Things We Get Used to as Travelers

What was Once Awkward, Uncomfortable, or even Scary, is now Ordinary

That was the question I asked my fellow nomads from several groups I am involved with. It was prompted by a conversation I had with a friend from San Diego last month, as I was telling him of our plans over the next 6 months: After Malaysia, we came to Bali (which is where we are now), and from here we’re off to Cambodia, Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, and that stop came as a surprise fill-in since some friends we met in Vietnam bought a hotel up there! That worked out great since we had about 2 months to fill before heading to Europe in April.

He said to me, “You lead such an adventurous life,” and I responded, “Yes we do, but to us it's not JUST an adventure, it’s just a regular part of our life. For you to fly from San Diego to Dallas or Denver is no big deal, and you wouldn't give it a second thought. For us to fly from Malaysia to Hanoi, Vietnam, is about the same distance, just different countries.”

Yea, kind of like Musical Beds: some are more comfortable than others!

Sleeping in different beds, eating different foods, meeting new people all the time, (I mean all the time!); this is our life. People drift in, drift out, and we have made some friends along the road that we will stay in touch with forever, whereas others—they’re just passing ships in the night. Not all that different than when I lived at home in California.

So I started making a list of things that used to be “weird,” or awkward, or maybe intimidating, and recognized that there are fewer of them than there used to be. Sure, we constantly run into new situations (and challenges), but not much freaks us out anymore.

Some things I have gotten used to:

• Passport control and security, TSA: I used to feel like I was smuggling contraband when I went through customs and passport control! It was totally unwarranted and I felt that I needed to hurry up and not delay those behind me. That was especially uncomfortable when it came to removing my laptop and toiletries and shoes, but now I just move at my own pace and get the deed done.

• The IDEA of a 0600 flight, or one at 3:00 in the morning is worse than actually doing it! In Thailand we were due to catch a train a 3:30 in the morning, so we got there about ten-ish the night before, relaxed, found a comfy spot to chill, and even caught a few zzzzz’s. The DOING is pretty easy now and we can get up any time to catch any type of transport.

  

  We must sleep WHEN we can, WHERE we can!

• New food was a scary proposition and it still can be sometimes! Neither Kat or I are real foodies or adventurous with food, but in six years of doing this, I only had ONE really bad food poisoning (in Mexico) and maybe a few bouts of less severe symptoms. Asia was a complete unknown, and I still get weirded out looking at snails and shellfish, and poor cramped fish in too small aquariums, so I still avoid them. Oh, and fungi pizza (mushroom) is comfortable for me now!

• “Does anybody really know what time it is?”, asked the musical group, Chicago, and with 24-hour clocks, I still have to manually calculate the afternoon/evening hours, since there is no a.m./ p.m. with 24-hour time. Distances and kilometers (metric) come easy, but the centigrade temperatures are still not ingrained, and require some number crunching. Good thing we don’t cook too much, since small liquids and solids are still very foreign.

• We carry about five different currencies with us, usually left over from past visits. If we KNOW we’re not going back, we empty the wallet, but having a few native bills when you arrive in a new country is very convenient! Airport ATMs can be expensive and calculating new currency always takes a while to become subconscious, usually by the time we leave! In the past year we’ve had to learn (and we quickly forgot) five different Asian currencies, and in some of those places their money had so little value we had to carry a wad to get a coffee!

• Not having a car is the norm now, and over the years we’ve learned and gotten comfortable with Uber-style ride sharing apps. They are SO convenient, and cheaper, too, and avoids conflicts with unscrupulous drivers.

• Speaking of driving: Left side? Right side? Which side are the cars coming from?? In Asia they ride on both sides, and driving the scooter on either side is easy, but I have STILL not driven a car on the left side!

• In America I looked and sounded like (mostly) everyone else, but outside the US, WE are the odd men out. We stand out, some places more than others, and I reflect on what other “minorities” must go through today and in the past. In Asia, when I walk to the gym in my shorts and tank top, I am almost always the whitest person on the street with the least amount of clothes! I'm okay with it, it is what it is, and at least most of us are the same size.

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To add to this list, here are some thoughts from my fellow nomads:

Many overseas sanitation systems clog (old pipes), so these are very common along with putting TP in the trash

• In some of the European countries, it’s important to be mindful of SUNDAYS in predominantly Catholic countries! Many businesses are closed on Sunday, and even during the week they may have closing hours in the afternoon (siestas).

• Pam W: Being “lost” is part of the adventure! It’s hard to get “too lost” and locals will usually help you. Bus drivers will tell you your stop, and many train people are just as helpful. “Nomad travel has given me more confidence in my abilities. I rarely get embarrassed with my language, or mistakes, and I’ve come to realize that most people are good, and helpful,” she shared.

• Robb H shares: Bum guns (spray hoses aside toilets), and putting TP in the trash can instead of the toilet are commonplace in much of the world.

• Jack shares the hassle of lugging bottled water every other day to your Airbnb, like a caveman. Most tap water in the world is unhealthy.

• Ann G (and a few others) say: It’s weird waking up some mornings, and forgetting where you are! (Even without alcohol). We have to ask ourselves, “Where in the world am I that morning?”

• Cynthia D has learned to deal with small refrigerators and the upside is: More fresh and flavorful fruit and vegetables daily!

• Kirsten L knows about taking care of her health: “I do most of my extensive medical checkups overseas, and I’m no longer married to my doctor or dentist in the states, or anywhere.”

• Amanda L brings up something that is the “norm” in many countries: You have to actually ask for the check when you dine out!! Which I love, and that the table is “yours” until you are done.

• Playing Frogger was brought up by many, i.e., having to be VERY careful crossing the street. Pedestrians don’t really have the right of way in most countries.

  

  There are no rules, you just go for it!

• Erin K brought up something that also shocked me in Thailand: Electrical wiring and cables hanging from poles that you can practically jump rope with!

There is no question, customs change from country to country, along with languages, currencies, religions, food, and many more things. The beauty of travel, and what makes it exciting and helps us grow, is realizing that even though we may appear different, we are all part of the same human race.

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