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Chris Westphal
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Chris Westphal is a freelance writer. He is also a parent who, with his wife, always wanted to travel the world. Their responsibilities and their children kept them from doing so. But, finally, they decided to go anyway. The children were not being challenged in school; the parents thought they might be challenged by having to learn another language; so they decided to go to Prague, Czech Republic, for an entire year. They rented their house, put bank accounts in safekeeping, and moved to Europe.
Although the move was difficult at first, and not knowing the language was a definite handicap, the whole family now says their year abroad changed their lives in many positive ways. The children came home with more confidence. They had gone to a new school, made new friends and had learned another language. Their parents found work and good friends as well. Since returning home to California, the children have continued to enjoy school and friends, and the family has hosted a different foreign exchange student every year.
Chris Westphal is an entertaining speaker. He can offer detailed, practical tips on travel, including picking a country, how to pack, find a job and housing, manage finances, find a school and travel with children. The year abroad option may be useful for families of highly gifted children who are ahead of age peers in school. A year or two abroad keeps them challenged, and allows them to be more mature when they return.
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