Would you like to toss in the nine-to-five and take the kids around the world on an epic surfing adventure? The Goodwin family did exactly that and made a movie about the experience. Issue 559 features an interview with Aamion and Daize Goodwin, and the director of Given, Jess Bianchi. In addition to compelling insights on the virtues and challenges of long haul travel, the story showcases the striking images taken during the Goodwin’s odyssey, which spanned 15 countries and 40 cities. Issue 559 of Tracks is on sale now. Below is a sample of the interview and images. All photos by Cody Welsh.
How old was your son at the time? Did you genuinely feel that his experience of childhood and the world would be enriched by exposure to a multitude of cultures and experiences at a young age?
Aamion: Given was three when we left. I knew that this would impact him greatly as that's when I was traveling as a child as well. I remember those times. Short vivid memories that have stayed with me my entire life. I firmly believe that when you set foot on a new soil you soak up energy from that place. There is a grounding effect like no other, a connection that only a child understands.
Daize: There really is something magical about the first five years of your life. You're pure, unjaded, and totally open to everything around you. I had a few hesitations as a mother but knew that those were only my fears that have been passed down and we couldn't hold back on going on the adventure of a lifetime.
Tell us about some of the highlights of the trip for you three?
Daize: There were so many!! Watching our daughter have her first milestones are always a huge stand out for me. Her first meal in Jerusalem. Her first steps at Red Bluff in Australia. Then the look on True and Given's face when they saw the castles in Ireland. We met so many amazing people that were so kind, all of their hearts we now take with us forever.
Aamion: Brining my family back to Fiji where I was raised was huge for me personally. For my kids and wife to be out on an island in the middle of nowhere living off the land and under a bure house that my Fijian brothers and I built. I just look forward to getting back there, that simple life is where it's always been for me.
Jess: Glacier surfing, Outback camping, Fijian diving, and a whole lot more. It was epic and I feel like I can say that I have truly lived because of this journey.
Who was the most interesting person/people you met along the way?
Aamion: Everyone was so unique. Each person had such a story to tell, and a little wisdom to share. Couldn't pinpoint it to one.
Daize: There was an incredible family in Ireland that had never met us but heard what we were doing and offered our whole crew to stay at their house for 10 days. They had a compostable toilet, a refrigerator that used no electricity and their water was rain catchment. They had a giant garden, their house was made of straw and hempcrete and the roof was topped with grass. Such kind-hearted people that really are showing the world how to live completely off the grid and be sustainable. Everything about them still stands out.
Jess: the Fijian people were the kindest people I have ever met.
Were there moments where you felt vulnerable or scared?
Daize: There definitely were a few that are seared in my memories. Getting tick bite fever in a village in the middle of nowhere in Africa, that was the sickest I've ever been. Also had a run in with a huge gang of kids in Morocco who chased Given and I down a mountain throwing bottles at us and screaming for our money. We had gone on a "nature walk" next to a town that was heavily populated. One of the scariest times of my life honestly.
Aamion: No, wasn't ever scared, but Given got really sea sick when we were in the Marshall Islands and couldn't stop throwing up. That definitely made me a little nervous as he couldn't even keep water down and it went on for days.
Jess: Yes, I was consistently worried for the family and crew. I felt responsible for everyone's safety. We had a few moments like getting tick bite fever in South Africa. It put everyone but two of us down, including the kids. There were sketchy drives in Nepal and a lot of food poisoning in Morocco. Each place had its scare.
To experience Given yourself you can download it via the official website or itunes google play and amazon.
GIVEN Trailer from Jess Bianchi on Vimeo.
