This Black couple and their two young children are true digital nomads
Courtney and Justin Orgias, along with their 10-month-old daughter, Whitley, and 3-year-old son, Xavier, have been traveling through Mexico for the past eight months with only two (previously three) checked suitcases, two carry-ons, and a diaper bag. They’ve recently arrived in the Colombian city of Medellin.
The young Black family, formerly of Georgia, made the life-changing decision to become full-time nomads last year. They routinely took trips together and were accustomed to doing so several times a year. They took Xavier to five different countries in 2021, and they can’t wait to start exposing him, and their new baby girl, to new traditions.
The birth of their daughter served as the motivation for the shift. “We realized that if we didn’t go now, it was only going to get harder,” Courtney told USA Today. Justin added that the fact that they both work in the technology industry and can therefore work remotely made the lifestyle change possible.
He continued by saying that since they frequently visited Mexico and felt at home there, it made perfect sense for them to settle down there. American visitors are permitted a 180-day visa-free stay in Mexico.
A digital nomad is someone who uses their ability to work remotely (as long as they have access to Wi-Fi) to fund a lifestyle of exploring the world. The majority of digital nomads in the past were freelancers or people running online businesses, but the COVID-19 pandemic’s increase in remote work has made it possible for other people to experience the nomadic way of life. With 15.5 million Americans identifying as digital nomads in 2021, an increase of 112% from 2019, the movement is expanding.
The Orgias were indeed ready to make the big move. They loaded their belongings into a moving truck, gave away some of their stuff, and stored the rest. After an estate sale, they finally decided to leave their home. Courtney referred to the family’s departure from the United States on Juneteenth in 2022, as “poetic” due to the date’s significance.
In addition to providing early cultural exposure for their children, the parents hope to serve as a resource for other Black families who may be curious about nomadic life.
The Orgias family posts photos and stories about their travels on Instagram and on their personal blog, Orgias Family Adventures. They discuss how to obtain necessary visas, how to travel with children, and what they recommend doing while there. They also talk about their experiences as Black travelers in these locations, such as how they decided to begin their time in Mexico in Guadalajara, a city known for its “tight-knit Black expat community.”
The couple wrote on Instagram that the neighborhood made their transition easier and that Xavier attends school with students who are very much like him.
“We want to show people, specifically families, specifically Black families, that the world is vast and life is short,” Courtney shared. “(We love) just being able to show people this is a possibility, this is something you can do.”
The couple said that other families of color frequently send them direct messages asking how they, too, can travel the world or work remotely. Typically, the topic of safety is raised.
“Everyone wants to know if it’s safe, but I find that families of color, Black families in particular, have a bit of a different meaning when they ask that; the safety question will segue directly into questions about the diversity of certain areas, if we felt comfortable if we experienced any racism, and many questions like that,” Courtney added. They also get questions about remote work, child care, and schooling.
“It was really difficult to find people who looked like us.”
Especially as a Black family, the Orgias put in extensive research time to ensure their travel destinations are safe for them. As soon as he hears of an encounter in a city or country, Justin immediately begins investigating.
“You don’t want to get somewhere and you’re thrown in the middle of chaos with two young kids,” he elaborated. The climate and the accessibility of the city to foot traffic are also important considerations.
Among Black people in the United States and Canada, 71% say that feeling safe is “extremely or very influential” when choosing a vacation spot.
Evie Blanco is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience who was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Queens, New York. She is extremely well-versed in hip-hop music and culture and is always aware of any developments within it. Whether it’s the latest in pop culture, a fascinating foreign destination, a truly amazing new restaurant, or breaking news, she loves to write about it all.
This story was originally published March 10, 2023 at 12:06 PM.