Our adventures traveling the world and life as expats in Mumbai, India

Here is a little bit about our family at Expat Family Exploring

Hey there and welcome to our little corner of the world! We're a Belgian-American family with a serious case of wanderlust and adventure in our hearts. We're excited to have you join us on our journey of exploration and discovery. Our story is about stepping out of our comfort zone, embracing new cultures, and truly appreciating the opportunities that come our way. We're eager to share all our tips and tricks with you to help you on your journey to expat life, navigating the world with kids, and exploring how culture shapes and enriches us all.

Expat family in Mumbai

Who are we?

Ryan (Mama): I'm the American half of this multicultural duo. With a background as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), my professional journey has taken an intriguing turn. You can connect with me at www.cleerenconsulting.com, where I operate a private psychotherapy practice that's now fully virtual. This transition allows me to offer support and guidance to individuals and families, regardless of where they are in the world. I'm the anxious traveler in the family, but if you tell me that something is going to be an adventure, my anxiety disappears and quickly turns to excitement. If there are any animals on the trip, I'm 100% there!

Ken (Papa): My wonderful husband, hailing from Antwerp, Belgium, has always had a sense of adventure and has been traveling the world his whole life. This love for exploration has been a driving force behind our incredible expat adventures. On our first date, when we were discussing travel, he casually remarked, 'I can see us having some adventures together.' At the time, I thought it might be a line, but he has not only lived up to that promise but has exceeded all expectations. He's the meticulous planner in the family, ensuring every adventure is well-organized, memorable, and documented on an excel spreadsheet. His favorite trips involve destinations with names that seem impossible to pronounce, nestled in the midst of mountains and covered in snow, or places he discovered in his childhood encyclopedia.

Presley (Sissy): Our eldest, chose a different path as she stayed in the U.S. to complete her high school education before matriculating at the University of Georgia (UGA). Despite the distance, we remain closely connected as she visits India three times a year, and we journey to the U.S. or meet somewhere fun at least a few times per year. She also FaceTimes daily. She's the family member who adores the beach and insists that every vacation includes snorkeling or exploring charming old cities with incredible cuisine. Like her mama, she also shares a deep love for animals.

Holden (Wawa): Our son, who was 14 and on the cusp of starting high school when we made the move, boldly embarked on this adventure with us. The allure of a vibrant culture, diverse landscapes, and the promise of new experiences proved too irresistible to resist. His philosophy was clear – staying in the US would be low risk, low reward, while going to India presented the prospect of high risk and high reward, and he wholeheartedly chose the latter. When it comes to travel, he's the epitome of 'go with the flow,' often not knowing our destination until we've arrived, embracing the spontaneity of our explorations.

Remi (Mimi): Our youngest daughter, who was just 2 years old when we made the leap to India, has been our little globe-trotter from the very beginning. Her first flight took her from Atlanta to Brussels when she was a mere 10 weeks old. With her striking platinum hair and captivating blue eyes, she often becomes the center of attention while we travel in India and other parts of Asia. But if you were to ask her where she's from, as a typical third-culture kid, she has no fixed answer. What's clear, though, is that she's the only one in our family who's taken up the challenge of learning some Hindi, and she proudly sings the Indian National Anthem with enthusiasm.

We're excited to share our family's adventures, explorations, and the wonderful mishaps that come with being a multicultural clan navigating life in India. So, if you're ready to embark on this journey with us, hit that subscribe button and become part of our global family. Join us as we embrace the world's diverse cultures, travel to exciting destinations, and uncover the beauty of life as expats. Let's make memories together, one blog post at a time!