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The family celebrating Alexis' graduation.
Tam (sister), Chris (brother), Me, Mom, and Alexis (front and center) During the planning stages of my trip I realized that I could not travel for an entire year without returning home for a “break” as I am very family oriented and knew that homesickness would be inevitable. The fact that my sister would be graduating from the college of Dentistry in June gave me the perfect excuse to return home at what just happened to be the "halfway point".
I spontaneously changed my original flight date of May 30/12 to May 23/12 so that I could return home a week early. I was feeling tired and had lost my energy to keep moving forward. It takes a lot of effort to keep motivated and continue moving to different places, saying goodbye to old friends, and trying to meet new friends. I was finished. My mind kept wandering back home and I found myself daydreaming of getting picked up at the airport, visiting my coworkers, breakfast/lunch dates, BBQ’s, hot showers, playing slo-pitch, my double bed, home cooked meals, etc. I couldn’t relax as I had a running “to do” list in my head; get travel visas, immunizations, and what to pack for the second half of my trip. I had completely
My "Welcome Home Committee"
June, Cathy, Bree, Brenda, Mom, Alexis, Sherry, and Jen! checked out. I tried to pick up my Lonely Planet to decide where to go next but I could not think of any other place that I would rather be than at home. As soon as I realized this, I rescheduled my return flight for one week earlier.
I had the greatest surprise "welcome home committee" at the airport. When I arrived at the Regina airport I was looking for the place to pick up my bags and had no idea that when I turned the corner a group of my family and friends would be waiting at the bottom of the stairs. There they were, eight very important ladies in my life, holding great big signs that read, "Welcome home Crys", "We missed you", "We love Crystal", "So happy you are back". The rest of the people on the flight must have been very jealous that they didnt have a group greeting them with cheers and hugs. It was so awesome! I know that I am loved but what a powerful gesture to not only feel the love but for me and the entire airport to actually see it! Thanks ladies!
It took a few days to
settle in and get used to being home and all the comforts that brings with it. I felt fortunate to have small pleasures like plumbing that can handle flushing toilet paper, hot showers, wrapping myself in a large bath towel, driving my car, hanging my purse on the back of a chair without worrying about it getting stolen, sleeping in a double bed, and knowing what awaits around every street corner. I had found a new appreciation for all the privileges in my day to day life that I had taken for granted.
When mentally preparing for my trip I had convinced myself that my day to day life was boring and predictable. Upon my return, I realized that I missed what I once thought was a monotonous routine. Predictability is reliability, and what is wrong with that? I know that on Wednesday evenings I am going to see my brother and sister at Champs for wing night, on Tuesday and Thursday mornings I will be at Spin & Sculpt class with Cortanie Burns, if I visit Amanda Scott and her kids I will be asked “spin me Auntie”, Kim Grenier will certainly call to check on me every
Logan and I
My best friend Amanda had a baby boy while I was away. few days, Bree Hagan and Cathy Daly will meet me on Saturday mornings for breakfast, throughout the summer months I will be recruited for slo-pitch tournaments with Darrel and Marcie, if Sandi Barnie is working on the same day as me we will likely be going for lunch together, I will sit next to Corrin Downey at work with Jen Gillies at her desk across the hall, and if a craving for Saigon 75 arises there are numerous people that will join me. What’s not to love? I certainly live a great life surrounded by amazing people.
Home felt the same, like I had never left. However, I felt like I was no longer the same person as I had grown and changed through my experiences. For those of you that have travelled before, you may have experienced reverse culture shock before. Although feelings of reverse culture shock were evident they were not as strong this time as they had been when I returned from Peru in 2006. I definately think that this blog has helped me process my thoughts and feelings along the way while allowing my family/friends insight into what I have experienced so that they are
Another Night Out.
Me, Alexis, Jaren (Alexis' BF), Amanda, Bree, and Vince (cousin). better able to understand where I am coming from. While home, I found myself feeling a bit overwhelmed and out of place. This led to feelings of frustration and agitation that were often taken out on my mom and sister. My mother asked me, "how is it that you are able to tolerate a variety of people from all over the world but you have no patience for your own family?" Wow! She was right! I was a bit unpleasant to be around. I had been trying so hard to be a kind and compassionate person and yet I obviously still have work to do. Why is it that we take out our frustrations on those we love the most when they are the most deserving of our love and appreciation? Because of my impatience I was worried about what the second half of the trip would look like with Alexis? Would we be able to make it work? I predicted that I would be doing all of the planning and she would be depending on me and my experience to help get her through... which really annoyed me. So, as it seems, I have a new goal for the
Our "Goodbye Committee"
Grandma, Alexis, Mom, Brenda, Amanda, Tayler, Logan, Jordynn, and Carol. Present but not pictured was Auntie Jae and my cousin Steph. second half of my trip: exercise patience with my sister over the next six months and with my family/friends upon my return home.
I had to keep reminding myself of all that I had accomplished over the course of the last five months because it didn't seem real. I had gone skydiving, black water rafting in the Waitomo Caves, completed the Tongariro Crossing (19 km trek), trekked the Franz Josef Glacier, sought the thrill of the Canyon Swing, zorbed down a hill, swam with 300 wild dolphins, went on a camel safari, completed my diving certification, kayaked, tobaggoned down an active volcano, learned how to salsa, participated in getting 17 slum children into private school, took Spanish classes, lived with two local families (one in India and one in Gautemala), had a total of 12 flights and explored six countries. I definitely completed a lot so I had to be gone for five months. I met some amazing people and learned a lot along the way. Although part of me wants to jump right back into my regular life, the other part of me is excited to continue exploring the world and sharing my experiences with all of you!
***Over the course of the last five months I have received the nicest, heartfelt messages/emails from family and friends from all over the world. These messages have been very flattering and have given me the opportunity to see myself through your eyes. I know, that if I can fully embrace the "Crystal" that you all see in me I will never spend another day feeling insecure or self conscious and will not see limitations but only possibilities. Thank you all for that. I remember your kind words always and use them to strive and be a better person so that I can continue to make you all proud. Thanks to everyone that I have met on the road and to the people back home that have offered their support and kept me motivated to continue on.
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Mom
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So Proud
Crystal, I am so proud of the women you were, the women you are and the women you are becoming...sometimes, we are hardest on the people that love us the most, because, we know that they will continue to love us no matter what...and that my dear daughter is how it will always be...so when those days come, that we have the least patience with each other...may we always be able to give each other a hug at the end of the day, and know how much love there is between us! Thank you for sharing all your heartfelt experiences...not only do you grow but so do I! LOVE YOU...Safe travels to you and your sister!