Beyond Material Gifts: Celebrating Birthdays Through International Travel with Your Teenager

100:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,458Welcome to the A World of Difference200:00:04,458 --> 00:00:06,766podcast. I'm Lori Adams Brown, and this is300:00:06,766 --> 00:00:08,606a podcast for those who are different and400:00:08,606 --> 00:00:12,942want to make a difference. Hi there. I'm500:00:12,942 --> 00:00:15,834coming to you today to talk about my600:00:15,834 --> 00:00:17,726exciting trip that I took with my teenager700:00:17,726 --> 00:00:19,854on a birthday trip. And the reason I'm800:00:19,854 --> 00:00:21,406doing this special episode today is900:00:21,406 --> 00:00:23,054because I've gotten several of you who've1000:00:23,054 --> 00:00:25,266asked me questions about taking my teenage1100:00:25,266 --> 00:00:28,646you're on a 16th birthday trip to Rio. We1200:00:28,646 --> 00:00:31,074just got back not long ago from going to1300:00:31,074 --> 00:00:35,622Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, together. Just a1400:00:35,622 --> 00:00:38,774mom teenager trip. And this is something1500:00:38,774 --> 00:00:42,050that was very planned and special, and I1600:00:42,050 --> 00:00:43,674know a lot of you had questions about it,1700:00:43,674 --> 00:00:45,978and I do not at all consider myself to be1800:00:45,978 --> 00:00:49,274a parenting expert. But I do know that1900:00:49,274 --> 00:00:51,306once in a while, I have people in my life2000:00:51,306 --> 00:00:53,210that do things that I also have questions2100:00:53,210 --> 00:00:55,566about, and it revolves around how did you2200:00:55,566 --> 00:00:58,286do that? That's a little bit unusual. How2300:00:58,286 --> 00:00:59,598did you come to that conclusion? How did2400:00:59,598 --> 00:01:01,386it go? What did you learn? Do you have any2500:01:01,386 --> 00:01:03,742tips? So because I've been getting some2600:01:03,742 --> 00:01:05,714questions about it, I thought, you know2700:01:05,714 --> 00:01:08,306what, let's do an episode about this. So2800:01:08,306 --> 00:01:10,914here it is. We're doing ten tips today on2900:01:10,914 --> 00:01:12,946taking a birthday trip with your teenager3000:01:12,946 --> 00:01:22,182as a parent. So, yeah, here we go. Tip3100:01:22,182 --> 00:01:24,914number one is, from the beginning, I3200:01:24,914 --> 00:01:28,034involved my teen. And so this meant3300:01:28,034 --> 00:01:29,558discussing and involving my teenager in3400:01:29,558 --> 00:01:31,926the trip, planning not only to just3500:01:31,926 --> 00:01:33,514increase the excitement and get buy in,3600:01:33,514 --> 00:01:35,174because any of you who are parenting3700:01:35,174 --> 00:01:37,446teenagers know that sometimes the parent3800:01:37,446 --> 00:01:39,094teenager relationship can be a little bit3900:01:39,094 --> 00:01:41,486fraught at times. And if mom suggests it,4000:01:41,486 --> 00:01:43,760then it may not be the best idea out4100:01:43,760 --> 00:01:47,934there. But when I brought up the idea, it4200:01:47,934 --> 00:01:52,814was all around a particular concept of a4300:01:52,814 --> 00:01:54,794place that we could go that I knew that my4400:01:54,794 --> 00:01:56,938teenager would enjoy. Also a place that I4500:01:56,938 --> 00:02:00,114would enjoy. So I threw know pitched the4600:02:00,114 --> 00:02:01,954idea of going to Rio, and it was already a4700:02:01,954 --> 00:02:03,474win from the beginning. Now, that may not4800:02:03,474 --> 00:02:05,906happen for you, but definitely involving4900:02:05,906 --> 00:02:07,746your teenager can help increase the5000:02:07,746 --> 00:02:09,494excitement and ensure the trip aligns with5100:02:09,494 --> 00:02:13,106their interests. It just so happens that5200:02:13,106 --> 00:02:14,882Taylor Swift was going to be playing in5300:02:14,882 --> 00:02:17,734concert in Rio in November, and so it5400:02:17,734 --> 00:02:20,466worked out to know be there for the Taylor5500:02:20,466 --> 00:02:22,666Swift concert, which brought extreme buy5600:02:22,666 --> 00:02:24,186in. Because if you're raising a Swifty5700:02:24,186 --> 00:02:25,674like I am, then, you know, if you know,5800:02:25,674 --> 00:02:28,826you know. So that worked out really well.5900:02:28,826 --> 00:02:30,842And so, yeah, choosing the destination6000:02:30,842 --> 00:02:32,646really was something I sort of did