In my early twenties, I worked as a nanny for a Swiss billionaire, taking care of his four children, seven dogs, and 14 homes. For five years I was entrusted with these sweet little ones as if they were my own, so much so that one day the parents said: “We thought that maybe this summer you could travel alone with the children . Where would you like to go?”
And just like that, I took them to the Hawaiian island of Kauai. We spent a month transforming our pasty bodies into little barefoot tanned brats, throwing “hang on” signs to hitchhikers, and self-labeling our tribe as “surfers.”
kAmxC@?:42==J[ EH@ 564256D =2E6C[ x 42? 92C5=J 8@ 2 H66< H:E9@FE DFC7:?8 😕 >J 9@>6E@H? @7 $2? s:68@] !6C92AD x 92G6 z2F2: E@ E92?
kAm(:E9 2 >FEF2= A2DD:@? 7@C EC2G6=[ H6 AC:@C:E:K6 7@C6:8? 6D42A6D 😕 @FC BF6DE 7@C E96 F?72>:=:2C]k^am
kAm~FC >6?E2= 4FC:@D:EJ 92D E2@C6 E92? g_ 4@F?EC:6D :?4=F5:?8 ‘:6E?2>[ %FC<6J 2?5 |25282D42C] uC2?
kAmpe E96 A62:4[ q6?;2>:? 2?5 x DE2J65 =@42= H:E9 42>A:?8 2?5 C@25 EC:AD] pD:7 A2E:6?ED:? C6923[ H6 7C6BF6?E=J 2D<65 6249 @E96C[ “w@H J@F 9@=5:?’ FAn” %9:D F?DA@<6? 4C2G:?8 7@C EC2G6= 9:E @FC G6:?D 😕 a_a`[ J6E H6 96=5 DE625J 9@A:?8 E96 H@C=5 H@F=5 @A6? 282:?]k^am
kAm|62?H9:=6[ >J D:DE6C H2D 42A:E2=:K:?8 @? r~’xs 7=2D9 D2=6D[ :?4=F5:?8 C@F?5EC:A 7=:89ED E@ w2H2:: 7@C =6DD E92? S`c_ A6C A6CD@?] %9:D EC:886C65 E96 9F?E 7@C >J @H? A:62AA=6 5C62>D 2?5 |2:%2:C2:3@HD[ 6G6? :7 x 925 E@ H2:E 2?@E96C J62C]k^am
kAm%9:D DF>>6C[ >J E:>6 925 7:?2==J 4@>6] x H@F=5 G:D:E w2H2 :: ?@E 2D 2 ?2??J[ 3FE 2D 2 H:76 H:E9 ?@ <:5D[ ?@ 42C 2?5 ?@ 286?52] %@86E96C[ q6?;2>:? 2?5 x H@F=5 G:D:E E9C66 :D=2?5D 😕 D6G6? 52JD] ~FC ” ?@?A=2 ?” A=2? >:89E 92G6 D66>65 7@@=:D9[ 3FE :7 E96 A2?56>:4 E2F89E FD 2?JE9:?8[ :E H2D E@ 8@ H:E9 E96 7=@H]k^am
kAm$E2CE:?8 H:E9 v@@8=6 >2AD[ H6 A:??65 E96 z@?2 2:CA@CE @? E96 q:8 xD=2?5 @7 w2H2::[ 7@==@H65 3J E96 z29F=F: p:CA@CE @? |2F:[ 2?5 E96 w@?@=F=F 2:CA@CE @? ~29F] $@FE9H6DE p:C=:?6D H@? FD @G6C H:E9 2G2:=23:=:EJ 2?5 AC:46 A@:?E[ 3@2DE:?8 7=:89ED 36EH66? E96 7@FC >2;@C :D=2?5D 7@C 2D =@H 2D Sbh]k^am
