coming home

Coming home after such a long time away is probably just as daunting as when first leaving your home. Looking back to when I touched down in Cairo seems like only yesterday but that said, so much has happened I can barely remember any details. But all that is soon to be in the past as within 16 hours I will be sitting on Qantas flight QF531 London bound.

So am I looking forward to it?

YES and NO! A week ago when  the answer was a probable yes but now the day has arrived it's a definite NO!. It will be nice to be in the same bed again, not living in 2 sets of clothes day to day, not being constantly hot and sweating. But just think about what I will miss, the big wide world with all its niceties and hideousness’, the climate (above I said I hated being constantly sweating), but more than anything, the friends!

So what is it like being home?

I'm going to quote Tom Griffiths, author of The Virgin Travellers' Handbook as I'm sure he echoes the returning home experiences of most travellers - they were certainly mine.

Your first morning. You wake up in your own bed, the soft duvet, the warmth. Nothing to do all day except chill out and get used to home again. The first cup of tea...nice...You walk around the house feeling a bit awkward - carpet under your feet feels really bizarre...a fridge, stocked with food, not a plastic bag in sight, simply saying...'help yourself!'. So you do...but it still feels off. 'What shall I do, I'm bored...'

 

So you're on the phone to the mates, 'wahaay, I'm back!...yeah this morning, 5.30...yeah, mum picked me up...didn't like my hair much...yeah, wait till you see it!...so, what's happening tonight?...pubbing it?...OK, see you at 8...yeah, tell them I'm back!...cool!'

 

A small cheer as you walk in, hand-shakes, hugs, kisses, pisstake of your hair, weight (lack of or extra), tan, unsent post cards, invisible presents etc...and you love it, because, let's face it, you've missed it. Your first pint with the guys goes down, bringing with it the euphoria of an old taste, an old feeling, you can't quite put your finger on it...what is it? That's right...YOU'RE BACK!

 

'So...you had a good time then?'

'yeah...amazing!'

'Cool...where was the best place?'

'Hard to say really, Australia was pretty special.'

'Cool...so...errrrmmmm.......... did anyone see the football last night?'

 

If you haven't been, it's impossible to talk about it. You won't believe me now, but that's the way it is, especially if you've been in less developed countries, or working on projects where you actually make a difference to other people's lives, community or general well being. Everything back home will sound, and seem, extremely trivial and unimportant.

 

There is one danger which must be avoided at all cost. Being a 'travel bore'. Whether you like it or not, someone, somewhere, will find you boring. Michael Palin once commented that he could be in a room full of people with no-one to talk to - after all, what do you say to someone who has just been around the world, when the furthest you have ever been is to Disneyland with your folks...

 

 

page last updated: 28/04/2008

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