I walk in the humid night air down a lantern-lit street in the quaint town of Hoi An, Vietnam. Stores around me sell custom-tailored clothes and merchants peddle their wares in the night market. The tempting smell of freshly made street food drifts through my nostrils, making me hungry even after I’ve just eaten. There’s a quiet buzz surrounding me as I meander without purpose. My plans for the next day include bicycling to the beach and grabbing drinks with friends. I’ve just met a cute boy and found a connection that I haven’t felt for quite some time. I smile to myself because life is simply perfect at the moment. I’ve spent a month here in this magical place and it feels like a dream.
Although this new life I’ve made might seem quite ordinary, this glimpse of “real life” has been something special for me. After over 8 months of traveling with just a few long stops, I really needed some time to settle down in one place. So, I found a hostel to volunteer at through WorkAway and stayed put for awhile.
When I started this trip, I had the idea that I needed to see as much of the world as possible. I pressured myself to travel and explore at every opportunity. I would visit the highlights in each destination, but wouldn’t have much time to do anything else. But the longer I traveled, the more I appreciated the joy in having a place to call home. There’s so much to be said about seeing local life in a new way. I’ve had the chance to get to know locals and staff at my favorite spots even have my order memorized. It feels nice to be a part of a small community and see familiar faces every day.
Beyond the stress and exhaustion, one of the most difficult parts of traveling long-term is having to meet amazing travelers only to say goodbye just a few days later. Oftentimes people aren’t traveling on the same path and not everyone is flexible with their plans. After a while I found that I was building a wall to protect myself for the next time I’d have to leave someone behind. I stopped opening up to others because the constant vulnerability became too much. I found that I wasn’t in a good mental health state, yet I wasn’t staying anywhere long enough to work through these issues.
While in Hoi An I’ve gotten the chance to slow down and take time for myself. I’ve spent days at the beach reading, writing, and thinking through my problems. I’ve also had the chance to get to know people for longer and build relationships with them. We’ve gotten past the typical small-talk and grown deep connections. I’ve let people in past my walls I’d built and found a sense of happiness that I lost sight of through the constant travel. Though I’ll be sad to leave here, I know someday I’ll be back.
Although not everyone reading this may be traveling in this way, I think it’s important to take a step back and spend time on yourself. It’s so easy to get caught up in our hectic lives and forget to take a moment for ourselves. Take a deep breath, head to the beach or even just a coffee shop, and relax. You’ll thank yourself later.
