Both Sides Now
August 30, 2009
As I pack up all my belongings accumulated during a year abroad, I feel more and more rootless. What has this year done for me? What’s it taught me? Do I have anything left at home waiting for me? No progress was made in my absence… but then is life about progress?
I’m really wondering what it’s going to be like when I get back. Everyone I know that came back from a year of living abroad found it extremely boring and felt like it was a mistake to come back.
I’m to try and settle down again. I feel like I should be moving still… always moving, and traveling and meeting new people. What’s going to happen when I get back?
2 Comments on Both Sides Now
JC
09/02/2009 at 6:17 am
We’re gonna travel South America, yes?
Kiwianne
09/10/2009 at 6:40 am
What’s going to happen? Reverse culture shock… the shock that everything at home is the same as when you first left it… it will be boring and mundane.
One good thing is knowing you have all these great memories of living abroad. You’ll also have the travel bug… and know it’s not worth just “settling” in your life… may as well live it!
Feeling regret of moving back or that it’s a mistake isn’t quite true I don’t think… it might be boring, but hey, your loved ones are here as well. Even if it means you’ll get nagged at 24/7 as if you were still 13 years old, it’s still something to look forward to and sigh that great big sigh…
Make something of your time back at home. If you really feel stuck and lost in Toronto, and you think your place in life at the moment is to be abroad, then you know what your next move should be.
Doesn’t have to be “progress”, just has to be a journey of some sort, even if it’s a journey of endless loops…
See you when you get back!