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When the girls were all wee, Madi the most laid back traveler in the group. She never complained and was open to any experience. We started our Europe summers when she was a tiny four year old. We traipsed those kids through huge cities like Rome, Paris, London. We were trying to do it all because we weren’t sure if/when we’d be back. Turns out we couldn’t stay away. But the wee Madi never complained that she could no longer feel her legs. We were constantly amazed at her stamina and positive attitude no matter how lost we were or how hungry she was.
Speaking of hunger, Madi was always an interesting one to feed. That first summer in France she lived on fresh baguettes and tomatoes. We would go to the bakery first thing in the morning and get a baguette for the family and one for Madi. Our second day in France she would hold on to it all day because it was the only thing she liked, and didn’t want it out of arm’s reach.
We first moved to Guatemala when Madi was 10. She loved the unpredictable lifestyle, and unusual schooling. She was quietly adaptable and grounded no matter what the situation. Madi was receptive to new experiences that would come her way and became heavily involved in working with Ayuda, an organization that helps the street dogs. At one point she was fostering 13 puppies and feral mama dogs. The vet would do community clinics on our back porch. He would spay and neuter dogs out there on a table, and she would assist.
At 14 she started traveling solo and flew to Madrid, where her older sister was living for the year. She spent the summer working at a kid’s camp. The two girls had some fun being in Madrid together without their parents.
Madi opted to do the world travel with us and do her first year of university courses online. She managed it like a boss. The summer following our trip she volunteered at an animal sanctuary of a month, working in their clinic. Amazing experience working with monkeys, sloths, toucans, mcaws, to name a few.
Next up, a medical brigade to Nicaragua and working in a hospital in Thailand.