The big trip is the dream? Let’s have a look behind the scenes and welcome to reality!
A shot of blues ? But what an idea! The image of the trip is idyllic, the traveller can only be happy!
Travel sounds for many people like holydays. Photo of a trekker on the top of the mountain, elephant ride, Machu Picchu at dawn, sunset over the sea. Like on Instagram.
Yes, travelling is great. Seeing new faces all the time, new landscapes, new culinary and human experiences. However, there are times, fortunately rare, when this roaming becomes a burden. Because like everything else in this world, there is a flip side to it.
Travelling far and wide is not difficult, but it is not the same as going on holiday
There are various reasons that send explorers back on the ropes and put a strain on their morale. But first of all, what is really behind “long-distance travel”?Travelling is great, but it takes work. You have to do things, it’s not easy!
Packing your suitcases or your bag all the time
Unpack, repack, fold, compress, sort and store. Do not spread out, do not lose anything, count your socks and briefs. Fight to find the grey polo shirt lost under the trousers, undo everything, put everything back in place and start again 3 minutes later for the pink scarf.
Continually looking for and finding a new place to stay
Spend time on mobile applications, read reviews, find the right neighbourhood, calculate the distance to the city centre or to the bus station, ask other travellers… This takes time and organisation. It’s an exercise you do much less in a sedentary life: you don’t change flat every day!
Getting used to a new house: bedding, shower, room neighbours
New hostel, new mattress! Hard, soft, straw or wool, the body has to get used to it! The capricious shower that went from hot to icy and whose clever adjustment had just been mastered, is over, now you have to know how the new one works.
New atmospheres, new neighbors: distant, snorer, roaring, loud or friends for life? You also need to get used to it, introduce yourself, always distinguish the same sentences, and reinvest in new relationships.
Paying attention to your little things, every minute of every day
No routine for security. Where are the lockers for the camera and valuables? Are they sturdy, is the hostel safe? Be careful what you take with you, watch out for creepy shots, watch out for pickpockets.
Abroad, the danger may not be greater than at home, but the consequences of a stolen passport or bank card are much greater. Caution must be redoubled.
Get your bearings, find your way around, ask for directions at all crossroads
The paths, the streets, the cities are not familiar. We often get lost, we turn, we turn around and it can be unbearable for even the wildest traveller. You have to get off the bus, sometimes tired by the journey, carry your bag which weighs on your shoulders, walk, get lost, look for, go up and down stairs, be wrong and ask again…
Making sometimes exhausting efforts to make yourself understood and to understand others
A good command of English is not always a great help, but it helps a lot if you can find people who speak it too. An emergency lexicon in the local language? Why not, but the locals may not understand your accent or what you’re talking about!
Carrying your bag or suitcase all the time
Beaches, paths, stairs, flooded areas or streets turned into rubbish dumps… The 200 m journey to the bus stop can turn into a real obstacle course.
Washing or drying your clothes and bad surprises
Hand washing your clothes is ideal, but nothing beats the washing machine after a muddy hike or stay in the jungle. Lonely sock, missing panties, wool or silk clothes that have been washed at 90 °, purple sari that spits and colors everything purple are sometimes the reward!
Finding out where to find what you need or buy what is missing
Finding hiking boots, drawing paper or replacing lost glasses in your own country is easy. But abroad, this search can turn into a quest for the Holy Grail.
Finding an internet network that works, being able to buy a train ticket, consulting bus timetables, being sure he will arrive, finding a place to fix something broken. These simple things which suddenly require a lot of effort, adaptation to achieve them.
And then there are those you miss and miss you. Friends, children, family, lovers
Sometimes, yes sometimes, I wondered what I was doing there, far far away from my family when they were all around the table celebrating something without me with Champagne. The same when loved ones are going through a delicate moment, a heartache, an illness or a depression. You are not there to help, to share.
A few tips to help you cope with the blues
There comes a time when this intense activity exhausts the traveller, who is tempted to resign.
During a blues attack you must first identify what you feel. This allows you to find the solution to get through this difficult moment.
First of all: take the pressure off and have a rest
Take a moment to think and a little distance. Take a break to do a quick analysis of what the trip brings you, what you like about this new life… and what you don’t like about it. Don’t give in to exasperation, this is not the right time to make a decision.
You are maybe just tired, take few days off, after a good night’s rest, you see things in a more positive light.
Call into questions your expectations concerning the trip
There are few things in life that do not demand something in return. If the great journey is fulfilling, it pushes you out of your comfort zone. That’s what adventure is all about, and maybe that’s what makes you feel like you’re back to yourself! These struggles, these quests, these problems are like an intensive training that will lead to an awareness of who you really are. Are you too demanding, easily dissatisfied, fragile? It’s a good time ti be aware of.
Change place to better continue
Come back to a big city where you’re sure to find what you need and miss. You’ll probably also find more people who speak a foreign language and who are likely to understand you.
Change hostel. You will see new faces: other travellers who will share experiences and good advice, better informed locals, a more comfortable place, etc.
Take time to think, one problem after another. Eventually everything will be solved. You’ll leave with a new perspective, or you’ll go home because it’s time for you to come back.