some6100:02:32,646 --> 00:02:34,638legwork on ahead of time. Figured out this6200:02:34,638 --> 00:02:36,526is a place that we could make work6300:02:36,526 --> 00:02:38,478together. And so, fortunately, pitching6400:02:38,478 --> 00:02:41,086the first place worked out. But my husband6500:02:41,086 --> 00:02:44,442is planning a trip with our so we have6600:02:44,442 --> 00:02:47,698twins, right? So the other twin and that's6700:02:47,698 --> 00:02:48,974going to be a completely different6800:02:48,974 --> 00:02:50,622location because that twin wants to go6900:02:50,622 --> 00:02:51,906somewhere completely different. So knowing7000:02:51,906 --> 00:02:55,074your teenager and when you pitch the idea,7100:02:55,074 --> 00:02:56,626making sure it's something that you're7200:02:56,626 --> 00:02:58,706pretty sure they would enjoy, but choosing7300:02:58,706 --> 00:03:00,358the destination number two is that you7400:03:00,358 --> 00:03:02,294want to consider destinations that cater7500:03:02,294 --> 00:03:04,166to both your teenager's preferences and7600:03:04,166 --> 00:03:05,654your own. So if it had been somewhere that7700:03:05,654 --> 00:03:07,858I absolutely hated, I wouldn't have7800:03:07,858 --> 00:03:09,702brought that up. It didn't have to be my7900:03:09,702 --> 00:03:11,510absolute favorite place, but something8000:03:11,510 --> 00:03:13,654that I could somewhat enjoy, too. You8100:03:13,654 --> 00:03:14,714definitely don't want to be the kind of8200:03:14,714 --> 00:03:16,074parent that's like, here's my favorite8300:03:16,074 --> 00:03:17,898place and you try to persuade them to do8400:03:17,898 --> 00:03:19,926it. That's not a good idea. It probably8500:03:19,926 --> 00:03:21,430wouldn't work anyway, and if it did, it8600:03:21,430 --> 00:03:23,070would just make you a really manipulative8700:03:23,070 --> 00:03:27,066parent. So don't advise that. But yeah,8800:03:27,066 --> 00:03:29,438finding a win win, hopefully is always8900:03:29,438 --> 00:03:31,294possible, but also finding a balance9000:03:31,294 --> 00:03:33,246between fun activities for them and a9100:03:33,246 --> 00:03:35,166little bit of time for you to relax. Both9200:03:35,166 --> 00:03:36,898of you as well, because especially if9300:03:36,898 --> 00:03:38,994you're going somewhere like we did, 59400:03:38,994 --> 00:03:41,314hours difference in the time zone and just9500:03:41,314 --> 00:03:43,806the long amount of travel. We flew through9600:03:43,806 --> 00:03:46,686Panama and had a layover in Panama City,9700:03:46,686 --> 00:03:48,818Panama, and then flew to Rio from there.9800:03:48,818 --> 00:03:52,270And it was just a long couple of long9900:03:52,270 --> 00:03:53,798know. So we were tired when we arrived.10000:03:53,798 --> 00:03:56,054And then also the jet lag of five hour10100:03:56,054 --> 00:03:57,686time difference. We wanted to plan in some10200:03:57,686 --> 00:04:00,646time to relax as well as do fun things.10300:04:00,646 --> 00:04:02,450And the third one is budgeting and10400:04:02,450 --> 00:04:04,874planning. Unless you're know the very few10500:04:04,874 --> 00:04:06,234people in the world that have so much10600:04:06,234 --> 00:04:07,834money they don't have to think about that.10700:04:07,834 --> 00:04:09,674Most of us have to stick to a budget and10800:04:09,674 --> 00:04:11,738plan that out. And so discussing that with10900:04:11,738 --> 00:04:13,754your teenager ahead of time is really11000:04:13,754 --> 00:04:15,306important. So that not only are you11100:04:15,306 --> 00:04:17,098teaching them how to be financially11200:04:17,098 --> 00:04:18,606responsible, but you're showing them how11300:04:18,606 --> 00:04:20,910you can have money in your budget for11400:04:20,910 --> 00:04:22,746travel. It just so happens in the Adams11500:04:22,746 --> 00:04:24,846Brown family budget, we prioritize travel11600:04:24,846 --> 00:04:26,638in ways that maybe not everybody does.11700:04:26,638 --> 00:04:28,686It's just a high value for our family.11800:04:28,686 --> 00:04:31,326We're all third culture kids. We've not11900:04:31,326 --> 00:04:32,946grown up in families where we just owned12000:04:32,946 --> 00:04:36,100one home and one place for our whole12100:04:36,100 --> 00:04:38,806lives. We grew up traveling and moving12200:04:38,806 --> 00:04:40,466around and travel was important to our12300:04:40,466 --> 00:04:41,826families