Bringing Europe Home

Since I have returned home from my trip, I feel myself trying to hold on to the feeling I had when I was there. The reason I have such a passion for travel is because I always get a sense of independence and adventure whenever I am somewhere new.

I think that everyone that gets the travel bug has the same feeling when they are somewhere new. It is difficult to put into words, but you just know if you’ve felt the same way. However where there is a ying there is a yang, and you also tend to hear of people getting a bit depressed when they return home from a life-changing trip, especially a long one. It’s like you get a travel high and then you crash when you get back to your mundane reality. Well I had a taste of that when I went to Australia with a group tour in 2008. And you never want to be the person who comes back from an awesome trip and won’t shut up about it, it starts to sound boastful and people don’t like braggers. So I wanted to be conscious of that for the Europe trip. I also warned Jake of it, and once he got the high he totally understood what I was talking about. So how do you have an amazing trip, the time of your life, and not overdose or crash when you get home, upsetting all your friends?

Well, I have asked myself that same question and here is what I’ve cone up with.
1) You do your best to prepare for this sensation roller coaster. It is totally expected and accepted to be excited for a big trip. Just be aware of how much you are talking about it. Your audience is either (a) going on the trip with you and are equally excited but can only repeat “I’m so excited!” so many times, or (b) not going with you because they probably can’t afford it or have some pressing obligation that forces them to stay, or (c) isn’t all that into traveling to other countries and, while they are happy for you, they just couldn’t care less.
My advice, let your friends be the ones to ask about your trip, before and after, and when you start inevitably blabbing, pay attention to their body language to see if they are actually still listening. If they aren’t asking more questions or engaging with responses, that’s probably your queue to shut up.

2) None of the above applies when you are actually abroad, just kidding. It is way more accepted to talk about your trip when talking to other abroad travelers, because they will be equally bragging about their trips, and probably more engaged in your story, but just still be weary of sounding annoying.

3) For goodness sake, Bring a Journal! You always see one listed on recommended packing lists, but I didn’t have one in Australia and I know a lot of people who don’t think they are worthwhile, but trust me, just bring one, preferably a little one. I guarantee you’ll want to capture as much of your memories as you can, and I know you’ll have tons of pictures (hopefully) but a journal captures more. You can write down interesting conversations, specific memories or contact info of your new friends around the world. You will be thankful when you get home and your are missing your far-away-land but can turn back to that familiar page and feel exactly as you did when you wrote those words. Also it makes for a great scrapbook for your keepsakes.

4) When you get home, remember step one. But you will most certainly want to show off your memories by showing your loved ones your pictures. I strongly recommend creating a slideshow of the best pictures, the ones that really sum up your trip. Personally, I am a Mac nerd, so I use iPhoto and Aperture, but you can use anything. A slideshow is great for a couple different reasons, one being that it helps you cut down which pictures are really worth showing off, so people can see an even assortment from the entire trip, rather than looking at the beginning of the trip and running out of time before they can see the end. You should also consider printing and framing photos so have them to reminisce. Of course you’ll be using social media to post select pictures online, but there will always be value in printed Photography. Just do it as soon as you get back or you may never get to it again.

5) Ultimately, just try your best to maintain the traveler’s spirit. Be cautious of your surroundings, be kind to strangers, be willing to have new conversations, or whatever else the traveler’s spirit means to you, and look around for all of your local entertainment attractions that you’ve never been to. I must say, living in Southern California I know there are endless amounts of things to do just a drive away, but people who have visited here on vacation have seen way more of it than I have, and I’ve been here over 5 years!

You don’t have to travel to have an adventure, but when you do bring it home with you.