Better Together Hub
As I mentioned during my previous blog post, we are currently on the beautiful Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc, where we have the unique opportunity to participate in what is known as a worldschoolers hub. This is something I hadn’t heard of before, but thankfully Sarah discovered it through an online travel forum. The concept itself is quite straightforward, yet from what I have observed after some days here, the impact it has on families is meaningful. Essentially, families who are travelling for an extended period come together in one location, allowing their children to socialize and build friendships with other kids, while parents can exchange experiences, advice, and also take some downtime. Right now, 14 families have gathered here at the cozy “Le Forest Resort,” ((https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g12596009-d12214465-Reviews-Le_Forest_Resort-Cua_Lap_Duong_To_Phu_Quoc_Island_Kien_Giang_Province.html) a beautiful and welcoming place on the island, organized by a Venezuelan couple who have been travelling continuously for the past 15 years. They sought a way to combine their passion for long-term travel with creating a supportive and engaging community for like-minded families, which led to the founding of “The Better Together Hubs.” (https://www.bettertogetherhubs.com/) This platform has grown into a well-established and vibrant institution, offering multiple gatherings each year across various destinations worldwide.
It’s our 6th day now in the “Hub,” and we’re definitely having a good time so far. The agenda offers a little bit of everything, providing a nice variety of activities for all interests, but since participation in the individual events is not mandatory, the kids can pretty much choose which ones they want to join. Of course, we are encouraging them to try out as many different things as possible to get the full experience, but when they need some downtime or want to spend quiet moments with us, we happily accommodate that as well. The group is really diverse, representing a wide range of backgrounds, from participants coming all the way from Norway to New Zealand, and from those with years of traveling experience to others who are currently taking a half-year break. English serves as the common denominator among everyone attending, and while it would have been nice for the kids to meet other children who speak their native language, the absence of other German families actually helps boost their English skills in a fun and natural way.
We have 9 more days on Phu Quoc, and we’re looking forward to the remaining days on the island!
