The Hardest Part of Travelling That Nobody Talks About

If you're a regular reader, you've probably realised my absence in the last couple of weeks. For that, I can only apologise, but getting back into every-day life has been challenging. I've been back in my home country for a month or so now, and I have been experiencing emotions and difficulties I've never had to face before. Everyone talks about the build-up and excitement of going away, but what about coming home?

The first few days back home are strange, but exciting. You're the talk of the town—the big news. Everyone wants to hear your stories, see your photos, go for coffee. You're the exotic euphoria. You have had the experience of a lifetime and everyone is excitably jealous.

But as the weekend dies away, the drinks and coffee meet-ups become far and few between. Everyone goes back to their little bubbles. Work, school, gym. Your friends all have places to be and you realise, everything you left behind is exactly the same. Hasn't anyone realised how much you've changed?

Then the questions start. What are your plans now? What will you do for work? Are you dating anyone yet?

You've completed your obligatory visits to friends and family. Everyone is happy, healthy and moving on with life. You're happy for them. But you can't shake the feeling of discontent. You've changed. You don't just have a tan, lost weight or bought new clothes (note the token elephant pants), but you think differently now. You've seen the world through fresh new eyes. You watch how everyone lives their everyday life - but you just can't relate. Surely this isn't it? Surely there's more to life than this routine? How can you be happy living this mediocrity now your mind is working beyond anything you'd imagined before?

You feel disconnected and lonely. You're desperate to leave again. They call it the 'Travel Bug', but really it's a need to be around people who speak your language. I don't mean this linguistically, I mean you want people around you who get it. People you've met every single day of your travel life - free spirits, people with wings, just like you.

I'm still in this limbo, trying to work out what to do next. Wondering whether I'll feel 'normal' again. Trying to shake off the desperation for that every-day euphoria and find a way to go back to an every-day lifestyle habit.

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