Well, I have been home for over a month now and I have had no choice but to jump into the hussle and bussle of American life. It definitely has not been easy. In fact it has been down right HARD! Every time I have ever come back from traveling it is hard. But this time it wasn’t just a trip or a vacation (even though I did a lot of amazing vacation like stuff). This time it was a life I lived, with really close friends, amazing work that motivated and inspired me, and people I will always consider family. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about how much I loved my experiences around the world and miss every moment.
In my last blog entry I talked about the intense reverse culture shock I was experiencing and how hard it was to return. After a few weeks I am happy to report that it has gotten better but I still find myself getting really sad. It is really challenging because every day I miss something that I encountered overseas. Things like the slow paced lifestyle, the incredible amounts of contentment and happiness with life, and the appreciation for the small things tend to be not as prevalent here in the US. A certain song will come on my ipod and it will make me think of dancing until the morning hours lauging at how much fun can be had. A text from a friend far away about daily life things will make me wish I could be apart of those events and see the people I miss so much. Presenting on my work with EdPowerment will make me think of the kids and miss my work there and wonder what more I can do. Everyday there is something and everyday it makes me sad. Apparently this is what life is like upon return for many people. Everyone I know who has had similar experiences of living far away in very different cultures claims that this is what coming home is like. I will often see sad facebook updates saying how much they miss a place or postings of pictures from long ago as people remember their amazing experiences. People who do what I have done miss it everyday and everything that reminds them of it can make them sad. You meet some of the most amazing people in the most amazing places and coming home just doesn't seem nearly as exciting or life changing. You don’t want to stop missing it because you are scared you will forget the experiences and the people but it makes you sad to remember. It is the conundrum one is faced with when they love a place and people far away as much as I do. But I have always been one to believe that you are the one who decides if you are happy or sad so I have decide to find a way to enjoy life regardless of the country code I am living in.
So how does a person get out of this slump of sadness and misery? Well one of the things that I loved about traveling was writing about it and hearing from people about their thoughts of my adventures. Now granted I am in the US now and most of my readers are too, but that doesn’t mean that life here is not funny and interesting and full of crazy adventure. Weird, entertaining, fascinating things happen everyday and often they go unnoticed. I learned while travelling that you have to appreciate everything in life and be fully aware of how blessed you are. As a result I am going to get out of my slump of sadness through writing about the quirky hilarious things that happen and the adventures I am having on US soil. I originally thought I was going to end my blog upon returning home, that my big adventure was over. But I am starting to realize that although travelling provides an environment to wander and explore, the true adventure is in how you live your life in the place you are, wherever that may be. So readers, read on or not - the choice is yours, but I do plan on going back to posting weekly about the wild, wacky world I live in and the way I can turn even the smallest thing into a great adventure.
I hope you will stay tuned. (:
And feel free to email me or comment on anything wild and wacky that happens in your life. I love to hear from people and might even use your stories or comments as future inspiration.
Some pictures of “Merika”
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