We hear a lot about travel – from the dizzying heights of exploring somewhere new, to the awful lows of losing your bags or money along the way.
I’ve come to realise that there are also lots of things that happen when you travel that nobody ever warns you about; things that you can’t even begin to prepare for.
Nobody warns you that you will feel so far away from everyday, ‘regular’ life that it will feel like it doesn’t even exist… and they certainly don’t tell you that this feeling can kick in as early as from the minute you step off the plane.
Nobody warns you about how you can feel completely at home in a place, but also feel like a complete stranger, all at the one time.
Nobody warns you that you’ll grow so fond of people after even the shortest period of time, that you’ll feel physical pain when you have to say goodbye.
Nobody warns you about the lethal combined jet-lag hangover.
Nobody warns you that you will become a walking ambassador for your hometown/country… and that you’ll just have to embrace the stereotypes.
Nobody ever warns you that you will always, always regret not having the balls to just take more pictures.
Nobody ever warns you that sometimes the biggest communication barrier is that which exists between two people speaking the same language.
Nobody ever warns you that temperature readings are almost totally meaningless without knowing what the humidity is.
Minus ten degrees Celsius in low humidity does not feel anywhere near the same as minus ten degrees Celsius in a place with high humidity does.
Nobody warns you about falling in love.
Nobody ever warns you about how much you’ll both have to give up just to be together, or how desperately hard it is to see the other person give things up for you.
and nobody ever warns you about how few people will ever get that.
Nobody ever warns you how much the little things people do to help you out along the way will mean, or how completely inadequate you’ll be at showing gratitude.
Nobody warns you about any of this stuff, because if they did, you’d probably think twice about taking the risks in the first place.
but you should.
I feel like you’re living my life 2 years ago and I’m a bit jealous! I don’t miss goodbyes but I do miss the excitement and elation of times with loved ones on the other side of the pond. It’s a whole different experience once your travelling and home lives merge together!
Thanks Sarah. I’m hoping so! The fact you’ve been through it and are doing so well is pretty comforting hah.
Beautiful x
Thanks Kerry. Let’s meetup soon when we’re back so you can meet the girl.
This is amazing man. Made me feel a bit emotional! Hope you’re having a brilliant time.
Thanks Scott. Weird mixed bag of emotions!
“You’ll grow so fond of people after even the shortest period of time”
Having moved away from home when I was barely 19 to America from Ireland this was something I would strongly agree with. Living how I do, travelling across the country during the summers I meet the most amazing people – I rarely get to know people well enough to ‘not’ like them. embracing stereotypes is also something I’ve had to get used to ‘the fighting Irish’ being my least favorite.
The smallest of things people have done for me on my travels have also meant the world to me at that time.
I also think that you are never told that no matter how much you long for home, you will always have itchy feet after experiencing the life you’ve had. Home never feels the same again.
Great piece.
Love your assertion that “sometimes the biggest communication barrier is that which exists between two people speaking the same language.” Profound and poetic, a truth that extends far beyond the boundaries of travel.
Life is full of risks, that is what makes it so exciting, don’t you think?
So true. I make a l living on the road during the summers. You captured my sentiments exactly. Thank you for this.
And nobody warns you that you will probably forget your login password when you ultimately have to return to work.
Nobody warns you about falling in love – amen 🙂
Very beautiful and poignant.
Beautiful exploration of what the experience of travel can do to you. It is the harshest of teachers, and yet the gentlest of friends.
No one ever warns you that a new place will define who you are, and leave you wondering who could be.
Happy travels…
Nobody ever warns you how much the little things people do to help you out along the way will mean, or how completely inadequate you’ll be at showing gratitude.
This is definitely the one for me. Having traipsed all over the place and got myself into many a pickle, whether minor or major, it was the kindness of strangers that saved the day on many an occasion. Mind you, what goes around comes around so I’ve always made sure I help other travellers, too.
This is so good, and it dawns on me how perfectly this applies to people who move their home around a lot, too. The army brat who’s been to twenty schools before college, the regional sales manager who’s changed towns half a dozen times since her twenties while she moves up the corporate ladder, the overseas English as a second language instructor who’s also trying to finish writing a novel. Interesting lives.
Thanks for posting, most informative.
“Nobody warns you that you’ll grow so fond of people after even the shortest period of time, that you’ll feel physical pain when you have to say goodbye.” This is very much true. During the past, there are no way to stay in touch with some people after you have left them. Fortunately, there’s a lot of social media sites today. You just need to send friend requests to someone and you’ll stay connected for years.
Brilliant, beautiful, and now I want to hop on the next plane headed across the ocean.
Happy travels!
E.
Great post. Although I never experienced these things as negative. More like interesting challenges 😀
I suppose I could say I’ve given up my daughter for you, but that’s not really true. All parents should want their children to see the world, have some adventures, move on so as to grow, and it’s a big bonus if they also fall in love. Grace has been given the chance of a Big Adventure – way bigger than Pee-Wee’s!
Oh, and your glasses will be there in 6-10 days.
This is beautiful. I especially love (and understand) the part about being an ambassador of your home country.
I’m glad! Thanks for commenting.