of origin growing up, and we've12400:04:41,826 --> 00:04:43,830raised our kids that way. So you'll12500:04:43,830 --> 00:04:47,378definitely find in our home, we don't12600:04:47,378 --> 00:04:50,774prioritize home decor or nice cars. We12700:04:50,774 --> 00:04:52,586have really old cars that we drive. We12800:04:52,586 --> 00:04:54,650keep them well maintained. We have a great12900:04:54,650 --> 00:04:57,194mechanic, but we don't spend a lot of13000:04:57,194 --> 00:04:59,734money on things that some Americans might13100:04:59,734 --> 00:05:02,426typically spend more money on. And so we13200:05:02,426 --> 00:05:06,414do prioritize travel also. I do have a lot13300:05:06,414 --> 00:05:08,410of skills when it comes to traveling13400:05:08,410 --> 00:05:10,346frugally mainly because of my whole life13500:05:10,346 --> 00:05:11,822traveling. So I know how to do certain13600:05:11,822 --> 00:05:14,802things cheaply or use my points here and13700:05:14,802 --> 00:05:17,330there. And so in our difference maker13800:05:17,330 --> 00:05:18,946community, I'm going to go into way more13900:05:18,946 --> 00:05:22,146detail about this trip and how I used some14000:05:22,146 --> 00:05:25,746of my Frugal savvy skills that I've honed14100:05:25,746 --> 00:05:27,678over the years of doing a lot of travel14200:05:27,678 --> 00:05:29,174and learning from other people along the14300:05:29,174 --> 00:05:32,978way in my Expat and TCK life. But because14400:05:32,978 --> 00:05:35,138none of those people sponsor my podcast,14500:05:35,138 --> 00:05:37,718I'll do that for our paid difference maker14600:05:37,718 --> 00:05:39,094community. And if you want to check that14700:05:39,094 --> 00:05:43,626out, you can go to Patreon.com A World of14800:05:43,626 --> 00:05:45,862Difference, and we'll have an exclusive14900:05:45,862 --> 00:05:47,482episode there where I go into way more15000:05:47,482 --> 00:05:49,066detail about where we stayed, how we did15100:05:49,066 --> 00:05:50,586the flights, and how we did all of that to15200:05:50,586 --> 00:05:51,946make it work. So if you're interested in15300:05:51,946 --> 00:05:53,086more detail with that, we'll do that15400:05:53,086 --> 00:05:55,262there. But yeah, budgeting and planning15500:05:55,262 --> 00:05:57,486number three is really important as you do15600:05:57,486 --> 00:05:59,242this trip together, because it not only15700:05:59,242 --> 00:06:02,894teaches your teenager how to plan, and it15800:06:02,894 --> 00:06:04,366also involves them in the decision making15900:06:04,366 --> 00:06:05,886of how you're going to spend the money.16000:06:05,886 --> 00:06:08,334And that always feels better than mom or16100:06:08,334 --> 00:06:09,806dad making all the decisions. And then16200:06:09,806 --> 00:06:11,518you've got a grumpy teenager because they16300:06:11,518 --> 00:06:12,738didn't want to spend the money that way,16400:06:12,738 --> 00:06:15,358and it really was their birthday trip. So16500:06:15,358 --> 00:06:17,206letting them call the shots within reason16600:06:17,206 --> 00:06:18,742and showing them how much different things16700:06:18,742 --> 00:06:22,006cost and showing them different options.16800:06:22,006 --> 00:06:25,414For my teenager, there was a huge desire16900:06:25,414 --> 00:06:28,758to Jet ski. And so that was something we17000:06:28,758 --> 00:06:30,726had hoped we would put into our budget,17100:06:30,726 --> 00:06:33,386and we had that as a plan. But when we got17200:06:33,386 --> 00:06:35,734to Brazil, we realized you have to have a17300:06:35,734 --> 00:06:38,278driver's license in order to drive a Jet17400:06:38,278 --> 00:06:42,566Ski in the ocean in Brazil. So since my17500:06:42,566 --> 00:06:44,646teenager was not yet 16, didn't have their17600:06:44,646 --> 00:06:46,766driver's license yet, we had to say, oh, I17700:06:46,766 --> 00:06:49,854guess we'll do that next time. But we17800:06:49,854 --> 00:06:51,534wanted to make sure together we made a17900:06:51,534 --> 00:06:52,878plan that was something that was fun for18000:06:52,878 --> 00:06:56,042both of us. On the budget number four,18100:06:56,042 --> 00:06:57,826balancing independence and guidance. This18200:06:57,826 --> 00:06:59,746is huge with teenagers. Once again, I'm18300:06:59,746 --> 00:07:02,014not a parenting expert, so go to the18400:07:02,014 --> 00:07:03,486researchers and