Customer Reviews

The Family Sabbatical Handbook: The Budget Guide To Living Abroad With Your Family

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Perhaps I took too seriously the book's cover and title. Bills itself as "explore the world," "Let ... 15 ... families who lived in Europe, China, and South America show you ..."

But the proper title and the proper cover blurbs ought read: Wanna live in an impoverished third world country? You can! Or, perhaps, "How you and your children can live in impoverished Mexico." There is not one word about China or Europe in the book.

Perhaps a better title might be: "Living in Mexico for a year-and-a-half on $35,000 savings, with tips for having fun with your young children"

Here's what I get from the book: Step 1: don't buy a new car and save like heck for a few years until you've saved $35,000. Step 2: ask your young children's teachers what they should cover during their year living in Mexico (the book is solely about Mexico); Step 3: rent your house while you're gone; Step 4: play with your children and anticipate that they will need your love and support during the first few months in a third world country where they don't know anyone or the language; Step 5: learn the language while you live there, and have fun; but don't expect the telephone to work. There's an oddly unfinished story about how the author's friends pestered phone company authorities to get service restored. We learn only that the person at the phone company who said she would help left town for a two week vacation. Did they eventually get their phone service restored? We never find out. Instead, there's a sentence about how bribing a policeman in a corrupt country 100 pesos can get you out of a parking ticket. Just what one is supposed to do with these anecdotes is unclear.

Since I'd believed the title and the book's cover honest, I was enormously disappointed to find no words about how to live in Europe--where England costs about 4 times the U.S. (after factoring in exchange rates and actual cost of living in much of the country). The rest of Europe is also dear these days with the Euro at near-all-time highs. And, as mentioned, there's not a word on China.

Please re-title and re-blurb this book. Living in a third world/developing country/Mexico is, compared to U.S. living, affordable, and one should nurture and love one's children, but I simply must disagree with the others who have reviewed this book. Proceed with caution.

This amazing book is the inspirational tale of a family and their wonderful, challenging and oh-so-rewarding adventure in Mexico AND it's chock full of practical information that will make going abroad to live much easier and more enjoyable. Given the title, you might think this book is only for families--not so. It's a great resource for anyone planning to live abroad for any reason. And, while Bernick and her family lived in Mexico for more than a year, this book is invaluable even for a relatively short stay. My work took me to South America for 6 months (I went sans family) but the "Family Sabbatical Handbook" was the best source of advice/resources/inspiration I found. It saved me time in preparation and many costly mistakes. Buy it!!! Even if you're not sure you want to live abroad, buy it to be inspired to do something truly life-changing. And, if you've already decided to take the plunge, buy it for Bernick's terrific "to-do lists" complete with timetables right down to departure day.

I was so happy to find this book as I was planning a sabbatical from my university to teach overseas in a developing country with my family. The book is amazingly detailed, and provides lots of great lists that I am comparing with my own lists. The discussion about the benefits about taking the kids abroad is fantastic! I really appreciate the details that the author provides, and the story of their family's extended stay in Mexico. While this book is the best one I've found, it very much is geared toward adults who are planning on taking a complete sabbatical - not people working, volunteering, etc. overseas. The book talks about difficulties in meeting locals, boredom, the excessive socializing with ex-pats, etc. I think a lot of that can be resolved by choosing specifically where you go (perhaps not going to a place with a huge ex-pat community) and giving back to the communities you are living in through working or volunteering with local organizations. A sabbatical doesn't simply need to mean a year of rest - but can also mean a year's break from one's routine. This book is an excellent resource and a delightful read, but the options of a sabbatical year can really be thought of much more broadly than it is portrayed.

I am currently planning a round-the-world trip followed by living internationally in different countries for extended periods of time with my 9-year-old son, so the idea of this book was a huge intrigue for me. Thankfully I checked it out from the library, because if I had spent money on it, I'm not sure I would've been very happy with my purchase.

This book may be more helpful to complete travel neophytes, but even if you've only traveled a little, the information in the book isn't all that helpful.

While I appreciate that their sabbatical was in Mexico, it seemed like the vast majority of information they shared was about doing a sabbatical in Mexico. Perhaps a new title would be more representative of the actual content, but I'm sure the publisher wouldn't find that quite as marketable.

On the plus side, she has a very easy-to-read writing style, and it is very personable. Reading it you feel like you are on the journey with her and her family.

If you're a family that has never really traveled outside the country (solo or otherwise), or if you're interesting in living in Mexico with your children, then this book will probably be a great resource for you. If you're interested in other areas of the world, then I would suggest checking the book out from the library first to make sure it will be helpful to you.

Without the daily grind, there is a lot more togetherness to be had as a family. "The Family Sabbatical Handbook: The Budget Guide to Living Abroad with Your Family" discusses why and how a family sabbatical can do wonders for every member involved. Outlining the challenges a family will face, how to face them, and dealing with your children, while coming back to the regular world eventually, "The Family Sabbatical Handbook" contains both interesting and useful ideas, making for a very intriguing read.

My family is about to plunge into a year abroad. Although we have a FullBright grant to support it. This book has been invaluable in helping us to think of all the things we would have missed if we did not have the book. Just gathering ideas and reminders has been so helpful. I would reccomend this book to anyone going abroad with kids for more than a month!!

I'm reading this book and saying, "Why didn't I have this book ten years ago??" It answers so many questions and makes the difficult seem entirely possible. It's well-written and a good read, enlightening about foreign travel in general. I often find this kind of "how-to" book sort of clunky and irritating, but this was a joy to read.

Get this book if you are dreaming of a family adventure. I just purchased two more copies for families I know who are thinking of taking the plunge. Our family spent 6 months in Mexico several years ago and treasured every moment, the good, the bad, the ridiculous and the sublime. I wish I could have read this book before I left!!

We aren't right now planning a sabbatical, but even so, for those who relish armchair travel, but this a treasure. Full of charm and humor, it raises tempting possibilities, makes one admire the grit, flexibility and committment of those who take the plunge, elicits amazement, and here a there a laugh. It illustrates that expanding ones world out, and strengthening the ties within, are possible simultaneously. Big recommend.

If you liked this book, you will probably enjoy "A Brilliant Teacher" about a family that had a similar year-long adventure, but with very different experiences because they were on a limited budget. Those limitations lead them to meet lots of interesting people and have quite interesting adventures with their three children.
A Brilliant Teacher: Lessons Learned from One Family's Journey Around the World