The Ostrom Family Adventures

A small family embarking on a year-long adventure to New Zealand to meet new friends and learn about more of the world and ourselves.

Preparations are under way.

We started considering spending a year in New Zealand about 8 years ago, but it wasn’t the right timing and we spent 6 amazing years in Portland, OR suburbs making friends who became family. Moving to Olympia Washington just about 3 years ago, we embarked on the adventure of buying 10 acres and a farmhouse outside the city which has been full of beautiful times as well as a lot of challenges. We are so thankful for the community of friends and neighbors who have become like family here as well.

With Leif starting middle school this year and Mason taking some time to work on the farm and working on crafting his knife-making style and business ideas, and a job and work-family that I really enjoy, it has seemed like the right time to fulfill a dream and take a year in New Zealand with a home and community that we are also excited to return to – with great stories and experiences.

I’ll be doing my best to document our travels here and share our life with those who want to check it out.

One Step Closer

I have traveled overseas and worked in various setting way back when I was single. The biggest reason I think families don’t pick up and go try something new is that it is really really hard. I’m so thankful for the amazing man I married and his support and teamwork to help make this happen. As he has said – he’s the physical manpower and I get to be the dreamer and planner, but he has been doing so much planning and preparing for all of our belongings as well and we are excited to be seeing things come together.

We are currently in the “waiting for Visa’s” part of the process. My Medical License has already been approved. The Visa’s were submitted at the beginning of the month and once they are approved, flights get purchased and initial housing will be chosen. We will get an Airbnb initially for a couple weeks as we find our footing and decide where we want to live for the rest of the year. Global Medical Staffing has been amazing at connecting me to a clinic there and helping submit a lot of the paperwork.

I’m not great at waiting, but it is a large part of most adventures in one way or another and I’m enjoying the waiting as we connect with friends and family before we are off for the year.