for you!
Dianne
Hello Dianne, Thanks for stopping by and checking in on us. We’re just slowly settling in now in Chiang Mai. Let us know if you are coming this way!!
Thanks for sharing your site at expat+HAREM’s Facebook page Aye! This about page alone is tons of fun, and I’d live in that Burmese temple if I could. Ideas for painting the house….hmmm. Your family’s mission is inspiring.
Hello Anastasia. Great to find you here. Glad to know we are inspiring others in the process of living our dream. cheers!
Can’t wait to see pics and hear more! keep up the great work!!
Thanks Angela for visiting our blog. Hope to see you here again soon. cheers!
Woohoo! Loved the descriptions
Meet you all soon in our new hometown! Chiang Mai!
Cheers!
I love your BHAG! I can’t wait to meet up again in Thailand! Keep blogging and telling us about your awesome adventures–we always need new lenses to see our world.
Love,
Aloha
Hey Friend,
Thanks for being here and for your comment. See you soon.
I love the sunflowers on the sides! You’re website seems really cute. RSSed!
Thanks, Erica!!
Pingback: For Haiti: What We Can Do NOW (info. updated regularly) « Got Passport: Will Travel, We'll Serve
Greetings,
Bhutan is definitely on our To Do list! We may be visiting there before you know it!
Thanks for finding us.
Cheers,
Pingback: Are YOU part of the problem? « Got Passport: Will Travel, We'll Serve
Hello Jack ,Aye, & Emmma!
It is gr8 to run into your blog. Like the fact that you are influencing folks to get out of their comfort zone.Happy Travels and look forward to reading your updates. Pl. take care and let us stay in touch. Lemme know if your travels bring u to my area. Cheers~
Glad I stumbled on this blog. I particularly like the ideas that “service to others and travel could be combined.” This is something that I hope to realize more fully in 2010. I look forward to hearing/reading about your ongoing journey!
Hello Veron,
Welcome to our blog. Thanks for visiting. Glad to know you are also reaching for a combination of travel and service, although service could be given no matter where you are, even without the travels.
Here’s hoping we inspire others to take action and pay it forward!
Pingback: Pictures from the Travel Community to Spark Your Wanderlust
I love reading your stuff mostly because you have such a sense of service to the world and your goals are not just about making your own lives more fun. I’m proud to be a fellow Texan!
Thanks Carmen for your support. Yes, being of service seems to be our thing and follows us everywhere.
I really hope to meet you and your family one of these days!
Sounds like some amazing adventures with many lined up in the near future. Your daughter must be learning so much about this wonderful world we live in at such an early age. I look forward to the upcoming stories.
Hi Casey,
yes, we are very excited about our future for our daughter (the three of us!. Thanks for coming by and giving us a shout.
From one Texan/UT graduate to another, good job ya’ll! follow your dreams and passions, and dare to make a difference. I, too, am a teacher, not a job for me, but a calling. Your daughter is so lucky to have parents with a Global perspective. Good luck on all your adventures. God bless, LisaB.
Hello Lisa, Thanks so much for your encouragement and support! Really appreciate it!
That’s a great bio, guys! The site is looking really good. Awesome content. Keep up the good work!
Hey, it’s our friend Richard from BKK! Thanks so much for the visit and for your continued support! We’ll come find you in BKK in 2010!
happy to have found you, and I will be following with glee, hopefully in your footsteps as well, I have 2 small daughters and your are an inspiration.
Robert
@LinkedAustin
Robert, Really great to see you here on our blog. Thanks for visiting and for leaving a comment. Looking forward to connecting with you.
Great stuff
You are one of my favs on twitter it’s always great to learn more about your twitter connections
Love your tweets and reading about your adventures
BTW I am @MarcusAdkins
Thanks for your kind comments, Mark! Great to see you here on our blog. We look forward to your future visits.
I love the picture of your daughter at Disney World. And based on the date, it looks like we were there at the same time! Talk about a “small world!”
@Sarah Hello there! Thanks for visiting our blog and leaving a comment for us. We’ve taken Em to Disneyland a couple of times and promised her we’d take her to Disney World for her 5th birthday. We all had a blast!! It felt like the whole world was there during Spring Break. So, yes, very small world.
So glad I know you from twitter! You are such a great family. Emma is adorable! @smittytabb
@Linda Great to see you here on our blog, Linda. Thanks you so much for leaving a comment. I look forward to a continued connection with you on Twitter.
aye
guys, thanks for your tweet!
hope you can make a video for us on your trip!
happy traveling!!!
cheers,
Levi
Absolutely great..I shall return
Wow, that is impressive and makes me want to go to different places too.
e-