Comments on: The Joy of Coming Home

By: Kaitlin M

Kaitlin M — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 07:47:00 +0000

You’re totally right about coming home, sometimes it can be the best thing in the world can do – for a couple of hours.
But usually by the end of the day I’m ready to go back out into the world.
Though I have to admit I usually do see anything different when I return like you mentioned, strangely enough everything always seems the same, which can be nice.
Loved the article.

By: Erica

Erica — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:53:20 +0000

And, like you said, most of all, it helps you recharge and get ready for the next adventure.

By: Erica

Erica — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:51:04 +0000

There’s something special about coming home. I actually love all parts of a trip; before (the anticipation), during (the excitement of discovering new places), and afterwards (having such great memories to look back at, photos to sort through and experiences to write about.

By: Tina

Tina — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 02:22:00 +0000

Well put. We’ve been living abroad for 2 1/2 years and will soon have the experience of transitioning back to the U.S.

We too have become burnt out in some aspects. Nature hasn’t bored us, the mountains are and will always be breathtaking, but temples, pagodas well, let’s just say we can live without seeing them for awhile.

Looking forward to reading your posts..

By: Nora

Nora — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 18:08:36 +0000

Brilliantly put!
I am finishing up a 6 week sojourn back home to Toronto Canada, and have experienced much of what you (and other readers) are explaining. I’m also excited to hit the road again in a few days, despite the number of “goodbye for now”s I’m doing right now.

By: Dave and Deb

Dave and Deb — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 13:08:13 +0000

I know exactly what you mean about coming home. It is difficult and there is always a reverse culture shock in my experiences. I do love seeing everyone again and how friends and family are so happy to have you back. You feel a euphoria for a week or so catching up with people.
But like you said, it is always an adjustment. Once the “vacation” is over and you are back to real life, it is a big adjustment. Everyone has their own lives and things quickly go back to normal, just like you never left.
We have been home for almost a year, and are back at work and reintegrated with friends and family. This entire year has felt as if something was amiss. Maybe we are addicted to travel like Laura says above but is that a negative thing? (I couldn’t tell from Laura’s exclamation points and capital letters if she was angry or not…sorry) There is a great big world out there to explore and some of the greatest people in history were explorers.
We have noticed that we are actually closer with friends and family while we are traveling. We keep in touch more intimately. Here in Canada, everyone (including ourselves) is just too busy to really connect. While we are away we all make the extra effort to keep in touch and to tell each other how much we care about one another.
I think that when you have the Wanderlust in you, it never goes away and I can’t wait to get back on the road in 2 months.

By: Laura

Laura — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 00:58:04 +0000

I think you’re addicted to traveling – you go through withdrawal when you come home!
The thing about coming home for me was it was still like I was on vacation – because no one had seen us in so long, everywhere we went was an event. And, when people are working so there’s boredom potential, there are DOGS TO WALK!!! Dogs make sure you’re never bored or lonely.
And since I was on vacation when I was home, I have to remember that THIS home – sitting on the deck, hiking in the woods, eating eggplant parm – is not the normal home. Normal home involves a normal job and normal chores. Every place looks better when you’re on vacation.

By: jessiev

jessiev — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 21:06:07 +0000

whenever i’ve been gone for a long time, it is always bittersweet to be home. lovely bc of all the good things that you’ve outlined above, and sad bc i’d rather have the excitement of living in a new culture. good luck on your travels! i am sure you’ve noted this – where are you off to next?

By: Brett

Brett — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:30:54 +0000

I’ve been on a {home 6-12 month : road 1-6 month} cycle for a while now, and I try to carry over the mentality of travel into home life.

The best way I’ve found to do that is to live in a new American city/town every time I come back to the states. This forces you to meet new people, discover new places, stay sharp about work, and keep your possessions at the level of what can be packed into, say, a VW Jetta.

For many people, there’ll be lots of interesting town-work options within a 3-hour driving radius of family and old friends, so you get to see everybody and make lots of weekend road trips for quick snacks of travel–you know, that packing it up and hitting the road feeling.

I like how you refer to what you enjoy about being home and seeing the changes. Looking forward to exploring this further.

Brett

By: NomadicMatt

NomadicMatt — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:38:37 +0000

Ya know, interestingly, I speak to my parents more when I am away than when I am home so I understand exactly what you’re saying.