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Two weeks have passed since I touched down in Dublin Airport. After 8 months away, it was never going to be an easy process settling back into life in Ireland. It hasn’t been all bad, but it certainly has not been all good either. Two weeks home, in theory, is not a long time, yet it already feels like a lifetime in ways. Being back in this familiar place almost makes it feel like the trip never happened. Things have simply just gone back to normal. After 8 months of nothing being normal, that can be hard to take in.
The Bad
I might as well start with the downsides of being home. The worst feeling is certainly the adjustment of my mindset. It feels like lowering my expectations in a way, nothing amazing is going to happen today. I know this is not the best way to think but in reality, it is the truth. Every day goes almost exactly like I think it will. On a day to day basis, I know for certain that I won’t see anything amazing or be somewhere that will leave me lost for words. Gone are the days of mountains and waterfalls. They have now been replaced with those familiar roads that I know so well.
Then there is the food. I love being able to cook again but certain things that I craved didn’t live up to my expectations. I had been looking forward to returning home and having a takeaway from my local Chinese for example. The food is far from nutritious, but we all have our vices! It really didn’t live up to my expectations. Oh, how I would love some wanton mee from Penang or even some chicken rice from Singapore. The quick food options in Ireland are just not good enough. I loved being able to walk down the street and find the most amazing food out of nowhere and all at minimal cost. Now, the prices have been multiplied by ten and for what, a dodgy Chinese or a shocking imitation of a kebab. It is one of the massive downsides of living in Ireland. Good food at a low price is just not readily available here.
Possibly the hardest thing about being back in Ireland is the weather. It’s hard to believe that at one point I felt ready to leave Asia’s almost oppressive heat to return to a more milder climate. The reality is, I haven’t really seen the sun in two weeks. Everything is grey and wet. This type of weather puts me in a bad mood and makes me unmotivated to do pretty much anything that involves going outside.
The Good
Of course, it is not all bad. I have been able to work on this site every day since returning home with little or no distractions. This was always my plan when I returned home, at least temporarily. It is a nice feeling being able to keep on top of it, starting the slow process of turning it into what I envision it to be. It is a nice distraction from how monotonous most days can be at home.
The website is not the only plus point. Being able to see friends and family is possibly the biggest bonus about returning home. Going for a couple of beers with my mates or grabbing a bite to eat with them is something which I missed on the road. I know it is good to meet people whilst travelling, but nothing beats a pint with a familiar, friendly face. I am sure there will be a few more drinks had over the upcoming holidays.
As I mentioned before, being able to cook is a huge plus point. A quick spaghetti carbonara or roasting a chicken is amazing when that hasn’t really been an option for so long. I also got to visit Room 8, my favourite restaurant at home, for breakfast and will be going there for dinner on New Year’s Eve. A full meal there is something I have looked forward to since I left.
The Next Step
Big decisions on what direction to take next have yet to be made. First up is Christmas and then hopefully I will head into the New Year with a clearer idea of what the next move will be. There have been talks between me and my girlfriend, discussing what is our next play. We will come to a final decision over the holidays. I know in January I will travel to Dublin for a few days and see the city as a tourist. I will also be travelling to London for a football match, spending the weekend there, eating and sightseeing what I can in my limited time. A weekend in Galway is also in the works for January. The website will still take centre focus for the foreseeable and then hopefully things become clearer. It might be a big jump or it might not. I am confident that any decisions we make will be the right ones.
A refreshingly honest post about the realities of returning home after long-term travel. It can be so hard to readapt to the place we left after learning so much abroad and sadly, it never gets any easier. Good luck with resettling and if it gets too much, just hop on a plane again! 🙂
So happy you shared this! It is great to hear this real perspective. I look forward to hearing what you decide to do in the future! Hope you will enjoy being home! Happy Holidays!