THUNDER BAY -- When Seija and Adam Nousiainen got married, it wasn’t the right time to take a honeymoon.
The couple moved twice, Adam got jobs, Seija birthed two children and together, they settled in Thunder Bay. Travel was never a priority next to the cost of living and youth sports. Adam had only ever taken trips to the United States as a child and Seija had never left Canada.
The Nousiainens were so “vacation-deprived,” in fact, that they suspected nothing when a Toronto-based friend recruited them for a documentary project on couples that don’t travel.
Expedia.ca deceived the couple and the Nousiainens' priorities would never be the same.
“(Expedia.ca) came and did some filming with us," Seija explained. "And at the end of our filming, they gave us an envelope and said, ‘we’re going to give you the honeymoon you never had. You’re going to France.
“We were totally shocked. It was amazing.”
The shock hadn’t even worn off when they flew to Paris the next week.
From the wine, castles and windy roads through the hills of rural France to a kiss at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, the travel company bought Seija and Adam the vacation of their dreams.
“It was such a deadly experience seeing how people live out there and their way of life,” Adam said. “Everybody’s so relaxed ans enjoys themselves. It’s a stress-free place. I love Canada, but being over there, it just makes you feel so comfortable.”
The couple landed in August, dubbed “vacation month” in France and other European countries. They were fascinated by the different work-life balance in the culture and the way every work day is bound with family time.
Having their first-ever opportunity to travel changed the way the Nousiainens looked at the pace of life.
“We’re considered middle class. We just live our lives on a daily basis,” Seija explained.
“We totally could have made it a priority to put money aside and take time out. We never made it a priority for us to do that. This totally opened our eyes and we’re like, ‘OK, we need to make this a priority now.’”
“You have to make time for yourself,” Adam added.
“Even here in Canada, just go out for a weekend, just relax and become one with whatever you’re doing. I think that’s why people are so stressed these days. You don’t’ give yourself a chance to come down to reality, read a book, have a cup of coffee, go talk with a friend go for a walk -- step back and breathe, you know?”
The Nousiainens have caught the travel bug. The family plans to take their next vacation at Disneyland.
