Falling into the “travel-hole” is what I think happens to everyone who experiences radical changes in a short period of time. For me this is usually the case during the first two to three days on a trip: I am all super-busy back home with packing, preparation, immunizations, saying good-bye to family and friends, wrapping up professional projects…you name it.
Either way, you have a million things on your to do list, run around at 100 miles and hour and finish it all late at night on the day before you leave. You rush to the airport, jump on a plane and BOOM! you are in a completely different environment: new culture and language, different money, strange customs, unknown smells and a lot of new people.
You are lost..completely lost!
Simply put, it is a radical change from the day before and absolutely overwhelming.Your body and mind cannot keep up and you crash with a feeling of being homesick, emotionally drained and exhausted. It lasts for a few days and then you are good to explore the new.
Why am I writing this here you may ask? Well, I had this happen to me on every single trip I have taken so far in my life. However, on this trip it did not happen at all. I was a happy camper full of energy from day one. And why? The analyst inside of me can only find one differing variable: my friends!
For the first few days I stayed with great friends in Santa Cruz and then did the same in Costa Rica. All of them helped me with getting acclimated, offered shelter and explained what works and what doesn’t. It might not have been obvious to them how great an impact their help had on my trip, but it made all the difference in the world to my spirit and mind.
So what can you do for your own Karma Account? Next time you see a lost traveler in need for some help, simply walk over with a smile and offer a few helpful suggestions. They sure are appreciated, take you less than five minutes and make a huge difference in someones life.
Ever had somebody make a difference in your life when traveling? Let me know…
Aloha Marco
Written by Marco Morawec
Topics: Featured, Travel Planning