PONDERING

Departure

It’s easy to think that your trip ends the moment you step on the plane home, but this is not the case. In fact, much of the personal growth that comes through backpacking occurs after you get back—you can hone in on this growth by reflecting thoughtfully about the trip.

Notice the differences between your hometown and the place you visited: how do you / they live life differently for better or worse? Make sure to notice the similarities: what aspects make us human regardless of where we’re from or what we look like? Reflecting on your experiences will help you learn more about yourself and the world. Some other example questions include:

When you arrive back home, it’s a good time to reflect on how you can travel better in the future. Maybe there is something you can do differently to have a better experience. Did vacationing with a friend go as you expected? Did you achieve everything you wanted? Did your gear work as intended? I personally like writing everything down so I can revisit it before my next trip. Some other example questions include:

When you arrive back home, expect to be bombarded with questions from friends and loved ones (it can be overwhelming). This is a good time to give gifts to take some pressure off yourself and let the people you care about experience a bit of your trip first hand. Be prepared to answer the following:

I suggest being authentic and focusing on the way the trip changed you. Use descriptive words like beautiful, mountainous, or expensive, rather than bland words like cool, nice, or interesting. The most inspirational conversations I’ve had with other nomads have been about how cultural experiences affected them. 

While people you meet will have an impact on you, you will have an impact on them. Consider exchanging social media accounts or staying in touch over a messenger app. Either way, keeping up with the adventurers you meet can help deepen relationships and create lifelong friendships. I have friends all over the world that I can visit only because I’ve kept in contact over the years.

You can also keep in contact with different cultures back home. If you loved Korea, for example, it's pretty easy to find and visit a Korean market in your hometown. You can also join multicultural clubs, cook traditional foods, or consume cultural entertainment. I like to pick up good habits I find in different countries, too. In Costa Rica, for example, they focus heavily on eco-tourism and sustainability. I learned different techniques when I visited and incorporated them into my daily life, leading me to install a solar panel for more sustainable energy.

For me, digital minimalism means not focusing too much on social media, especially before, during, and after a trip. If you travel based on how many likes you’re going to get, I think you’ll miss the point of exploring the world. Some simple changes you can make to stay present are: take fewer pictures of yourself and more pictures of the place, not post until you get back, delete social media during your trip, or set limits for yourself. Unfortunately, we waste a lot of time distracted by our phones and miss so many fine details.

When I post on my social media, I like to find a balance between cool pictures, authentic experiences, and cultural stories. It’s easy to post a highlight reel of all the cool things you did, but that makes people feel like they’re missing out. I think it's better to share the deeply meaningful moments and avoid the superficial ones. Remember, the ultimate goal is to be changed by a trip, not to post about it and forget it.

I hope this travel guide helps you find better adventures. I’ll be updating it regularly as I learn more and continue to wander. Make sure to check out our blog for the latest in adventure news. Cheers!

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