By: Lindsay Hogg

From Culture Shock to Getting Homesick on the Road

You don’t necessarily have to go home when the road gets rough, but it’s always a good idea to take a break. Here are a couple reasons why you may want to take a break and how too.

When you stop being interested in other cultures…
When culture shock becomes less exciting and more of an annoyance or inconvenience, may mean it is time to take a break. Head somewhere more similar to your own countries culture. Or, if you’re annoyed, maybe you aren’t embracing the culture. Stop fighting it or forcing it to be what it’s not, you may find out you really do enjoy it. Sometimes we go somewhere with too high expectations and are disappointed in what it’s not. Try to see it as it is and be open minded.

When you don’t feel like seeing the sights a place has to offer…
So what if it’s the Great Wall of China? This attitude usually means you need a break from moving around so much. You may not need to go home necessarily, but it’s a good idea to head to a city you enjoy or a beach somewhere and relax for a bit. If you’re in Asia, head to an island in Thailand and live the simple life: drink, eat, swim, sun. If you’re Europe, find cheap holidays in Spain and soak up the rays on the vast beaches. Anyways, you get where I’m going with this, take a break from life on the road and settle down somewhere! Maybe work for a month or two until you get that itch to start moving again.

When homesickness doesn’t come and go, but follows you around constantly…
Being homesick – missing your friends and family is very common, but we often remind ourselves that after a week of being home we would want to strap on that backpack again and hop on the first flight out. When you’re no longer having fun because you’re missing the comforts of home too much, this may be the one reason to take a break and go hug your loved ones. But I would think long and hard about this. Try other methods first, such as making new friends. Sounds silly, but it can really help. Let them know you’re feeling homesick – you would be surprised at how comforting and kind others on the road can be.

When meeting new people and staying in dorms becomes less exciting and more of a chore…
Having the same old conversations about where your from, where you’ve been and where you’re going, can become tedious. Dealing with inconsiderate jerks in your dorm room and constantly feeling the need to be courteous towards 8 other people in your room can be frustrating. What if you want to stay up late or get up early and not have to tip toe around? In this case take a break from travellers themselves. Maybe go out and try to meet some locals and treat yourself to a single room for a few days. Hopefully then you will feel a bit more refreshed and ready to be social again.