Homecoming: After an Epic Summer Adventure
homecoming /ˈhəʊmˌkʌm.ɪŋ/ (noun) the fact of a person arriving home after being away for a long time.
The Return Home: Caught Between Worlds
Coming back home after traveling always gives me this strange feeling. It’s like I belong everywhere and nowhere at the same time. I’ve always been a firm believer that every person I meet and every situation I find myself in is an opportunity to learn something valuable.
The Summer of Intensity
These past four months working in different surf camps were nothing short of intense.
I found myself in a constant whirlwind of meeting new people — guests, fellow crew members, and people from other camp crews.
Trying to put into words just how much this summer impacted me is a tough one; it was like a crash course in personal growth. See, in a camp set up, those boundaries we’re so used to in regular life tend to blur. We practically lived on top of each other, working, eating, and even sleeping in close quarters. That added a whole new layer to the experience.
However, there’s something about travel that fast-tracks bonding with others. Maybe it’s the fact that you’re constantly thrown into unfamiliar situations that push you out of your comfort zone. Or perhaps it’s because you share similar interests. Whatever it is, travel relationships have this intense, wonderful quality.
Living in a Timeless Bubble: The Camp’s Distorted Clock
Imagine a place where time doesn’t quite follow the same rules as the world outside. That’s exactly what I encountered at the surf camp, an environment so intense that it felt like one week there equaled one month in the “real” world.
Inside the camp, we were part of a tightly-knit community where time seemed to warp. Each day was a whirlwind of spontaneity and intensity as if we were racing against the clock. It was a world where we were so interconnected, living side by side, working together, and sharing every moment, that the big events unfolding beyond our camp’s boundaries seemed distant and almost irrelevant.
The result? Time passed by in the blink of an eye. We crammed more into one day than I ever thought possible. Sunrise surfing sessions, impromptu yoga sessions, and spontaneous adventures became the norm. It was as if we had found a way to compress time, condensing a month’s worth of experiences into a single week.
In this bubble, we were blissfully unaware of the outside world’s demands and distractions. We were fully present, living life to the fullest, comfortable with discomfort, and embracing every moment. It was an intensity that left a profound mark on me, a reminder that there’s a world of fulfillment waiting beyond the limits of our everyday routines.
Building Relationships on the Road
Do you know what’s amazing about forming connections abroad? It’s how crazy fast they come together. Those bonds you create with other travelers in such a short time are incredibly powerful.
These friendships, they’re something else. It’s like you get a fresh start to be totally, unapologetically yourself, and guess what? Those around you not only accept but cheer for this version of you.
In my case, I was lucky to have a crew of fellow wave enthusiasts who were all about that sunrise surf life. We were the ones crazy enough to get up at 6 a.m. for those epic sessions. We’d roll out our yoga mats in the morning and in the afternoon we’d hit the pump track on our skateboards. It was all about shared interests and lifestyle.
In that environment, I could kick off the corporate conformity I’d known back in London. I felt like I could be my genuine self. It was a whole different world, and it felt just right.
The Post-Travel Blues: Beyond the Comfort Zone
Returning home after months of adventure abroad is no walk in the park.
Every day was an adventure in itself, full of spontaneity. I long for that feeling of not knowing what’s just around the corner.
The post-travel blues aren’t just about missing the act of traveling. It’s about the discomfort of settling back into your usual routine, knowing that you’ve discovered a world of happiness far beyond your hometown.
But what no one really prepares you for is the heartache of saying goodbye to the friends who became your daily companions. At camp, there was this amazing international community where I felt completely accepted. I formed these incredibly deep bonds in such a short time, where I could just be my true self, and then, suddenly, the summer ended I had to say bye, not knowing if you’ll ever cross paths again.
Final Thoughts: Seize the Moment
And here’s my parting advice, straight from the heart: Get out there and explore.
Money, well, it comes and goes, but time? Time is something you can’t rewind.
So, make it a mission to meet as many people as you can during your travels because each encounter has the power to change you. It leaves a mark, shaping your journey in ways you might not even expect. Embrace the discomfort, live in the moment, and let life’s adventures unfold.