The Sun family of Los Gatos poses in front of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, one of many stops on their world travels that took them to 21 countries in almost a year. “I think this is the best thing I could have given my kids,” says mom Jenny Sun. (Courtesy photo)
If you wanted to see the Los Gatos-based Sun family this past year it might’ve been a tough to pencil in dinner with Jenny and her husband Andrew or schedule a playdate with their youngest daughter Quincy.
For almost a year, the family of five were in Hawaii. And Australia. And the Philippines. And Mongolia, Namibia, Botswana, Spain, Scotland, Sri Lanka and Turkey on a globetrotting adventure that began last spring and ended in February.
For Jenny Sun, whose job as a tropical ecologist kept her on a steady travel schedule until recently, seeing the world had always been a part of her life. After she and Andrew settled down, they weren’t sure about how to continue that schedule with a bigger family. But after deciding to just go for it, they’ve returned with 21 countries under their belt and the experience of a lifetime.
“Having gone through this whole experience that I never thought I was going to do with the kids brought such a deeper meaning,” Jenny Sun said. “There’s been really wonderful, wonderful moments of like, ‘Wow, I think this is the best thing I could have given my kids.’”
The family packed two carry-on suitcases and a duffel bag and began their trip in Hawaii for a family reunion. From there, following a route that was half planned in advance and half improvised on the spot, they worked their way to Sydney, Australia, then New Zealand, eventually moving over to Asia to spend time in countries like Thailand and Mongolia.
Andrew Sun said he was set on spending time in the southern part of Africa, which took them on a long drive through Zambia, Namibia and Botswana. The family found ended their trip back in the states in Bend, Oregon to attend Andrew’s best friend’s wedding.
Since coming back, they’ve struggled to adjust to the quietude of suburban life, but they’re grateful for the luxuries of home. Jenny said she didn’t have a hard time dealing with living out of a suitcase and moving around so much, but did find herself missing some of the basics like potable water.
“I do miss just turning on a faucet,” she said. “Having said that, none of us got sick.”
The couple was surprised by how adaptable their three young children were along the way. And for anyone looking to embark on a similar trip, that’s one takeaway the Suns would emphasize.
“I for sure learned that kids are more resilient than adults and that given the opportunity, they rise to the challenge better than adults,” she said.
Despite language barriers, Andrew said, they always managed to figure things out, either on their own or with the help of a guide. The kids in particular always seemed to figure out how to have fun with other kids they met through their travels.
“To see that play is a universal language is pretty beautiful,” he said.
“The world is full of kind people,” 9-year-old Malcolm said.
Reflecting on their journey, the family all have different stops that stuck with them the most. For 13-year-old Marietta, it was the Philippines for her memories of canyoneering and swimming at its beaches, contrasting Andrew’s pick of Mongolia for the friendliness and interconnectedness of the communities they visited there.
While they don’t have anymore international travel planned just yet, it’s something they’ve discussed for the future, once Marietta gets settled in high school. In the meantime, they’re working on the documentation of their travels on www.fullearthpress.com.