Home Sweet Home: Final Thoughts

Never ask a question you don’t want to know the answer to. Our parents, our most avid and perhaps only blog followers, learned this lesson the hard way when they jointly picked us up from the SFO airport.

“So, are you two already planning your next trip?” They jokingly asked us mere hours after our return to US soil.

Their smiling faces faded to worry as we began detailing the next several adventures we’ve already begun to plan. Perhaps we should have let them enjoy our safe return a while longer and given their ulcers a bit of a break. Next time.

As I write this post, I’m sitting in the same coffee shop where our South America planning began. At the time, I didn’t even know which countries I should find the visa requirements for because we didn’t know where we would go. If it weren’t for the interior design changes of the coffee shop, I might not believe any time has passed at all. The only proof I have that our trip happened is our little travel blog and the fact that I’m not going to work Monday morning because we don’t have jobs anymore.*

Good thing I don’t need proof to feel that the last 6 months have left an ever-lasting impression on me–

I have traveled to the end of the earth (almost!) and back.

I have met the most amazing people — English-to-Argentine motorcycle fruit farmers, tree-planting/dirt-house-living conservationists, 7 year travelers, fellow California travelers, Peruvian dreadlock-wearing/Shining Path survivors, and so many more. They’ve taught us more than just how to farm or live with limited resources, they’ve shared their lives with us and helped us become better people– more tranquilo, patient, kind-hearted, open minded, energized and adventurous people.

My new marriage has grown richer for the experiences we’ve shared together — seeing world heritage sites together for the first time like Machu Picchu and Iguazu Falls, “the mystery is gone” after some unknown Peruvian illnesses, squeezing into many twin-sized beds for months on end, splitting meals, hiking Patagonia together, enjoying our 1st anniversary on a broken down 26 hour long bus, and emerging back into reality together. Even the parts that sound not-so-amazing have become cherished memories of the trip that we will be able to share forever.

My Spanish language learning has provided many comical stories for our “fans” throughout our trip. I mean, who can forget special moments like “muy neccessito!” or “damas calientes”? It was a bit brave and naive to go to a continent where I didn’t speak the language. It was hard and frustrating especially as someone who is a fan of communicating. I may not be fluent like I initially (and unrealistically) thought I’d be after 6 months but I’m proud of my efforts and progress and that I never let it defeat me.

Travel is a way of being and not just a trip. My adventurous spirit has been satiated but there are many more adventures in this life to come. We’re back from South America but —

may the adventures continue for The Traveling Blues…

*Sadly, since this post was written, we have both become employed and worked several Monday mornings.