the people with PhDs18500:07:03,486 --> 00:07:05,314writing books about that out there to find18600:07:05,314 --> 00:07:07,506more detailed information about this. But18700:07:07,506 --> 00:07:09,766I do know the basic parts that teenagers18800:07:09,766 --> 00:07:12,214really crave independence, but they also18900:07:12,214 --> 00:07:13,846might need some guidance here and there.19000:07:13,846 --> 00:07:15,526Their frontal lobes are not yet developed,19100:07:15,526 --> 00:07:18,090and so they might not understand19200:07:18,090 --> 00:07:19,514particular risks involved in certain19300:07:19,514 --> 00:07:22,394things, for example. So, yeah, finding the19400:07:22,394 --> 00:07:26,490right balance between giving them space19500:07:26,490 --> 00:07:29,478and being responsible really is really19600:07:29,478 --> 00:07:31,018crucial in all parenting, but especially19700:07:31,018 --> 00:07:34,366in a trip like this, I don't know, like in19800:07:34,366 --> 00:07:37,534my work that I do as a senior manager in a19900:07:37,534 --> 00:07:39,562tech company, I think about stretch20000:07:39,562 --> 00:07:41,374assignments that I give people. And so20100:07:41,374 --> 00:07:43,118think about this birthday trip as an20200:07:43,118 --> 00:07:44,986opportunity for a little bit of a stretch20300:07:44,986 --> 00:07:46,654assignment with them where you're sort of20400:07:46,654 --> 00:07:48,758doing this model assist, watch and leave20500:07:48,758 --> 00:07:50,738approach with them. So you're giving them20600:07:50,738 --> 00:07:51,966a little more freedom than you would20700:07:51,966 --> 00:07:53,074otherwise give them, but you're not just20800:07:53,074 --> 00:07:54,642like throwing them out of the nest and20900:07:54,642 --> 00:07:56,418saying, bye, do your own thing, because21000:07:56,418 --> 00:07:58,038they do need a little guidance still,21100:07:58,038 --> 00:08:02,390especially at 15, almost 16. So the fifth21200:08:02,390 --> 00:08:04,790thing is just when we think about using21300:08:04,790 --> 00:08:06,966technology during the trip, every parent21400:08:06,966 --> 00:08:09,366does this differently. There's no manual.21500:08:09,366 --> 00:08:11,058My twins were certainly not born with21600:08:11,058 --> 00:08:13,802little manuals, and we're all trying to21700:08:13,802 --> 00:08:16,538figure this out. I think every parent is21800:08:16,538 --> 00:08:18,006going to want to figure out how to set21900:08:18,006 --> 00:08:19,786boundaries and rules around technology22000:08:19,786 --> 00:08:21,546that they use during the trip to ensure22100:08:21,546 --> 00:08:23,598that they're present and engaged in the22200:08:23,598 --> 00:08:25,594experience. But also, I know that my22300:08:25,594 --> 00:08:27,662teenager really loves a lot of particular22400:08:27,662 --> 00:08:31,550social media and so they wanted to make22500:08:31,550 --> 00:08:33,354sure, especially during the Taylor Swift22600:08:33,354 --> 00:08:34,946concert, they were making videos, that22700:08:34,946 --> 00:08:38,290they wanted to be able to capture that22800:08:38,290 --> 00:08:39,426moment and show their friends when they22900:08:39,426 --> 00:08:42,946got back to school. And so we planned23000:08:42,946 --> 00:08:45,598technology around, bringing extra battery23100:08:45,598 --> 00:08:46,946chargers for phones because we knew we23200:08:46,946 --> 00:08:49,606were going to be in a three hour concert23300:08:49,606 --> 00:08:51,526and get there earlier and be in long line.23400:08:51,526 --> 00:08:55,410So it's going to be like a four plus hour23500:08:55,410 --> 00:08:57,846ordeal in making sure we plan that they23600:08:57,846 --> 00:08:59,286were going to be on their phone while they23700:08:59,286 --> 00:09:00,806were enjoying the concert because that was23800:09:00,806 --> 00:09:01,994sort of the experience they wanted to23900:09:01,994 --> 00:09:03,926have. And that's what it means to be a24000:09:03,926 --> 00:09:07,882teenager in 2023, doesn't it? Also number24100:09:07,882 --> 00:09:10,294six is think through the activities and24200:09:10,294 --> 00:09:11,434experiences you're going to have together,24300:09:11,434 --> 00:09:13,630plan activities that really cater to their24400:09:13,630 --> 00:09:16,046interest. So if they love adventure sports24500:09:16,046 --> 00:09:17,786like I mentioned jet skiing, they love24600:09:17,786 --> 00:09:20,590cultural experiences or just exploring new24700:09:20,590 --> 00:09:23,166places. My teenager and me, we don't have24800:09:23,166 --> 00:09:25,074the exact same preferences. So there was24900:09:25,074 --> 00:09:27,234one morning where my teenager just really25000:09:27,234 --> 00:09:31,426was tired and wanted to sleep in. And so I25100:09:31,426 --> 00:09:34,286left them in the hotel to get some extra25200:09:34,286 --> 00:09:36,050sleep that they needed and went on an25300:09:36,050 --> 00:09:38,418early tour from my hotel where they picked25400:09:38,418 --> 00:09:40,386me up and dropped me off. And I did the25500:09:40,386 --> 00:09:42,066Cristo rentor, the big Christ, the25600:09:42,066 --> 00:09:44,114Redeemer Statue, and saw the Maracana25700:09:44,114 --> 00:09:46,898Stadium where the Brazilian football team25800:09:46,898 --> 00:09:48,874plays and where the World Cup was held and25900:09:48,874 --> 00:09:52,374this beautiful cathedral. But my teenager26000:09:52,374 --> 00:09:54,154wasn't super interested in those things26100:09:54,154 --> 00:09:56,454and it was time they'd rather spend26200:09:56,454 --> 00:09:59,114sleeping. So we kind of worked that out26300:09:59,114 --> 00:10:01,686between us. But everything that my26400:10:01,686 --> 00:10:03,274teenager wanted to do, I was there with26500:10:03,274 --> 00:10:06,562them. Because I'm an adult, I did need my26600:10:06,562 --> 00:10:08,398sleep. But also I was like, I'm in Brazil,26700:10:08,398 --> 00:10:09,566I just want to do it all. We have26800:10:09,566 --> 00:10:10,974different personalities when it comes to26900:10:10,974 --> 00:10:12,446that, so accommodating that with each27000:10:12,446 --> 00:10:15,262other was important. And then also number27100:10:15,262 --> 00:10:17,054seven, it's important to really document27200:10:17,054 --> 00:10:19,274your trip. So I involved my teenager in27300:10:19,274 --> 00:10:20,782this. There were times where I took27400:10:20,782 --> 00:10:22,066pictures and my teenager's like, I don't27500:10:22,066 --> 00:10:23,938like how I look in that photos. And so I27600:10:23,938 --> 00:10:25,358was like, okay, I'll delete that or I27700:10:25,358 --> 00:10:28,366won't post that one. But also they took27800:10:28,366 --> 00:10:29,718pictures of me and have videos of me. And27900:10:29,718 --> 00:10:31,622so we were able to document our fun times28000:10:31,622 --> 00:10:33,526together. We went onto Copa Cabana Beach28100:10:33,526 --> 00:10:35,814at night and ate seafood by the beach and28200:10:35,814 --> 00:10:38,774then walked onto the beach and took some28300:10:38,774 --> 00:10:40,726fun photos there. And it's important.28400:10:40,726 --> 00:10:42,390Those are memories that we'll keep28500:10:42,390 --> 00:10:44,266forever. And who knows, maybe my grandkids28600:10:44,266 --> 00:10:46,186great grandkids will see those and see28700:10:46,186 --> 00:10:47,946that we were on Copacabana Beach together28800:10:47,946 --> 00:10:51,994back in the day. When we have a 15 year28900:10:51,994 --> 00:10:53,750old in the photo who's now 80, I don't29000:10:53,750 --> 00:10:55,354know. These are important things to29100:10:55,354 --> 00:10:57,642document. These are once in a lifetime29200:10:57,642 --> 00:10:59,258opportunities. And as our teenagers are29300:10:59,258 --> 00:11:00,586growing up, we want to capture those29400:11:00,586 --> 00:11:03,806moments. It's really important. And then29500:11:03,806 --> 00:11:05,760it also helps to tell the rest of the29600:11:05,760 --> 00:11:07,578family, here's the videos, here's what we29700:11:07,578 --> 00:11:09,118did. And it kind of helps you do the29800:11:09,118 --> 00:11:10,386storytelling process together and relive29900:11:10,386 --> 00:11:13,186it and it's a lot of fun. The 8th one is30000:11:13,186 --> 00:11:16,958to be flexible and anytime there's travel30100:11:16,958 --> 00:11:18,626anywhere, that's important, but especially30200:11:18,626 --> 00:11:20,486with international travel. So being open30300:11:20,486 --> 00:11:22,886to changes and plans or unexpected detours30400:11:22,886 --> 00:11:25,670that could happen, like the jet skiing30500:11:25,670 --> 00:11:26,998obviously didn't work out and we were able30600:11:26,998 --> 00:11:30,566to pivot and do something else. And that30700:11:30,566 --> 00:11:32,506included doing something