kAm%96?@7FDD[ ?@7C:==D 2:C=:?6 925 2 4@>65:4 7=:89E 4C6H[ 2 52?46H@CE9J A=2J=:DE[ 7C66 D?24< 3@I6D 2?5 4@4
kAmr2C=6DD W?@E 36 4@?7FD65 H:E9 “42C6=6DD”X[ H6 6I:E65 E96 2:CA@CE[ 9@AA65 😕 2? &36C[ 2?5 >6E @FC 7:CDE =@42=[ “&?4=6 rC2:8]”p 92?5D92
kAmv=2?4:?8 :?E@ E96 C62CG:6H >:CC@C[ 96 2D<65[ “s:5 J@F 5@ J@FC 9@>6H@C
kAm(96? H6 E@=5 9:> H6 5:5?’E[ 96 :?DE2?E=J 3642>6 @FC 4962E D966E] pG@:5 E2I:D[ EC2G6= 3J &36C[ @C 36DE @7 2==[ C6?E 2 42C 7C@> E96 =@42=D E9C@F89 %FC@] u@C 277@C523=6 7@@5 @? E96 D@FE9 D:56[ 96 E@=5 FD E@ 62E 2E E96 3@H=:?8 2==6J[ q=24< #@4< !:KK2[ 2?5 !F?2=FVF q2<6 $9@A]k^am
kAmu@CD@FE962DE:D=2?5 6IA6C:6?46D[ 96 DF886DE65 H6 D:A 6DAC6DD@D 2E E96 z2VF r@7766 72C>DE2?5 @C E2DE6 =@42= 3=6?5D 2E E96 ‘@=42?@ (:?6CJ] u@C 7C66 25G6?EFC6D[ 96 A@:?E65 FD E@H2C5 r2C=D>:E9 q6249 E@ DH:> H:E9 D62 EFCE=6D] X? w:=@[ H6 D9@F=5 G:D:E #2:?3@H u2==D[ 6IA=@C6 ?2E:@?2= A2C
kAmq6?;2>: ? E@@
kAm“s:5 J@F 42E49 2== E92En” rC2:8 2D
kAmx 5:5?’E 3642FD6[ 7C2?<=J[ x H2D 6I92FDE65] }@H:? @FC>:5c_D[ H6’G6 5@?6 @FC 72:C D92C6 @7 25G6?EFC6 EC2G6=[ E2AA:?8 :?E@ 6G6CJE9:?8 7C@> D
kAms@?6 2?5 5@?6]p 56E@FC E@@:=6 9:3@@ 7@C6DE H6C6 E96 :>AC6DD:G6 72==DA=F?8: ?8 cca 766E]k^Am
kAmx? @FC H@C=5[ :E’D 2=>@DE D:?7F= E@ 6IA=@C6 @? 52J @?6[ H9:49 H6 C6D6CG6 7@C 244=:>2E:K2E:@? 2?5 36G6C286 4@?DF>AE:@?] qFE CF=6D 2C6 >62?EE@ 36 3C@
kAmt?E6C |2F?2 z62 q6249 w@E6=]k^Am
kAmuC@> E96 >>>6?E H6 H6C6 8C66E65 H:E9 8F2G2 ;F:46 2?5 2 7=@C2= =6:[ x 6H H6 H6C6 😕 7@C 2 A2>A6C65 DE2J] s6G6=@A65:? `hed 3J {2FC2?46$]#@4 AFE E96 4@2DE @? E96 > 2A[ 2?5 E96 ?2EFC2= 4@G6 H:E9 :ED 9:==D:56 A@E6?E:2= DH66E6?65 E96 562=]k^am
kAm~G6C=@@<: z2f q2j e96 z r c6e2: :ed h:e9 dej="6" e92e j h2 e tg6cje9: ac :d: c:89e d2>
kAmxE H2D =:D6=7 EC:AA65 H:E9 2328 @7 7=@FC[ 2?5 E96? EC:65 E@ 4=62? :E FA H:E9 (:?56I 😕 7:G6 D9256D @7 3=F6] }6G6C 925 × D66? 2 >@C6 A6C764E 4@G6[ 3@@<6?565 H:E9 7:6CJ C@J2= A@:?4:2?2 EC66D E@ 3@@E] %96 36249 4964
