Vacation infatuation

Thursday, March 1, 2007

You often hear of people who have just come back from vacation proclaiming their desire to move to whatever country they just visited. This phenomenon is quite common. I experienced it myself when I was travelling in my early twenties. I had the desire to move to Australia and to BC, Canada.
However, what I've found is that there is a change in perspective as you travel when you are older; especially if you are fortunate enough to experience foreign culture from the grassroots level. What I've learned is that everyday life is everyday life even if you're living in paradise. No longer do you see the foreign land with rose-coloured lenses.

When you have bills to pay, a job to maintain, and other mundane everyday activities to do, everyday is everyday. The newness of the exotic beach you have access to will soon wear off; the nights of partying with friends in different pubs soon becomes a drain on the pocket book.

What we do have to keep in mind is that some of us are fortunate enough to escape our everyday and find excitement in someone else's everyday. That is something we should be thankful for, the opportunity to travel. Everyday life is mundane; that is reality. You cannot expect fun, excitement, and constant fulfillment in everything you do everyday. Somedays are bad, most days are average, and many are wonderful.

The grass is not always greener on the other side. For me, what is most important is having my family close by. Being able to share moments with each one of them makes the everyday worthwhile. (And when they start to drive me crazy, I can escape to some exotic island to get away.)