Life after Travel; Returning to ‘Normal’ Life

When I returned home after 19 months of travel, I was told by many people that I’d find it hard to ‘settle’. Everyone told me I’d have itchy feet within a couple of weeks and I’d be bored with the routine of normality.


In all honesty, I was expecting to feel like this too, but I’m pleased to say that I’m starting to enjoy the comforting feeling of a ‘normal’ life.


There are a few ‘normal’ things that are taking a while to get used to. Strangely, these are the things that I never thought twice about while I was at home, but now I feel like a complete alien doing them.


Some things, like shoes, are taking a bit of getting used to. There are somethings that I have now realised I can live without, like make-up and the latest fashions. And there are some things that I have made me realise how lucky I am, like a fridge full of food and clean, hot water.


I feel like I’m being spoilt with the basic things that I used to consider to be human necessities and I really hope that I never take things for granted again. If travel has taught me anything, it has taught me that I am one lucky lady.


The things that now feel strange….

1. Wearing shoes, and even worse….wearing socks!
I think I wore trainers 3 times while I was away and I spent the rest of the time in flip flops, or ‘thongs’ as I began calling them in Oz. I love wearing my snuggily Ugg boots now I’m home but everything else  feels so tight on my toes. I wore heels for the first time on Saturday and I could barely stand up!


2. Having a Mobile Phone
Everyone must think I’m bonkers because every time my phone rings it makes me jump like its a fire alarm. I also get overly excited by text messages! I did have a phone while I was travelling but I think it rang about once a month, now it rings ALL the time!


3. Being up to date with current trends like music and soaps.
My friends still find it hilarious when a new celeb crops up in our conversation and I’ll say something like, ‘Jessie J? Did we got to school with her…?’ I was ecstatic this morning when a song came on the radio that I could sing along to but I just can’t get back into the soaps, especially Hollyoaks, who is everyone!?


4. Hot showers…every single day!
This is an absolute luxury that I can enjoy every single morning and night, and sometimes in the afternoon, just because I can!

5. Being Cold
Being cold is something you get used to in the UK but its something I haven’t experienced for over 2 years. It is taking me a while to acclimitize and I’m wrapped up like an eskimo while everyone else is in shorts.

6. Tea with Milk in it
Us Brits love a good old cup of tea but it took me a while to get used to drinking it with milk in it!

7. Having ‘Stuff’
Sorry if this one is a bit general but I haven’t had ‘stuff’ for so long. This included anything that can’t be fit into a purposeful category. I have loads of bags, shoes, books, jewellery, make-up, clothes etc. I have no idea what to do with all this ‘stuff’ and I’ve already taken bags full to the charity shop.


8.Using a towel
A real fluffy towel. This is another little luxury that is still fabulously strange.


9. Sleeping in the same bed every night
I know I’m incredibly lucky to have this but it is actually kind of boring. No more waking up in the night and wondering where I am.


10. Speaking to everyone in English.
Even after two weeks, I want to say kob kun krab rather than thank you.


Did anyone else have any strange things it took them a while to get used to? Please let me know if you did and how you got over it!