kAmq69:?5 E96 =2J@FE >28:4 😀 E96 2C49:E64EFC2= 7:C> $~|[ H9:49 56D:8?65 EH@ E@H6CD 7C@?E65 3J E96 36249 2?5 324<65 3J 2? `g9@=6 8@=7 4@FCD6] r2AEFC:?8 E96 ?6IFD 36EH66? 62DE 2?5 H6DE[ qF5592 DE2EF6D 2?5 q@59: EC66D 3=6?5 362FE:7F==J H:E9 z2A2 2CE >256 7C@> 32C< 4=@E9] s@EE:?8 E96 8C@F?5D 2C6
kAm(6 H6C6 EC62E65 E@ E:<: e df :d="2?5" h6 : uc6ee6=":?6?D[" x efc q6 d2:5 j w2h2::n>
kAmxE E@@< 2 4@FA=6 52JD E@ 7F==J 2AAC64:2E6 E96 :D=2?5’D A6C764E:@?[ 6G6?EF2==J 7:?5:?8 @FC C9JE9> @7 D?@C<6=[ 62E[ D=66A[ C6A62E] (6 A6AA6C65 @FC 52JD H:E9 A255=63@2C5:?8 2?5 4@2DE2= H2=6 D?@C2DE6CD[ 5:G:?8 :?E@ E96 23JDD E@ A@:?E @FE @4E@A:[ D62 EFCE=6D[ >2?E2 C2JD 2?5 7:D9 2D ?6@? 2D E96 ’g_D]k^am
kAm%96C6 =:E6C2==J H2D ?@ 286?52[ @E96C E92? E96 ?646DD:E:6D @7 “D=66A” 2?5 “62E[” E96 =2EE6C @7 H9:49 H6 5:5 A=6?EJ @7 2E r@AA6C q2C] $FD9: 7:==65 @FC 36==:6D[ 2?5 E96 >:I@=@8:DE 7:==65 @FC >:?5D[ D92C:?8 E2=6D @7 G@=42?:4 6CFAE:@?D[ A6D
kAmyF>A:?8@? E92E ;F3:=2?E 32?5H28@?[ H6 42==65 rC2:8 7@C 2 =:7E 324< E@ E96 2:CA@CE] “p=@92[” 96 D2:5 H:E9 2 9F8[ 4@>>6?E:?8 @? 9@H C67C6D965 H6 =@@<65 27E6C ;FDE E9C66 52JD]k^am
kAm“(2:E 2?5 D66[” 96 25565[ “%96 :D=2?5 H:== D@@? =:G6 H:E9:? J@F[ 2?5 J@FC ;@3 😀 E@ A2DD @? E92E =@G6[ =:76 2?5 ?2EFC6 E@ @E96CD] !C6A2C6 7@C E96 ‘p=@92]’ ”k^Am
kAmx 5:5?’E 8:G6:E >F49 E9@F89E 2D H6 3@2C565 @FC $@FE9H6DE 7=:89E E@ |2F:[ ?@C 5FC:?8 @FC 5C:G6 E@ A2C25:D6] t?E6C u@FC $62D@?D #6D@CE |2F : 2E (2 :=62]k^Am
kAm~G6C=@@<: e96 q6249 c6d :d h2="<:?8" e c6de2fc2 p>A=:>6?E2CJ 9@FD6 42C K:AD 8F6DED E@ =@42= DA@ED[ 2=E9@F89 >@DE 49@@D6 E@ DE2J H:E9:? E96 6?4=2G6 @7 962G6?]k^am
kAm~E96CD H:E9 E:>6 2?5 EC2?DA@CE >:89E G6?EFC6 2=@?8 E96 D46?:4 #@25 E@ w2?2 @C 3: :=6D 5@H? w2=62
kAmuC@> 96C6[ :E’D C:56C’D 49@:46 @? A246 2?5 DE@AD 2=@?8 E96 H2J]k^am
kAmu@CG:6HD 4=@D6C E@ “9@>6[” D:>A=J =@@< @FED:56 E96 H:?5@H] (2=<: a2e9d>6 E96 u@FC $62D@?D C6D@CE[ DA:==:?8 @?E@ 42C2>6=4@=@C65 D2?5 H96C6 H6 K6?65 @FE H:E9 >@C?:?8 J@82]k^am