Amazing post – you totally made me travel-sick (is that a thing, it should be!) no body warned me about how sore my feet would get while sight seeing but nobody warned me about how awe-inspired I would feel when I saw some of the worlds greatest monuments! Love it!
Thanks Helen! I like ‘travel sick’. 🙂
You took me back to the Hobo years of my miss-spent youth. I hardly remember the bad times, like getting boils and certain toilets, always the partings, there were so many good times.. Thanks,never settle.
Thanks Sheila! I hope I can have some more hobo years…
“Nobody warns you about how you can feel completely at home in a place, but also feel like a complete stranger, all at the one time” That one sums up travel for me. There’s nothing like travel when you’re at home and nothing like home when you’re travelling.
Amen Judy.
Wow, I could relate to so much of your message! No one ever tells you that the rules are different when you leave home, that often it’s better for you to talk to strangers instead of avoid them, that there is some serious and singular magic that happens when two lone travelers meet and connect at a whirlwind pace, that some of other braver version of yourself is unlocked, the one who will change plans on a whim and trust so instantly in humanity. Great article!
-Valentine
Flux: Encountering Adulthood
http://www.fluxforum.com
Definitely. That braver version is a good place to be. Trusting people you’ve never met before is scary, but exhilarating.
Love this! I always feel like time is going to fast and too slow at the same time – an odd feeling. And yes, it is hard to get over the slight embarrassment of looking like a “tourist”, but take the damn pictures. Phones do make it easier!
‘take the damn pictures’
Hah, I’ll genuinely hear these words ringing in my ears the next time I feel wary of doing so. Thanks for commenting 🙂
This was a perfect read for me tonight, I am leaving for four months abroad in a few days. It was great!
Hope you have a great time!
This is so… honest. It put a smile on my face and a bit of warmth in my heart. Thanks for sharing.
– Constance
I’m glad! Thanks for replying 🙂
“Nobody ever warns you that sometimes the biggest communication barrier is that which exists between two people speaking the same language.” This irony is the best! (And true.) But I can mostly relate to the falling in love part. ^__^
It’s something that’s happened so often it’s ridiculous. Thanks for stopping by.
“Nobody warns you that you’ll grow so fond of people after even the shortest period of time, that you’ll feel physical pain when you have to say goodbye”
This could not have been more true of my recent trip to the States. It’s amazing that the friends you meet whilst overseas are a different breed to when you are home. I think it’s because you’re both sharing a common interest; travel!
It’s bittersweet alright. Thanks for commenting 🙂
Hey, travel is so great, and yes to all the things you say. Also, no-one tells you that your job is to be a tourist and look at and get to know people, and to be fleeced by the local populace, and to sometimes meet bad people just as you could easily do at home. Take the good with the bad, pour yourself another gin and tonic, get on with it. Travel broadens the mind. Tony
Gin definitely helps Tony. You’re right about taking the bad with the good.
And no one warns you that you’ll be an antirely new person when you return ”home” 😉 Great post!
Very well said. It is a do it yourself thing in which you can discover a lot about other people and about yourself also.
So True!! That is all the beauty and adventure of travellers. And i always always regret not taking more pictures
I definitely relate to this. Especially “you’ll grow so fond of people after even the shortest period of time, that you’ll feel physical pain when you have to say goodbye”. Some of my greatest friendships are with people I met travelling and it is so painful to be on the other side of the world to them.
Love the style of photos in this little piece, the one of the two girls is superb, I like the strong colours and the use of grain.
All the best
The more I look at it the more I like the photo of the two girls, quite the best photo i have seen in ages, not just the subject but the way it has been processed. Do you mind if i use it in my blog as a photo in ‘Other peoples photos i like’
Thanks
Sorry, in my last comment I mistyped the email address it should be as above. Love the style of your night club photos, love the two girls above, both the subject and the way you have processed it. Can i use it on my blog listed under ‘Other peoples photos I like’
Thanks
mike
Sure! No problem. Glad you liked it so much. Just link back to here 🙂
Nice post! There are definitely more nuances to travel than meet’s the eye – and you capture these well.
Wow, this was a great insight into the other side of travelling which, just as you said, you rarely hear about! And particularly relevant to me at the moment since I am hoping to go travelling this year (no idea when or where) – at least now I’ll be a little more prepared!
Original and mind-blowing. I tried to comment at WordPress, but was blocked, that’s how I get here.
“little things people do to help you out along the way”, Gawd, how I have tried to let them know it meant a lot, but always ended up doing nothing more than mentioning them in a blog or facebook. Good things happen when you travel but you cant bring them all back to your ‘regular’ world, so I understand.
Such a poignant piece for me to read while planning my travels for next year, but this , as in everyday life, there are trials and pains alongside the beautiful and good moments – it isn’t enough to put me off. In fact, it makes me want to experience it more!
Very interesting,engaging and well written. Thank you for sharing and I also shared it.
I love travelling for those very reasons, especially being able to escape my reality for a little bit and indulge in something new and exciting
I love this article. Congrats for writing it! It resonates so deeply with me. I think your article acknowledges a lot of barriers and challenges people don’t realize except those who have traveled and experienced similar experiences. Travel is one of those things that you have to experience yourself.
yep, spot on.
This is absolutely correct. I love travelling and miss it everyday that I am not on the road. There is nothing like it.