travel with aimee

I never imagined how hard it would be to go home, especially because i’m such a home bird. But i feel like often people focus on the travelling part and not how difficult it can be to come home. Despite ups and downs and the occasional cry missing home, i never want this experience to end. I never imagined my life where it is now and I never want it to stop. The idea of going back to mundane life scares me. What do you mean i won’t be living out of a backpack? Asking people where they are from and where they have been to? Adjusting to normal life is going to be such a hard transition and I fully understand the people who travel, come back, then travel again. It’s not just a holiday, it becomes a lifestyle. It’s hard and stressful at times but also so rewarding. Ticking off sights, experiences and countries every single day never gets old.

I can’t imagine going back to ‘the norm’ because after travelling for 3 months, it’s not the norm for me anymore. I can’t imagine communicating with people who haven’t shared my experiences, don’t know my inside jokes and don’t know what I know. As a person, I feel like i’ve grown and changed in so many ways, like time sped up for me and the town i live in was simply in pause mode. I’ll have changed but no one else will have. I’m not prepared for the life i’ll have back there, nor do i want to be. It’s going to take a while, I’m aware, but it’s another reality of travelling.

I’ve wished to be home many a time during this trip but now that i will be, i don’t want to.

Not only will i be returning to the same old life, but i will also have to deal with not being with Ben 24/7. Coming into this adventure, lots of people thought we were brave. No relationship ever, married or not, spends every minute of every day together. People doubted if we would last, if we would argue and fall out on the daily etc. But we are stronger then ever, 3 months with just each others company has brought us closer then i could ever imagine. Of course we had a few little disagreements but in the grand scheme of things, it was smooth sailing. To think, when we go back home we will be at our own houses, texting each other goodmorning, not just being able to say random things at random days is so strange.

One night, after my parents left Prague, I couldn’t stop crying. At first it was due to them leaving but soon i realised it was actually because I felt so lucky. Not only was I lucky that I had something to miss so much, but lucky to have Ben. Being away from home made me appreciate all the smaller things even more. My parents are amazing and sometimes I think i forget that. They have always been there for me, despite how rough it was for them in my most darkest days. I will never be able to put into words how much. I appreciate them. Not everyone is as lucky as me to have a Mum and Dad who I adore with my whole heart and view as my best friends. I wouldn’t be where I am now without them and the love I have for them is just so overwhelming.

I also cried over love for Ben. I couldn’t even tell him I loved him without bursting into tears. He will never know how much he has had an impact on my life. To have someone who gets on so well with the two people I respect most, my parents, and just seeing him love them as much as I do is lovely. I won’t ever get over how lucky I am to call him mine. He’s not just my boyfriend but my best friend. My absolute rock. This experience has brought us so close that I honestly can tell him everything. No fear of judgement or embarrassment. His arms are where I feel safe and waking up to him is a blessing every morning. It’s amazing to think that we are ticking off bucket list items by each others side and that in a year or two we plan on travelling Asia. He’s my biggest support. He will never know just how much I love him and appreciate him. He’s had to deal with me in my stressy moods, grumpy moods and sleepy moods. We have learnt so much about each other and it really is scary that when we go home, it’s back to our seperate lives.

A note before I end this soppy post :

A massive ‘Told you so!’ to all those who placed bets on how long I would last. 3 months and not a day less! So in your faces!!!