I spent 6 months in southern Africa last year - it was definitely the best time of my life. Things went wrong (I bought a car, which broke down after 3 months, then crashed the rental car) and due to a combination of nearly running out of money and family commitments I returned home to the UK in October last year.
I managed to get my old job back but ever since being back here I've come to realise I am in no way finished with travelling yet. So much so that I can't even bare to stay in this job or get another one (that I will equally hate) for a year or so to get on the road again. I have big plans (Cape Town to Cairo to UK, or working holiday for a year in New Zealand) but can't see either of them happening soon.
So my question is how do you guys cope with coming home? Is it sensible to throw myself into planning a big trip that may never happen or just accept it and stay where I am?
Reply to this dnt be afraid to to go to places and stay there for awhile.. if that's what you want to do.. then go on and enjoy yourself
Reply to this plan your next trip and in the mean time do some things that you would not be able to do while travelling like learn a new skill, then at least you feel you are making use of the time while you build up some cash for the next escape :-)
Reply to this I've not coped well. Since traveling I've uprooted a few times, and it's been tough to stay in one place (or at one job). I'm constantly itchy feet, and sometimes that's all I can think about. I've diverted myself with various projects (the only thing I can do to contain my wanderlust), and they have turned into massive, complex undertakings. If anything, not traveling has turned me into a very thoughtful, albeit frustrated artist.
Unfortunately, I've got a bit of a ways more to go than a year, as I NEED to finish school, and stop putting it off for kicks in far off places.
I do, however, have some advice for you. 😊
Some people realize their lives are more complete when they're out there on the road... and if you're that person... all you can do, other than gnash your teeth whilst you do hard time in reality, is become very goal oriented. Find interesting projects and dive into them. Learn new languages to prepare you for future journeys. Take a cheap weekend flight somewhere east once every few months to quell the hunger. Start cooking or gardening, or painting... Try to make domesticity bearable until you can cut loose. Work will be tough, even unbearable sometimes. Just do it, knowing your trip will happen.
I wouldn't consider, not even for a second, staying where you are if that's not what you want to do. You can stop and stay where you are when you start a family, if you do. And, even then, there are people who travel as a family.
From one end, I may seem fanatical. I just don't agree that people should forgo any trip whatsoever that they genuinely want to take, barring those that are completely unreasonable.
Reply to this Big plans need big money. Big money means much work. Much money means long hours, more job dedication and a loss of your big goal.
So... don't aim big!
Instead, keep your sense of wonder and adventure alive by lots of small trips out of town, walks up hills or weekends camping. Arrange to visit friends who live a distance away for a week or a long weekend.
Tell yourself every week that you are an adventurous type and realise how all those coping skills from Africa can help you every day in your job or at home.
Blog about your weekends and adventures, not for us lot, but for yourself. Put your ideas and insights down for you to read back in months to come. Your adventurous spirit will stay and grow strong by the small things you do, not the big things you hope for.
Eventually your big trip will become available and you'll be ready to go!
When it does, book it.
And then go.
Reply to this We've had a really tough time adjusting/coming back from a year long trip in Africa from 2007-2008. The toughest thing we found was when people would come up to us and say 'wow you're so lucky to have done the trip of a lifetime' and for us being late twenties/early thirties - it's like - wow if that was the trip of a life time, does that mean we've just lived the best year and nothing left to look forward to?
How we manage to cope is convince ourselves that working is like FUNdraising for the next trip, and we put together a savings plan and a goal and work towards that, and soon enough the next trip will be just around the corner.
Hope that helps,
Kathie
Reply to this Well- Once you've been on a great adventure or around the world you have opened a door that is very hard to close. You have allowed your life to be different, you have allowed your life to take on a different meaning from the majority of the people you grew up knowing. Your wanderlust, the adventure and the amazing people that you meet become far more important and fulfilling than the mainstream life. I disagree with crashpacker- I think you should always aim high, always- whether it is in school, work or the life of travel. Map out your dream and do not settle. Find a profession that will allow you to work and travel the world. Nursing and teaching are options. Nursing pays better.
In the meantime plan a couple of shorter trips to get you through and learn a new language.
Put the atlas on the wall and map out your new adventure. You are one of those special individuals who is lucky enough to never be done with travel. Happy Travels.
Reply to this I have been out of my home country since 2006, i tried to return twice and i faced the reverse culture shock so hard that i left to live abroad in less than 4 months every time. Is hard to deal with the reverse culture shock and traveling affects your perception of "home". Now i live in Estonia....12 more months and i am on my way to South America for a year or so....and then Asia for a year. I am more afraid of what will happen after that...
In any case, planning trips and having a job you like might be the key to pass this returning home problem, right gang of people also helps a lot.
Cheers and good luck with your integration...or not 😊
Reply to this I work like crazy. I make myself forget.
When I return to Cananda after a trip around north/central/south america things were fine.
I went to europe three times after and it been more and more difficult to come back after.
I am lucky, I have a great job that make me travel.
This year I travel across canada with the torch relay and lived in Van for 2 months.
But I always feel the need to leave and be at 5 place at the time.
I am living in 3 weeks for europe again and north africa for 1 year. Hope I will feel better whan I come back.
At the end, you don't control your feelings.
Reply to this I have a little mantra I keep repeating in my head when I get home from a trip and have to go back to work...Im building up the cash to travel to ? soon YAY. Travel = money unfortunately so I just exist on memories and plans for the future countries to come between trips.
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