in the spa, which30800:11:32,506 --> 00:11:35,146was a lot of fun. So we were glad that30900:11:35,146 --> 00:11:36,554that budget could go to something else,31000:11:36,554 --> 00:11:40,534which was super fun. Sometimes the most31100:11:40,534 --> 00:11:42,374memorable experiences happen when our31200:11:42,374 --> 00:11:45,886plans go awry and we were able to find31300:11:45,886 --> 00:11:47,438some other things to do which we wouldn't31400:11:47,438 --> 00:11:50,190have done otherwise. So number nine is31500:11:50,190 --> 00:11:52,506just respect their wishes. This is a31600:11:52,506 --> 00:11:54,334teenager, it's not an infant. Your teen31700:11:54,334 --> 00:11:56,138may want to spend some alone time and you31800:11:56,138 --> 00:11:57,746don't have to be vigilant with them all31900:11:57,746 --> 00:12:00,146the time. Or if you're in a place where32000:12:00,146 --> 00:12:01,506they know people, they might want to spend32100:12:01,506 --> 00:12:03,650time with their friends during part of the32200:12:03,650 --> 00:12:06,738trip. So just respect their wishes while32300:12:06,738 --> 00:12:08,950you're making sure that they're safe. And32400:12:08,950 --> 00:12:13,254number ten is reflecting and bonding.32500:12:13,254 --> 00:12:15,222After the trip, it's important to take32600:12:15,222 --> 00:12:17,346time to reflect together on our32700:12:17,346 --> 00:12:18,994experiences. And sharing our thoughts and32800:12:18,994 --> 00:12:21,000feelings can really strengthen our bonds32900:12:21,000 --> 00:12:24,326together. I know from my teenager, when my33000:12:24,326 --> 00:12:25,514husband asked me about the trip, when we33100:12:25,514 --> 00:12:28,058got back, one of the things I said to him33200:12:28,058 --> 00:12:29,962was we have a very different relationship33300:12:29,962 --> 00:12:32,166now than before we took this trip. And33400:12:32,166 --> 00:12:34,078there's something about this trip that we33500:12:34,078 --> 00:12:36,106had a special bond, just the two of us.33600:12:36,106 --> 00:12:38,702We'd never been just the two of us for33700:12:38,702 --> 00:12:41,226that long, away from the rest of our33800:12:41,226 --> 00:12:44,126immediate family. And also being twins,33900:12:44,126 --> 00:12:45,626this was like the longest they'd been34000:12:45,626 --> 00:12:49,394apart from each other, too. And so it was34100:12:49,394 --> 00:12:51,218very special that we had this time34200:12:51,218 --> 00:12:52,834together, an experience that only we went34300:12:52,834 --> 00:12:54,286through together, especially the Taylor34400:12:54,286 --> 00:12:56,306Swift concert, which was incredible. And34500:12:56,306 --> 00:12:58,386it rained the entire time we got out of34600:12:58,386 --> 00:13:00,434the taxi and there was a guy there selling34700:13:00,434 --> 00:13:01,826ponchos, and we immediately put these34800:13:01,826 --> 00:13:04,006ponchos on and wore them for a while, but34900:13:04,006 --> 00:13:06,646we got soaked. Even his ponchos, it was35000:13:06,646 --> 00:13:09,570just like so rainy and crazy. But my35100:13:09,570 --> 00:13:12,310teenager was such a Swiftie, they were35200:13:12,310 --> 00:13:14,646screaming so much of the time. And then35300:13:14,646 --> 00:13:16,186there's this moment when Taylor Swift came35400:13:16,186 --> 00:13:18,906up and sang right to my teenager, and I'm35500:13:18,906 --> 00:13:20,266not sure they're ever going to get over35600:13:20,266 --> 00:13:23,206it. It was pretty crazy during the song35700:13:23,206 --> 00:13:26,046Antihero, which is up for a Grammy, and it35800:13:26,046 --> 00:13:27,486was super special. And we went through35900:13:27,486 --> 00:13:28,942that together, and we experienced that36000:13:28,942 --> 00:13:30,318together. And I think there's something36100:13:30,318 --> 00:13:32,958especially about music and international36200:13:32,958 --> 00:13:35,650travel, trying new foods. We had a lot of36300:13:35,650 --> 00:13:38,786acai, we had a lot of Brazilian steak,36400:13:38,786 --> 00:13:42,126which is amazing, and just fun36500:13:42,126 --> 00:13:43,502experiences. We were in a heat wave in36600:13:43,502 --> 00:13:45,298Rio, where they had to the first night of36700:13:45,298 --> 00:13:47,474the Taylor Swift concert you probably read36800:13:47,474 --> 00:13:48,726about in the news because it was all over36900:13:48,726 --> 00:13:51,478the