Cost of Living How expensive is it being home?! I remember getting back after spending 9 months in Asia, and suddenly the price of a can of Coke went from 7 Baht (15p) to £1.10! Its the same drink. Its the same size. So why is it 9 times the price just because I’m drinking it in England? And how is a bowl of pasta a tenner instead of a dollar?

The Weather Who turned out the sun? 3 days ago I was skipping along barefoot in a sarong, now I’m wrapped up in 6 layers and a coat, scarf and hat, shivering next to the radiator! And instead of sleeping under a sheet and a (usually ineffective) ceiling fan, my feet are now 2 blocks of ice under a heavy duvet. Even more annoying is that when it looks sunny outside you get all excited and don your old shorts, only to leave the house and promptly realise its 3 degrees.

People Moan Oh yes, you know you’re home ‘cos everyone around you has something to complain about! Gone are the heady days of discussing in depth just how good that temple/snorkel trip/bus ride was, and in their place is a long list of ‘This bloody rain’ ‘I hate my boss’ and ‘Why does this always happen’. Oh what a joy it is being home….

Being Broke… Remember when you could eat well, spend all day doing stuff, rent a room and get drunk for £5 a day? Well those days are gone! Want to get the bus into town? £2.20. Want to see a movie? That will cost you a tenner. You what??

…and therefore job hunting Yup, no more down time for you my friend, life in the real world means back to the grindstone. Its time to update that CV (travelling is kind of like a job right?) and start the humiliating traipse around the local bars, restaurants and agencies to sell yourself. And lie! ‘Of course I can do that’ and ‘I have tons of experience’. If only there was a job that required tolerance of sweltering heat, long bus rides, speaking pidgin English and sleeping on damp, lumpy mattresses!

Waking up in the same place I know this sounds strange, but there’s nothing quite like the moment you first open your eyes, and just for a moment, have to think about where you are and how you got there.

‘Hmm. I was in Siem Reap. Then an overnight bus. I think I was heading north to Laos. So this must be Don Det. I’m in a river hut! Cool.’

Now you’re home its more like: ‘Hmm where am..oh yeah.’ Not quite as fun.

Can’t drink everyday So apparently, not everyone goes out for dinner and has a ‘couple’ of beers every night. There’s no one on the beach for sun-downers in January. And no one wants to go out on a Tuesday. Clubbing? You want to go clubbing? On a Sunday? Are you mad?

Still, it’s not all bad. If you’ve just got back from a long trip, maybe these upsides will help you feel better…

Not having that conversation You know the one, it starts just after ‘Hi, nice to meet you’. “How long are you travelling for? Where have you been and where are you heading?” The first 50 times it’s all very interesting, comparing stories and hearing ‘Wow 9 months on the road, that’s awesome!’ But before long it starts getting old. Really old. I actually began to dread meeting new people. I remember being in Australia and chilling out in the living room of a hostel reading my book. I could see a couple of girls heading towards me and I’m thinking ‘Oh no, just keep walking’ and sticking my nose further into the pages. But, alas, there they were; ‘Hey hows it going? You on your own? Hang out with us!’ and you have no choice but to say ‘Great, thanks. You 2 on holiday?’ and so it begins….

Speaking English! I’m not great with languages. I can usually manage please, thank you, where’s the toilet and 2 beers please. After that it turns to broken English (‘You have tea?’ ‘What time bus go?) and some pretty spectacular sign language. And it’s always amazing how well you can get along with people who actually have no idea what you are saying. (I once spent the evening with a group of Thai deaf girls and we had a blast!) But sometimes it’s nice to not make the effort. To use slang. To speak quickly, naturally, and in your own accent. An American friend of mine was bewildered when I bumped into some fellow Brits abroad. Suddenly she couldn’t understand a word being said because I’d slipped into lazy Brightonian!

Seeing your mates/family Sounds obvious doesn’t it? Personally I’ve never really felt homesick, even before Facebook and the internet (remember those long-distance phone booths?). I guess I’m very lucky to have understanding friends and family who take time to keep in touch, and who understand my wanderlust, and I never worry that they won’t be available for drinks the second I get back. But, when you’re away for long periods, you do miss out. Someone has got engaged, someone else has a 4 month old baby you’ve never met. Sometimes it’s tough to see life at home progressing without you. So its great when you come back and meet up with everyone, and catch up on everything you’ve missed. Plus no one makes a cuppa like your mum!

Not penny-pinching When you’re travelling for a few months, money is always your main concern. No one knows how to budget like a traveller. I used to love arriving in a new place and meeting people who have been there a few days; you get great tips like ‘The shop round the corner sells amazing pakora for 20 rupees less than the one next door’ (saving you 5p) ‘Don’t go to that hostel, go to this one, the rooms are 10 cents cheaper’ or ‘Go to that bar at 7 cos its happy hour til 8, then go to such-n-such at 8.30 cos dinner comes with a free shot…..’ You get the picture. Mind you, once I asked 2 American guys in Bangkok the best place to go for a drink:

“Just hit 7/11 man and drink it outside on the street.” .

It’s good to be home.

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