Childhood travel was the making of me
Do the places we visit and the holidays we take as a child influence the person we become? I’m convinced they do.
Even if you have very vague memories of your first weekend way from home or trip abroad you will have soaked it all up like a sponge.
I had some great travel experiences as a child. Here’s some of them and how I think they made me into the person I am today.
Being empathetic
My first experience of foreign travel was when I was two years old. My Dad was in the Royal Navy and got a two year draft to Hong Kong, which was still a British colony in those days. We were able to go with him and lived in a tower block overlooking Victoria Harbour.
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| Hong Kong (1982-85) |
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| A weekend on Stoncutters Island, Hong Kong |
I wish I could remember more about our time in Hong Kong but my parents have several albums full of amazing photos of the places we visited. I’m sure that living in a foreign country and being exposed to a mix of cultures so young has helped me to become a more empathetic person.
Appreciating family
When we returned from Hong Kong we went on the road to visit family in Kent and Yorkshire. The sights weren’t quite as dramatic as in the past two years but it was the people we shared our time with that were the main attraction. As I’ve grown up family has become one of the most important things in my life for many reasons. I can’t imagine going more than a few days without seeing, speaking to or emailing our parents.
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| On Broadstairs beach in Kent with my grandparents (1985) |
A fan of the UK
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| ‘Hovis hill’, Shaftesbury (1988) |
A caravan lover
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| Holidaying with cousins on the Isle of Wight (c1987) |
How did your childhood travels influence you?
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Loved reading this. We're taking our 2yo for an extended o/s trip next year. It's going to be tough, but can't wait to instil the travel bug in him nice and early 🙂 #coolmumclub
Lovely post hon – I was really lucky to have travelled a lot as a kid, and even though I may not have appreciated it at the time, I know it has left many of the above marks on me and appreciate it now. Great to have you in the #coolmumclub at last! Hope you'll be a permanent feature xx
This is such a lovely post. You have some wonderful childhood memories. We didn't do a huge variety of travel but once a year we would visit the same remote town about 5 hours drive from Melbourne Australia and I have such fond childhood memories. I can't wait to show my Baby Girl the world. I am taking her home to visit Australia over Christmas! x #coolmumclub
That sounds so like my own childhood. How wonderful x
Thank you x
Brilliant! Shape those little minds with positive experiences x
That's fantastic! Enjoy reliving your childhood. I hope it's as wonderful as you remember x
How wonderful that caravanning brought you to such a lovely place!
Thank you x
Thank you. There's so many fantastic places to visit in the UK it's mind-boggling.
Thank you x
I think a back to basics holiday really brings you together as a family. Not only are you learning more about the place you stay but you also get to know each other better. And those times when the tent leaks and you're all covered in mud as great memories that you'll laugh about for years to come 😉 x
You've certainly made up for your lack of childhood travels since then! I bet that European tour was amazing. I did something similar with Mr TB when we were in our 20s. I was blown away by the beauty of Europe x
That's a shame. Mr Tin Box was more into tents than caravans when I met him but I managed to bring him round in the end. I hope you get to relive your childhood camping hols some time in the future 🙂
Thank you. I had great fun going through our old holiday snaps with my folks. It really is the people that you're with that makes a holiday special x
We travelled a lot as a family when I was younger – both because of work that meant that we lived abroad and because my parents loved to explore the place where we were living. This early introduction to travel has definitely shaped the way that I now see the world and I travel with my kids as much as possible #mondayescapes
Lovely post and sweet memories of when you were younger. I do think travelling is a great thing for children, they can learn so much! 🙂 x
I absolutely, 100% agree! We spend a lot of time and money on planting the travel bug in our children. #wellwornsuitcase
I definitely think that our childhood holidays influence us. Funnily enough I have just booked to take Grace to Pontins – for this very reason, because I want her to have the amazing memories that I do. Thank you for linking to #PoCoLo x
I was totally influenced by my family caravanning holidays to Cornwall, so much so I now live here! #PoCoLo
I think that life is a travel journey. So our travels really thought us things and mold us. This is such a lovely read. #sharewithme
Ah such a lovely post, we did holiday every year but in the Uk but this has definitely given me a thirst for traveling x
So well said! I think our travels as children really do shape us so much, and mostly in a good way.
Such a lovely post. We didn't have much money until I was teen, when we went on flashy holidays to Greece and Portugal. However, the holidays I have the happiest memories of are in France in a tent! I loved those holidays. Lovely post x
Funny enough we never traveled when I was growing up and the first thing I wanted to do is go travel the world as soon as I could and at 15 I went on a three week tour of Europe with a tourist company and forty other students. It was from there that my love to travel was fully born and we haven't stopped since. I agree I think it does shape us and is apart of us. Thank you ever so much for linking up to Share With Me #sharewithme
We had a lot of camping trips when I was little and I loved it. Still do, in fact. My wife, however does not 🙂
#sharewithme
love your old school pics! I love a good caravan holiday and always did growing up. I'm one of 4 girls so we rarely went abroad but as a child I wasn't bothered so long as we were all together and there was plenty to do. Our holidays were always filled with laughter something I'm hoping to carry on with my own children. Great post about stripping things back to basics and seeing what's really important #sharewithme
We mainly camped when I was a kid but I've done all sorts since then. There's nothing quite like a UK staycation is there? 🙂 x
I just love this post! We also holidayed in the UK as my parents don't fly and we had the best time discovered corners of Wales and Cornwall together. We stayed in houses, chalets and hotels (no caravans yet!) and it was a brilliant experience and made me really appreciate what the UK has to offer. Mim x
Angels in the clouds – I love that. I'm sure your passion for travelling will rub off!
Great post! I agree, travelling as a child really influences us. I remember the first time I flew – I was 6 and I remember being gutted there were no angels in the clouds. Both my husband and I love travelling though so we're hoping Emma will grow up to love it too!
Ooh yes, the food! I love trying out local cuisine wherever we go – even if it's just a Bakewell Tart from the Peak District these days 🙂 x
Thank you Ting. Great minds and all that! Can't wait to check out your post x
Agreed – I think it helps open your eyes to the world. I didn't go anywhere as exotic as Hong Kong but the thrill of being in a new country, discovering a different way of life, even new foods…It starts a love of travel. And the photos are fab!
Such a brilliant, brilliant post – and much along the same lines as mine. We definitely have the same influence – travel is so ingrained in us from childhood. Love the photos! xxx