When you get home, do you get depressed and feel 'homesick' for the country you just left?
I have found sometimes coming home is a strange experience, and seems unfamiliar and alien, even my old room or apartment. I look around, and my personal belongings look strange, and I have a hard time sleeping in my own bed. When I go to the store, I have no idea what to buy, and crave all the foods I got used to in the country I just returned from. I feel displaced in my own home, and feel adrift in my own life.
I wonder if it is just familiarity, or a deeper existential indication of my true path and place. Shouldn't coming home feel great?
Has this happened to you? How did you cope? Thank you for sharing! This is an odd subject, and sometimes is the las thing you expect when you get home.
Reply to this Hello Elspeth 😊
I used to feel like that when I first started travelling. When I got home, sleeping in the same bed and going to the same places week after week instead of being able to move on to something fresh used to make me feel restless.
These days I travel for shorter periods but more frequently because I have a boyfriend and daughter. I always have another trip to look forward to in the near future...... Also I have done a lot of travelling so dont feel pushed to add more to it... I wouldnt like if I could do no travelling at all, but being able to do some has given me an easier going be happy with what I have whether at home or someplace else attitude.
Mel
Reply to this Sometimes when I've got back I wonder how I'm going to manage dealing just with everyday issues and a work routine. I usually change the wallpaper on my laptop at home and at work to a favourite photo from the trip ;-)
When I live overseas, as I do now, I always feel a little sad after a trip home - but if I'm based at 'home' I find the best way to deal with travel sickness is to start thinking about the next trip, even if I know it's a year or two away.
Reply to this I agree with Mel and Jo - I start planning my next trip probably before i get home from my current one! It helps to have another trip to plan and look forward to when I get home.
Another thing that helps me is trying to figure out what it was that I liked so much about the place that I was visiting, and how I can incorporate that into my own life back home (besides the obvious aspect of going to work on a daily basis). For instance on of my favorite things when I travel is to just sit in a cafe or grab a sandwhich (bagette, panini, etc) and sit in the park and people watch and relax. So when I get home, I make a point to try to go to my favorite local coffee shop or take my lunch to the park and do the same. Granted my surroundings are a lot more familiar, but it still makes me feel a little like I am bringing back some of that vacation with me.
Reply to this Well, I cope up sharing the things happened in the journey and the days I spent in the visit to other country with my friends. I try to keep in touch with the person who ever I missed and flush out the things. I come back to re-schedule my work which keep’s me busy.
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Greg Mathew
Reply to this I have to respond to this post only because I have just arrived home after spending 6 months in beautiful Argentina. Yesterday, when driving my car on the interstate (after 6 months of no driving) a huge monster truck roared by me, scaring the shit out of me and nearly bringing me to tears. This, I realized, is what travel sickness or reverse culture shock really means. I hated that moment so much and wished to be back walking the cobblestone neighoborhoods of my Buenos Aires home. Since then, I have just been depressed and my reaction is to lock myself in my house watching Bravo TV until I'm green in the face. It is a coping method, but really does nothing to help.
Yes, a solution is to begin planning the next trip, but when you know it is unrealistic and so far away, that is even more depressing, then what can you do?
Reply to this Hi Jaime,
I definitely understand what you are saying. I had similar reactions after being in Australia for 6 months and then spending a few weeks in New Zealand. It was a big adjustment.
i try to plan little trips, even a long weekend somewhere just to get away for a few days. Even if i stay not too far from home but go to like a weekend spa retreat or something. it kind of clears my mind and makes me feel like i'm on vacation!
Reply to this yes. same here. after a week, only 1 week spent in california, i felt very strange after returned home in new jersey (at that time). Then i moved to San Francisco within a 2 months. it's my home now.
at least one of my homes.
Reply to this Jaime, I know what you mean.
Maybe try to think of all the things that made you feel so wonderful on Buenos Aires, and try to incorporate as much of it into life at home as possible. I find I have a whole other personality almost when I am somewhere I really 'fit', and its due to lots of odd little things like fresh flowers, eating in the park, coffee in a cafe, certain foods. You may be able to find some latin american food where you live, or netflix some latin soaps. There also may be a yahoo group for people from Argentina, or places they hang out. You'd be surprised at all the mini ex-pat communities within a community. Its like "People from *there* live here? I've never seen any..." You might be surprised.
And at least know you aren't alone! *hugs*
Reply to this EB, That's exactly what I do! I try to bring some of what I loved back with me. It totally helps! It's not the real thing but definitely reminds me of my travels and that at least makes me feel a little bit better about being home!
Reply to this This has been an awesome forum. I love all the suggestions and tips. I have actually acted on them, because I hate feeling down. This Labor Day weekend I'm going to California for a little trip with my boyfriends family, I got my hair cut, bought some nail polish, began job searching (and finally having some success) for the same job I had in Bs As and just tried to stay away from negative thinking. It has all been a great help.
Recently, I met an Argentine in Denver I couldn't believe it! I learned that he would be the strength coach at the same rugby club where I play, very coincidental. So now I have an Argentine around to remind me how chauvinistic the men are, haha! There is definitely a cultural understanding between people who have lived in the same place and loved it all. I like the idea of renting Latin soaps, I think I will try that next, as well as getting myself enrolled into some Spanish classes just to stay fresh on all the language I've gained.
I'm adjusting, but I hope not to completely leave my Bs As lifestyle even though I no longer live there.
Besitos to you all!
Reply to this After my daugher was born and I wasnt getting to do much travelling I decided to learn how to cook food from around the world. If I could not be in those countries, then at least I could taste them. 😊
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