news. Several people passed out from37000:13:51,478 --> 00:13:53,590the heat, and one person actually passed37100:13:53,590 --> 00:13:55,974away. Her name was Anna. And then the37200:13:55,974 --> 00:13:57,526second night, the Saturday night concert,37300:13:57,526 --> 00:13:59,606they ended up canceling. And our concert37400:13:59,606 --> 00:14:01,034was the next night, the Sunday night, and37500:14:01,034 --> 00:14:03,062it had cooled down about ten degrees37600:14:03,062 --> 00:14:06,602Fahrenheit and then was raining, and so it37700:14:06,602 --> 00:14:09,014was able to go on. And they changed the37800:14:09,014 --> 00:14:10,682rule with the stadium where they could37900:14:10,682 --> 00:14:13,486provide free water and open up the airways38000:14:13,486 --> 00:14:16,574a little bit to get more airflow. So it38100:14:16,574 --> 00:14:18,186was great. Other than the rain, we38200:14:18,186 --> 00:14:20,026couldn't complain. We were completely38300:14:20,026 --> 00:14:21,914hydrated. My teenager also got a38400:14:21,914 --> 00:14:23,626friendship bracelet from Sabrina38500:14:23,626 --> 00:14:25,258Carpenter's mom, who Sabrina Carpenter38600:14:25,258 --> 00:14:27,258opened for Taylor Swift, and Taylor38700:14:27,258 --> 00:14:28,766Swift's dad was handing out these Taylor38800:14:28,766 --> 00:14:30,418Swift guitar picks, and my teenager got38900:14:30,418 --> 00:14:32,450one of those too, so it was very special.39000:14:32,450 --> 00:14:34,066So my teenagers coming back, telling all39100:14:34,066 --> 00:14:35,826their teenage friends at their high school39200:14:35,826 --> 00:14:40,054about all they did, and I overhear them39300:14:40,054 --> 00:14:42,134say, and then my mom was there, and it was39400:14:42,134 --> 00:14:43,654really special that I got to experience39500:14:43,654 --> 00:14:47,206that with my teenagers. So, yeah. I offer39600:14:47,206 --> 00:14:50,954all of this to you as just a story of what39700:14:50,954 --> 00:14:54,060we experienced, some tips we came up with39800:14:54,060 --> 00:14:57,962together, things that we would do again in39900:14:57,962 --> 00:15:00,234terms of how to do a trip like this and40000:15:00,234 --> 00:15:03,646once again join our difference maker40100:15:03,646 --> 00:15:05,354community. If you want to hear more40200:15:05,354 --> 00:15:08,014details about how I specifically planned40300:15:08,014 --> 00:15:10,554this out by using points and which hotel I40400:15:10,554 --> 00:15:13,386chose, there's a lot of options in Rio40500:15:13,386 --> 00:15:14,702specifically, if you're thinking of going40600:15:14,702 --> 00:15:16,218there. So there's Copacabana Beach.40700:15:16,218 --> 00:15:18,794There's Ipanema. There's another few40800:15:18,794 --> 00:15:20,238smaller, lesser known beaches. All around40900:15:20,238 --> 00:15:22,526and then there's the city of Rio itself.41000:15:22,526 --> 00:15:24,782And so we had all these different choices.41100:15:24,782 --> 00:15:26,466So I'll going to more detail about why we41200:15:26,466 --> 00:15:28,406chose to stay, where we did, what airline41300:15:28,406 --> 00:15:30,646we flew, how we made that work, the routes41400:15:30,646 --> 00:15:32,358we took, and the things we decided to do41500:15:32,358 --> 00:15:33,606when we were there. So we'll talk a little41600:15:33,606 --> 00:15:36,034bit more about that and our Difference41700:15:36,034 --> 00:15:37,942Maker community, which is an exclusive41800:15:37,942 --> 00:15:40,198space where we do a little more deep dive41900:15:40,198 --> 00:15:42,598content for those of you who want to pay42000:15:42,598 --> 00:15:44,662as little as $5 a month to be a part of42100:15:44,662 --> 00:15:46,342it. And we have different tiers of42200:15:46,342 --> 00:15:49,414different exclusive content you can be42300:15:49,414 --> 00:15:51,054able to access there and it's a lot of42400:15:51,054 --> 00:15:52,398fun. We love the difference maker42500:15:52,398 --> 00:15:54,350community. So I do. It means a lot to me42600:15:54,350 --> 00:15:55,966and I appreciate every one of you who are42700:15:55,966 --> 00:15:58,446there and how we go a little bit deeper.42800:15:58,446 --> 00:16:00,174So, yeah, we'll go deeper onto some Lori's42900:16:00,174 --> 00:16:01,534travel tips around this. We'll do a43000:16:01,534 --> 00:16:03,070special episode there just for you43100:16:03,070 --> 