We promised to embark on this trip in a spirit of learning, to gather information to lead a more thoughtful life. Newfound convictions, however, are coming into conflict with another goal—to be flexible and participatory, living as the locals do when possible to appreciate their point of view. The topic of exploration? One that is…
Author: Five Backpacks Family
Not all who wander are lost — we are living nomadically, exploring, and wandering to learn about the world, its people, and ourselves.
Chris and Holly Santillo are not your regular authors.
They are the epitome of the Latin phrase “Mens sana in corpore sano,” which means “A healthy mind in a healthy body.”
Having strong backgrounds in Martial Arts with Chris being the founder and Head Instructor at Potomac Kempo in Alexandria, Virginia, and Holly being a Senior Instructor, they have managed to develop the principles of Martial Arts into a cohesive parenting methodology.
They believe that children (and parents) with broader horizons and an open mind can sow the seeds for future generations of confident, strong, and resilient adults.
Now, you can find them gliding through the Siberian steppes on the Trans-Siberian Railway, visiting the buzzing markets of Samarkand on the Silk Road, or wondering at the vastness of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia. They have decided to live a nomadic life and explore the world with their three boys in order to bring back memories, ideas, experiences, and a fresh view on life.
Join their epic journey at www.FiveBackpacks.family, visit www.ResilienceParenting.info for more information on their book, and www.PotomacKempo.com to learn about their Martial Arts teachings.
Where In The World Is La Famiglia Santillo?
Hithertofore, we have been somewhat circumspect, that is to say, cagey, regarding posting a schedule of our future travel plans and inevitable travails. Our plans are fluid, to say the least, and have shifted repeatedly over the last year of our lives. Anything we may have told you in the last year or so is…
Lessons of the Day
We are homeschool weirdos. Quirkier still, now that our home is ever-moving, we are roadschool weirdos. How do you fit a classroom into a five-foot by eight-foot box barreling down the road at seventy miles per hour? Just like the contours of the land we are bumping along, it has its ups and downs, a…
The Rallis Tribe
Have you ever had a reunion with someone you have not yet met face to face? That is how we felt upon pulling up to explore the Inniswood Metro Gardens in Westerville, Ohio with the Rallis Tribe. We tumbled out of our respective vehicles and ran with open arms toward each other like long lost…
Failure
I didn’t plan on ruining a perfectly good baseball bat with my shin. However, when a bunch of martial artists get together for the weekend, peculiar opportunities arise… We would be leaving out some significant stories if we didn’t share our experience at a martial arts conference this week. It is invigorating, being in the…