Comments on: How to Travel the World, pt. 3: Coming Home

By: Spot Cool Stuff

Spot Cool Stuff — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 23:49:09 +0000

I always thought coming home was a lot harder than leaving.

One more tip for your list: Take a day around your home town and act like you are a tourist there. Go to a museum or to other “touristy” attractions, hang out where ever other travelers are, etc.

By: Helen

Helen — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:00:34 +0000

I find coming home the worst part of the trip. I love seeing family and friends again, but all the excitement and irresponsibility that comes with travel disappears. Some call it reverse culture shock…I call it reality. Thanks for this posing this Matt!

By: Taylor Davidson

Taylor Davidson — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:39:39 +0000

Who wants to think about coming home!

By: Anthony

Anthony — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 03:48:09 +0000

“Get the hell out” Yes! AGREE! I got back on a Monday… began planning escape that Wednesday… STAY TUNED MATT!

Return of the Anthony!

By: NomadicMatt

NomadicMatt — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:03:12 +0000

@tanya: I found it difficult. And when people ask you what is wrong? You can’t really explain because they just don’t understand and when you do explain, they look at you weird.

@lola: yes, it makes me unproductive!

@airfare deal: It is way more difficult getting back into your culture than people think!

@geoff: I agree!

@everyoneelse: glad you enjoyed this entry and found comfort in it.

By: Tanya

Tanya — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:23:49 +0000

I really liked this post, Matt. It’s always good to remember that you’re not the only one going through any given situation, in this case returning home after living abroad. Doing all the things I missed while in Paris helps me manage the transition. It’s been a few months already but it’s still difficult to be back sometimes.

By: Lola

Lola — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:10:45 +0000

Great tips as usual. Reading travel blogs extends the bug to a point where you actually become unproductive!

By: Shane

Shane — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:27:47 +0000

Travel changes you and I find your words describing how “they out grew home” can be very true. While travels can help you grow often the people you leave behind don’t “get” the new you and it can be difficult to readjust for everyone.

Finding common ground again may take some effort on both sides.

By: Airfare deal checker

Airfare deal checker — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:24:26 +0000

Hi, great tips When I was living abroad for the first time, everybody kept telling me how to cope with the cultural shock in the new country and how to settle there easily, but nobody told me how hard it would be to come home. It was actually ten times more difficult!

By: Jul

Jul — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:21:23 +0000

Hi Matt, thanks for stopping by! I just wanted to say I love your list of travel goals on the sidebar. I might have to make a list of my own… thanks for the inspiration!