kAm%96C6 H2D A=6?EJ E@
kAmu@C 25F=ED[ E96J H@@65 FD H:E9 7:C6 52?46CD[ F
kAmxE H2D:7 E96 52JD 925 H:?8D[ 7=J:?8 3J 367@C6 H6 C62=:K65 H6 925 5@?6 “?@E9:?8]” #6=2I2E:@ ? H:E9 2 52D9 @7 A2>A6C:?8 H2D E@ 3=2>6[ :?4=F5:?8 2 362497C@?E >2DD286 2?5 x’ E96C2AJ] }6G6C 925 × 962C5 @7 DF49 2 E9: 8[ 3FE 7@C “$62D@?D” C68F=2CD[ :E’D DE2?52C5 H9:E68=@G6 H6==?6DD]k^am
kAmp E62> @7 #}D 9@@6 FA W=:E6C2==JX E@ 2? x’ 5C:A E92E 4@?E2:?65 9J5C2E:?8 7=F:5D[ 6=64EC@=JE6D 2?5 >F=E:G:E2>:?D] x76=E C6492C865[ D@ >F49 D@[ E92E x H6?E 324< E@ E96 A@@= 2?5 492==6?865 >J 9FD32?5 E@ 2 =2A C246] X? >J 4@>A6E:E:G6 DE2E6[ x 4@F=5?’E 96=A 3FE ?@E:46 E96 F?56CH2E6C >FD:4 2?5 E96 A2:?E65 E@6D @7 E66E@E2=6CD 2E E96 DH:>FA 32C]k^am
kAm{62G6 :EE@ E96 u@FC $62D@?D |2F: E@ C6567:?6 =FIFCJ[ H:E9 :ED ;2D>:?6D46?E65 =@33J 25@C?65 H:E9 @C49:5D] r@C?6C:?8 E96 G2C:@FD H:?8D H6C6 7@FC C6DE2FC2?ED :?4=F5:?8 $A28@ 3J >2DE6C 4967 (@=782?8 !F4[ 2?5 u6CC2C@’D H96C6 H6 925 E96 36DE >62= @7 @FC EC:A] pD (2:=62’D @?=J @462?7C@?E C6DE2FC2?E[ E96 <:E496? D6CG6D 4@?E6>A@C2CJ xE2=:2? 5:D96D H:E9 |2F: :?8C65:6?ED]k^am
kAmq6?;2>: ? @AE65 7@C E96 G62= |:=2?6D6[ 2?5 x E96 DBF:5:?< E28=:@=:?:]k^am
kAm}665=6DD E@ D2J[ :E H2D 492==6?8:?8 E@ =62G6 E96 u@FC $62D@?D |2F:[ 3FE !2CE b @7 @FC EC:A H2D[ 😕 724E[ @? @FC 286?52]k^am
kAmt?E6C ~29F[ @FC E9:C5 2?5 7:?2= :D=2?5 E92E 82G6 FD 2 5@D6 @7 4F=EFC6 D9@4< 😕 @FC @H? 4@F?ECJ]k^am
kAm(6 A=2??65 E@ DE2J 46?EC2= 😕 (2:<: e96 dbf2c6>:=6 ?6:893@C9@@5 @? E96 D@FE9 D9@C6:? w@?@=F=F]%96 DF82CH9:E6 D2?5 =FC65 FD[ 2=@?8 H:E9 2AA2C6?E=J E96 C6DE @7 E96 H@C=5]k^am
kAmsFC:?8 E96 a_>:?FE6 C:56[ H6 7@F?5 @FCD6=G6D DEF4< 😕 3FDE=:?8 EC277:4[ 5H2C765 2>@?8 D
kAm~AE:@?D H6C6 A=6?E:7F= H96? :E 42>6 E@ =@58:?8[ H:E9 C@@>D 2G6C28:?8 Sab_ 2 ?:89E 7@C 362497C@?E =@42E:@?D] *6E :E H2D !C:?46 (2:<: e92e d6cg65 c67f86 e96 eh>
