How am I going to cope when I enter back into the "normal world" of work and no travel?

I am feeling the pain of it, and I still have two more days left here in Shanghai before I actually spend a day flying home.

I am wrapping up my 3 month trip having backpacked around China, Mongolia, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand... knowing that it will be awhile before I can make this happen again. Getting a personal leave of absence from work was a shock to me, and doubt it will occur in the future. But this was my first overseas trip anywhere, and it can't possibly be the last now...

So tell me... how do you all deal with "normal life" after a trip this long?!?!

Arrrgh!! Is anyone out there who can feel my pain?!?!?!

Yes, I feel your pain! Every trip. The best way to deal, in my opinion, is:
1. Write a trip report on Fodors (we'll be waiting!).
2. Organize and post your photos online (ditto!)
3. Start dreaming about and planning your next adventure (ask us!).

Works every time...
Karen

Alas! One of the hazards of travel. I cope by writing my trip report and start planning the next trip.

something that is very helpful is to share the info on Fodors, and maybe reach out to your community. give speeches as Rotary or Kiwanas clubs. or

pick one thread that you saw between the countries (culture, food, religion, healthcare, happiness) and visit an organization or school in your town and give a presentation. that will help and you may meet more people who have done or want to do the same!

neat that you were able to see Mongolia!

I totally feel your "pain". I remember going home after travelling for over a year & hurting!!! The best thing is to always dream of your next trip & relive this one in your photos etc. I wish I had had something like Fodors to turn to when I first traveled (it was BEFORE internet!!!) as I am sure it would have helped knowing there are other people out there who love it as much as I do. You will hit the real world hard but it is worth it for all the wonderful memories you have. If you are reall in the doldrums do everything you can to get away for the weekend or even to explore your own hme base galleries etc you have never been to. Always remember you are not alone!!!!!!

Would love to hear about your trip & how it came to happen.

J

I also am in that same situation, I am a single female first time travelling too and have been in Thailand now for 4 months, I could not imagine going home and finishing this experience so I took a TEFL course, and am now working in Thailand and have the opportunity to continue travelling and making money along the way....
Good Luck

www.thailand-travelonline.com

No matter how far away your next trip will be...start planning and researching right away.

Most of us feel the same way. Also, don't expect all your friends back home to be that interested..that's why it is a good idea to share your travel tales with us...we are interested.

Then again..thank your blessings that you were able to have thise trip..many never leave their hole town.

Welcome home!!

Writing a detailed trip report and planning the next trip reduce my travel; withdrawal.

As regards my friends at home, these are the people that go to Cape Cod or Florida. It's no wonder that they are not interested in "foreign" destinations. At most, they go to Ireland or England as a "trip of a lifetime". For some reason, they regard yours truly as wierd.

Sorry, I meant to say "home town!"

Stuff yourself with all the xiaolongbao you can eat, just kidding!

All the tips suggested are great, and now you have caught the traveling bug, there is no turning back!

Tim and I are massively changing our work schedules-- he's going from 28 weeks vacation to 4, and I am going from the leisurely life of a grad student to having a full-time-+ job.

I am still planning trips, although they are further out than before! Planning future travels is the best way for me to get over withdrawals. It can be my own or for friends and family.

Liz

OK and the point of my above post about work schedules is that my current withdrawal is BAD.

We have been lucky to travel internationally 3-4 times a year; now we'll be lucky to travel abroad 2 weeks a year.

I agree with others about planning my next trip asap. Really helps me

Liz -- How does Tim get 28 weeks?! I am so envious, after working 20 years for the same company I only get 4 weeks.

cut bait.
retire early.
stay gone.

He DID get 28 weeks/year, until yesterday.

He works for a company where he alternated 7 days on 10-hour shifts, 7 days off year round. So that's 26 weeks off a year. (But he did work the other 26 weeks as 7-day weeks). Then he had 2 weeks additional vacation. So a total of 28.

He's switching to a more normal schedule now, where he works 10 8-hour days every two weeks. He has about 4 weeks leave now.

Of course, Lori's solution is best!

Lori, that's what we're aiming for!

He is still a very lucky man. We are close to retirement and still do not have that much vacation.

Just go home, get some sleep and get up and start planning the next trip. That's what I've been doing for over 3 decades of this world travel stuff.
Maybe you need to change professions to get more travel time or take short trips.
For about two decades, I spent 11-12 weeks abroad at one time. Then when life and responsibilities changed, the time away got shorter...so what...I fly off to Bangkok usually twice a year and spend 8 days on one vacation there and 3 weeks on the other...plus a 7-8 day vacation in Europe in the spring. It's no big deal for me to jump on a plane and go a long distance and stay a short time. It sure as heck beats staying home. Happy Travels!