French Family On A Learning Journey Arrive In Malaysia

By Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa ALOR SETAR (Kedah, Malaysia), Aug 12 (Bernama) -- French couple, Fransoiz Wszolek, 41, and her husband, Olivier, 40, have been yearning to spend more time with their children but could not do so because of work commitments. They wanted their three young children Marion, 8, Titouan, 7, and Solenn, 3, to be exposed to different cultures and experiences during their formative years, something that they could not find in text books. Exasperated with the limited amount of time they could spend with their children because of their busy working life and the children's packed school routines, the couple started planning once-in-a-lifetime journey. "Five years ago, we started planning to have a around-the-world kind of journey with our children that will take the family to numerous countries in three different continents," said Fransoiz, a trained-nurse in geriatric and cancer care, to Bernama when met here recently. The journey they planned she said, would take three years to complete across various countries with different cultures and ethnicities in the Asian, Americas and African continents. THE LONG JOURNEY BEGAN WITH THE FIRST STEP Olivier said their long-journey on a truck-caravan would only be completed in 2017 if all goes according to plan. For a better grasp of the different cultures and experiences they expected to encounter during their journey, the couple chose a land-route and bought a second-hand Renault truck that would become their home throughout the journey. According to Olivier, with a budget of EUR$10,000 (US$11,059) they renovated the old but trusted workhorse to equip the truck with three double-decker beds for the children, a kitchen and a toilet. With renovation works on their truck-caravan completed, Olivier, Fransoiz and the children began their around-the-world trip from Montpellier in southern France in 2014. "Beginning 2014 we traveled to several European countries before entering Turkey, en route to Asia and two-days ago we left Thailand for Malaysia to begin our last leg of the journey in the Asian continent," he said. The adventurous-couple and their three children will spend several months in Malaysia and visit as many local attractions as they could and experience the everyday life in Malaysia. TAKING THE LESS TRODDEN PATH During their journey Fransoiz said when ever possible they tried to venture into the off-beaten routes and stay away from the well-established roads widely traveled by well-heeled tourist. "We would like to experience the everyday life of the local people, talk and mingle with them, savour the local delicacies, visit their home and other not so touristy attractions. It bring out the real experience," said Oliver. They don't have a long-list of travel itinerary during their stay in any particular country throughout their journey and instead depended on impromptu and local information on where to go. For Fransoiz, throughout the journey she will make it a point to meet and talk to local senior citizens and inquire with them regarding their life when they were three year old and now. After completing their sojourn in Malaysia, Olivier would ship their truck from here to Vancouver, Canada to begin their year-long North, Central and South American continent adventure. After the Americas, Olivier, Fransoiz and their three children will head to the African continent in their truck before returning to France. The couple have set up a website, www.martoulenn.com, for anyone interested in following their journey around the world. (photoBERNAMA) -- BERNAMA