kAm~FC C@@> 925 7=@@CE@46:=:?8 G:6HD @7 E96 92C3@C 2?5 @462?]{2KJ 52JD H6C6 DA6?E 3J E96 A@ @= 2?5 =FIFC:2?E ?:89ED 62E:?8 DFD9 : 2E E96 D:8?2EFC6 `__ $2:=D #6DE2FC2?E]%96 4@?E6>A@C2CJ @462 ?7C@?E 9@E6= H2D A6C764E=JA@D:E:@?65 2E E96 82E6H2J E@ w@?@=F=F’D >@DE G:3C2?E ?6:893@C9 @@5D — r9: ?2E@H?[ z2<2‘2<@[ p=2 |@2?2 2?5 (2:<:<:] $@[ H6 H2=<65 6G6CJH96C6i E@ E96 36249[ C6DE2FC2?ED[ D9@AD 2?5 2EEC24E:@?D :?4=F5:?8 E@ @FC DF?D6E 4CF:D6 @? E96 |2;6DE:4 3J pE=2?E:Dj =:G6 >FD:4 2?5 4@4 kAm}62C3J H2D !62C= w2C3@C[ s:2>@?5 w625 $E2E6 |@?F>6?E 2?5 E96 9@E6=’D af9@=6 pC?@=5 !2=>6C 8@=7 4@FCD6] w25 E:>6 2==@H65[ H6 H@F=5 92G6 D?@C<6=65 2E w2?2F>2 q2J[ 9:<65 z26?2 !@:?E 2?5 D@2<65 😕 |2?@2 u2==D]k^am kAmx?DE625[ H6 H2=<65 😕 E96 C2:? E@ #2>6? }2<2>FC2[ 2 9F>3=6 9@=6 H:E9 =:?6D E92E HC2AA65 E96 3F:=5:?8] $FCC@F?565 3J D@FG6?:C D9@AD 2?5 =FIFCJ 3@FE:BF6D[ E96C6 H2D 2 EC@A:42= ‘682D=:<6 6?6C8J 23@FE E96 A=246] %@FC:DED 42>6: ? 2== D92A6D 2?5 D:K6D[ D?2AA:?8 D6=7:6D 2?5 =:4<:?8 :46 4C62> 4@?6D 😕 A2DD:?8] x =@@ :?[ “(96C6 2C6 H6n”k^Am kAm%92E 7:?2= >@C?:?8[ x 6H]k^am kAmx H@ =2AD]x? >JD@=:EF56[ x E9@F89E 23@FE @FC :D=2?59@AA:?8 25G6?EFC6 E92E F?G6:=65 E96 362FEJ @7 @FC @H? 4@F?ECJ — 7C@> E96 >2?E2 C2JD E92E D@2C65 =:<6 F?56CH2E6C 3:C5D E@ E96 8C2467F= 9F=2 A6C7@C>2?46 E92E D965 =:89E @? E96 C:EF2=D @7 E96 w2H2::2?D] x C6>6>36C65 E96 H@C5D @7″&?4=6 rC2:8[” E92E E96 :D=2?5 =:G6D H:E9:? FD[ 8:G:?8 FD 2? p=@92 DA:C:E]k^am kAmvC233:?8 >JE@H6=[ x E@@< @?6 =2DE =@@< 2E E96 9@C:K@? 2?5 E96C6 :E H2D ]]]2 7F== C2:?3@H 2C49:?8 24C@DD E96 D kAm#F??:?8 E@H2C5 @FC C@@>[ x @A6?65 E96 5@@C @?=J E@ 7:?5 q6?;2>:? DE:== 2D=66A] %96 C2: 3@H 925 72565 2 5 E96C6 H2D 3FE 2 72: E >6>@CJ @7:ED 6I:DE6?46]vC233: 8 >J A9@?6[ x 2D<65 $:C: E@ 567:?6 E96 566A6C >62?:?8 @7 “p=@92]”k ^ Am kAmw6C C6DA@?D6i “q#tp%w ~u {xut]”k^Am k9C ^m kAm|2C=:D6 z2DE|J6CD W k2 9C67lQ>2C=:D6Qm>2C=:D6k^2m X 😀 2 ? 2FE9@C 2?5 ;@FC?2=:DE 32D65 😕 $2? s:68@]$96 2?5 96C 9FD32?5 =:G6 2E E96 9:DE@C:4 q6EEJ rC@4Qm3C:432C?]4@>k^2m X]k^Am kAm©a_aa %C:3F?6 r@?E6?E p86?4J[ {{r]k^am