00:16:05,738Difference makers. Anyway, I hope this was43200:16:05,738 --> 00:16:08,322helpful. If it was, please let me know43300:16:08,322 --> 00:16:10,402also if you have additional tips or have43400:16:10,402 --> 00:16:12,274taken a trip with your own teenager or43500:16:12,274 --> 00:16:14,034also just love birthday trips in general,43600:16:14,034 --> 00:16:17,362which I personally do most years. When I43700:16:17,362 --> 00:16:19,550ask for something for my birthday, I just43800:16:19,550 --> 00:16:21,814say I want a trip for the last many years43900:16:21,814 --> 00:16:23,302because I'm more of a trip person than a44000:16:23,302 --> 00:16:25,922present person, more of a collector of44100:16:25,922 --> 00:16:28,822memories and experiences and things. So44200:16:28,822 --> 00:16:30,278that means a lot to me and I was glad to44300:16:30,278 --> 00:16:33,046do it with my teenager, too, this time on44400:16:33,046 --> 00:16:34,79416th birthday, which is kind of a big44500:16:34,794 --> 00:16:37,338deal. So, yeah, let me hear from you. Let44600:16:37,338 --> 00:16:38,874us know if you have your own stories, your44700:16:38,874 --> 00:16:41,322own tips. And yeah, in the meantime, I44800:16:41,322 --> 00:16:42,886know there's a lot of travel going on44900:16:42,886 --> 00:16:45,758around this holiday season, so if you have45000:16:45,758 --> 00:16:48,206more tips on traveling in general, let us45100:16:48,206 --> 00:16:50,480know about those on social media. You can45200:16:50,480 --> 00:16:53,082find the Aworld of Difference podcast on45300:16:53,082 --> 00:16:55,806Instagram at aworldof difference. And you45400:16:55,806 --> 00:17:01,026can find us on Twitter at awadpod awodpod.45500:17:01,026 --> 00:17:04,354And you can find me on Twitter at loriadbr45600:17:04,354 --> 00:17:08,306or Instagram at brown. Yeah, we'd love to45700:17:08,306 --> 00:17:10,214hear from you also on threads on both of45800:17:10,214 --> 00:17:12,534those as well. So, yeah, reach out. Let me45900:17:12,534 --> 00:17:14,710know if you have any thoughts around this46000:17:14,710 --> 00:17:17,254episode, if it brought up any stories in46100:17:17,254 --> 00:17:19,510your own experience that you'd love to46200:17:19,510 --> 00:17:20,954share. And we can share tips with each46300:17:20,954 --> 00:17:23,062other about how to take trips with your46400:17:23,062 --> 00:17:25,530teenager, especially on a birthday trip.46500:17:25,530 --> 00:17:27,142Anyway, for all of you who are46600:17:27,142 --> 00:17:29,706celebrating, lots of things out there,46700:17:29,706 --> 00:17:31,910whether it's birthdays, getting ready for46800:17:31,910 --> 00:17:34,026Advent, Christmas, Hanukah, a lot of46900:17:34,026 --> 00:17:35,566Americans just celebrated Thanksgiving. I47000:17:35,566 --> 00:17:37,870know there's a lot of celebrating going on47100:17:37,870 --> 00:17:40,734everywhere. Enjoy time with your family47200:17:40,734 --> 00:17:42,926and loved ones and friends and also take47300:17:42,926 --> 00:17:45,086care of yourself. Hopefully you can get47400:17:45,086 --> 00:17:47,490some rest and enjoy some of this travel47500:17:47,490 --> 00:17:49,890and celebrating too, because a lot of you47600:17:49,890 --> 00:17:51,666difference makers out there are doing a47700:17:51,666 --> 00:17:53,346lot of incredible work around the world.47800:17:53,346 --> 00:17:55,954And I know that sometimes you neglect47900:17:55,954 --> 00:17:58,294yourself. So if that's the case, don't do48000:17:58,294 --> 00:18:01,398that anymore. And this is also another48100:18:01,398 --> 00:18:03,574opportunity to talk about our sponsor for48200:18:03,574 --> 00:18:06,438this podcast, which is BetterHelp. And if48300:18:06,438 --> 00:18:09,094you go to BetterHelp.com Difference,48400:18:09,094 --> 00:18:13,194you'll get 10% off your first month. 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So49300:18:32,046 --> 00:18:33,870if you're somebody who struggled with49400:18:33,870 --> 00:18:36,218anything traumatic or difficult,49500:18:36,218 --> 00:18:38,974relational conflict, or just find yourself49600:18:38,974 --> 00:18:40,782getting stuck and needing some help,49700:18:40,782 --> 00:18:43,710please go to WW dot BetterHelp.com49800:18:43,710 --> 00:18:45,720Difference and get 10% off your first49900:18:45,720 --> 00:18:48,646month. And everyone out there keep making