It is hard to believe that amidst a world
of freedom, opportunity, and very little responsibility, one could find a low
moment. With an infinite stream of new experiences, what more could one ask for? Alas, ask any ex-pat or long-term traveler
and they will be able to candidly recall a time where existence didn’t seem so
peachy. Maybe it was the result of a new destination. Maybe it was experiencing
some road wearies. Maybe it was even meeting another person who made the idea of
blowing in the wind less appealing. Whatever the reason, there come milestones
in a traveler’s life when the road seems to lose a bit of its appeal. These
moments force a traveler to take a deep look at their surroundings and ask, “is
this a low point, or am I at the end of my journey?”
A low point in travel, much like any
lifestyle, can come at any moment. To my
amazement, it seems as if the low points in a traveler’s existence can almost be
calculated. Like the lady cycles of a group of females living in a close
quarters, travelers’ low points tend to fall at the same time as other
travelers. My extensive research (Fact: there is no science involved in this
study) tells me many travelers tend to have seen lulls at the beginning of
travel, as well as sometime near the 3 month, 6month, and/or 1 year anniversary
of being on the road. These lulls are not the result of one specific incident,
yet a specific location or occurrence can often be tied to recognizing the
change in mood. For myself, the two main lulls I faced came in difficult locations,
near the 3 month and 1 year mark of my trip. Though they lasted for a few days,
recognition of my own needs, as well as a desire to change location, allowed me
to acknowledge the plethora of pavement still ahead.
In these low moments, what seems to be the
case is that one starts to second guess their freewheeling existence. While much
of the joy in travel comes from sacrificing control to the will of an unseen
path, lulls make you start to question this. At some point, sitting near a
secluded body of water in a foreign land, with only your thoughts as company, doesn’t
seem so exotic. This isn’t to say your feelings of independence, introspection,
or majestic aquatics have changed. No, it is just in these low moments, it
seems as if the magic has dissipated. Other road delicacies such as meeting other travelers
or learning new phrases and currency also become a burden. This leads many to seek
refuge in a single room with WiFi, snacking on western packaged treats, devouring
an unhealthy portion of western media. The sight is not a pretty one, but with
any lull, a little self-preservation and "treat ‘n’ yo self" is necessary.
While travel lulls are completely normal,
what one should be concerned about is if the lull is long lasting. If a
traveler finds themselves feeling less and less enthused when exploring new surroundings,
meeting new people, or even leaving their hotel room, a red flag should be
drawn. There is nothing wrong with finding a cool guest house and chilling out with
other travelers. On the same note, imbibing in the lull cure from above is necessary
at least once in a fortnight (does that mean a month? If not, then bi-fortnightly?).
You are who you are, and western people will at some point need some time to be
western. This is normal. But if this time begins to lean closer to weeks or
months, one needs to examine where their head and heart reside.
Travel isn’t always easy. Though folks back home will have images of you sipping fruity drinks out of coconut
shells embedded in their brains, you know this isn’t always the truth. Bed bugs
and hustlers, alongside new languages, currencies, friends, foes, and
surroundings are things that will always keep a traveler on their toes. Most
of us would choose to face these obstacles ten times out of ten over those that
come with a shirt, tie, and cubicle, but it isn’t to say they aren’t worthy adversaries.
These complications bring about forgettable days that take their toll. There’s
no shame in hitting a slump. Much like travel teaches us, though, you need
to know yourself. You are the only person who will know when a day of rest may
need to be exchanged for a plane ticket back to a comfortable place.
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