As you all may have noticed, I went AWOL (Away online) for about 3 months beginning around July, and that is because I took a 3-month vacation essentially, and traveled internationally (4 countries, 10 cities), relaxed domestically and spent a lot of money.
I am now back, and will be posting what I read during that time, and will pick up on the “Things” series once my life gets settled.
I am again reminded of a few things I would like to share with all of you:
Traveling is amazing
It is a privilege to be able to decide on a whim to take a month off, let alone 3 months off from work and just go wherever you want. Traveling really does broaden your horizons and makes you marvel at what other countries do for their citizens and what they have achieved that many other places consider “impossible”.
Like what? you may ask…
Like high-speed railways, road construction that is safe for pedestrians as well as cars, delicious and healthy yet affordable food, and a clean and advanced metro that would put any city to shame.
..but traveling is also not amazing
In that with the language barrier you come across, it is so difficult and frustrating especially in the middle of crazy heat and humidity to get what you are trying to say across, while jetlagged and exhausted.
I learned to throw money at things like hiring a private driver for the day, and going to airport lounges, or paying for taxicabs (the old me would have NEVER done this..).
You miss your country, your language, your home of where you feel your heart truly is (Canada for me), and all your familiar spots, not to mention your friends.
You are tired, you are jetlagged, you have to keep so many confirmation numbers organized and stay on schedule to make sure you don’t miss your train, bus, plane, etc, not to mention worrying about your belongings getting lost or losing your passport, while staying on top of home admin (bill payments, scheduling appointments for when you are back) that doesn’t stop when you are traveling or away.
Memories are well worth the money
Again, I threw money at all of it to make my life easier, from taking cabs from the airport to and from the fancy hotels I booked so I wouldn’t have to lug any luggage on the metro, and I ate and spent on whatever I wanted.
I didn’t ask myself – Is it worth $50 to see this exhibit?
I just spent the money because when would I ever come back?
The memories of being there with my family come back time and time again and I am happy I had the experience, although I will leave two gems here if you ever plan on traveling with your birth family (not to say I was adopted but I consider my partner and my child my immediate family now).
Always book your flights separately from your family
That way, you can upgrade yourself to business class or premium economy and not have to deal with your family not wanting to do it because it costs “too much money”. I booked our flights altogether so this meant unless everyone upgraded, NO ONE upgraded.
I was a little annoyed because for $300 I would have been sitting comfortably with more leg room for such a long flight (more than 10+ hours).
..and your hotel rooms for that matter as well
I never, ever should have agreed to share a room with any family member I have not chosen to be with (partner) or birthed (my child).
As my child ages, I will insist he has his own room if he travels with us unless he can prove to not sound like a wildebeest while sleeping (the snoring was insane, everyone in my family has sleep apnea I suspect) and stays to his corner.
I should always have my own room, separate from everyone so I can decompress and have my own mental sanity intact, as well as to keep my room as tidy as I want it to be (everyone was SO MESSY). I would also have had the bathrooms to myself, the space, and I would have been a lot better off, frankly.