Coming Home from 7 Months Solo Backpacking South East Asia

Whilst realistically the best place to start a travel blog would be setting off at the airport I’ve decided to break the mould and do it backwards.

Unless you have won the lottery or never want to see your family again, it’s inevitable that at some point along your journey, you will have to go ‘home’ 

Coming home was not particularly what I expected and after speaking to other backpackers, the general census is coming home is unfortunately sh*t.

I wasn’t aware of or prepared for the reverse culture shock however nearly everyone returning home feels it.

No one really talks about coming home and the impact it can have on you. You go from new places, new people, new adventures every single day for months to being back in your home town within a day.

I have now been home since March and here’s everything I wish I knew before coming home

Everything I Wish I Knew Before Coming Home.

Over and above the fact it was going to feel extremely cold!

Its hard to believe these side by side images were taken 2 days apart! White sand and beach parties in Cambodia to lot of layers and muddy dog walks in England…

1. Reunions

As much as reunions with friends and family are the best feeling the adrenaline quickly wears out.

Everyone has continued living their life whilst you’ve been gone. 

People have new connections, new hobbies might even have moved house or had a baby!  No one’s life stopped whilst you have been out of the country. You have to find new ways to try and fit back into people’s busy lives. 

2. Beliefs and Values

Experiencing new cultures and meeting new people every day opens our eyes to so many new perspectives and outlooks on life. 

Your opinions on what’s important to you are likely to have changed by the time you get home. 

This can mean that you no longer feel as close or connected to people who have been in your life for years. Or your hobbies and interests no longer align with your values.

I think it’s important to embrace your new opinions and not just fall back into your old ways once you get back home.

3. Feeling Lost

Following on from your beliefs and values changing, it’s likely you may feel lost after returning home.

I was not prepared for how lost I have felt and I don’t think I’ve ever felt this lost before.  

I am currently home for 9 months and the sole purpose of being home is quite simply to save to go again. However, as I am in-between trips I am finding it particularly hard to fit back into life at home. I don’t want to commit to tons of new things knowing I will be leaving again in the not-to-distant future however I need to still enjoy my time at home and not just spend every minute at work!

It’s weird to think that whilst travelling there were certainly times I missed home and craved certain home comforts. Yet home I am home I am longing for a day with like-minded strangers and to be moving onto my next location.

This quote has been my favourite since being home. I feel it really sums up my feelings and allows them to flow.

‘It’s okay to feel lost,
you’ve never been this version of you before’

4. Change, or the Lack of Change

I had prepared for this one more than the others however let me tell you now, nothing at home will have changed.

And this especially for anyone like me who is from a small village with not much going on.

Yes I know I said earlier that people may have new connections and hobbies but life at home is still the exact same as when you left.

The mundane routine very much still exists and everyone at home is still living it. 

Things like the same walk around the block, the same drive to work, doing the weekly shop in the same supermarket. 

Nothing feels new and exciting like it does whilst you are travelling and unfortunately, everything seems to lose its sparkle.

All of a sudden the place you have grown up for practically all your life no longer really feels like home. 

This then coincides with feeling lost. If home no longer feels like ‘home’ we are bound to feel lost! 

5. Loss of Appetite

A big one for me that I completely unexpected was a complete loss of appetite for food. 

I came home excited for a roast dinner and ‘normal’ foods that I had missed so much however within a couple of days the novelty had worn off.

You spend your entire backpacking adventure essentially eating out 3 times a day 7 days a week for 6 months straight with the freedom to go to any style of restaurant and order anything on the menu. Then all of a sudden you’re home with a fridge and a completely different assortment of food and you have to cook it yourself!

I keep opening the fridge and deciding I’m not actually that hungry. Purely because I don’t fancy or crave any of the options I used to love at home! Even in the supermarket or looking at recipes I am completely uninspired.

Nothing quite hits the spot like the flavours and foods of Southeast Asia. 

My Top Tip Before Coming Home

Once you have booked your flight home or at least a couple of weeks before your due home book something to look forwards to! 

By doing this it buys the novelty of being home a little bit longer and keeps some excitement alive. 

I booked a spa day with my Mum as well as a paint-a-pot experience at Emma Bridgewater with both my Mum and Nanny. 

Both of these were super special and scheduled time with them to properly catch up!

Other ideas could be a girl’s night, a city trip or mini getaway, booking a family meal or even a night out out! 

The options are endless! Just make sure to get something scheduled in your calendars to give yourself something to look forwards to once you are home. It really will make a difference!

Plan Your Next Adventure 

The chances are if you are reading this post your current adventure is coming to an end. 

This does not mean your travel adventures are over! The world is your oyster and there is so much more to see! 

Be sure to explore my blog for all my tips tricks and inspiration to help you on your next adventure! 

And follow my social media to keep up to date with my journey and future blog posts.