How to overcome the crisis after a trip

How to overcome the crisis after a trip

Volunteering at the elephant rescue centre in Thailand.

It has been the summer of our lives. We've had adventures, immersed ourselves in a new culture, made new friends. But... it's time to go back! CRISIS! How to face the routine again without dying in the attempt? We tell you the 5 keys we use at Tumaini to overcome the post-travel crisis and start the school year on the right foot!

1 Take time to assimilate the experience.

It has happened to us on many trips: we return from evaluating projects in Cambodia or Peru, for example, and, the next day, it seems that nothing has changed. We immerse ourselves in the day-to-day, go back to work, courses, activities... And after a week, the journey seems so far away! Unwittingly, we were making a mistake: we were not taking time to assimilate the journey, the learning and the experiences.

So that it doesn't happen again, take some time to "close" the experience! This includes:

• Review, sort, save and print some photos.
• Review your travel notes and fill them in so that you don't forget anything.
• Write to the people you have met along the way and keep your promises (if you have committed to send them photos, write to them, etc.). 

Because... the journey doesn't end when you get off the plane! And very important: don't keep your experiences to yourself! Share them with your peopleMake them part of your adventures, show them your photos. This is also part of your assimilation.

Solidarity traveller, on the way to Machu Picchu in Peru.

2 Incorporate elements of the place you visited into your daily life.

Keep some of the good things from your trip once you get back! For example, after travelling to Peru and tasting the delicious food, we occasionally go to a Peruvian restaurant to eat ceviche, causa rellena, etc. again. And we immediately remember anecdotes and incredible moments! On other occasions, we have learned simple recipes that brighten up our daily menu. Other travel learning experiences that brighten up our lives are:

• Books and films: We often ask local people we know what books or films they recommend. In this way, we continue to learn about the country we have visited and feel, in some way, connected to it 😉.
• Music and radio: What bands or music do you listen to in Nepal, Mexico or Kenya? We write them down and listen to them from time to time, especially when we get homesick! 
• News: From time to time, we consult online newspapers from the countries we have travelled to keep up to date with what is happening there. 
• Learning: Have they taught you a trick for cooking? have you got used to using a bar of soap instead of gel? has some culture or philosophy left its mark on you? Don't lose them! Remember them and try to apply them to your everyday life. 

And... another secret of the Tumaini teamWe have learned to living with less and we try to continue with that philosophy in Madrid as well.

Respect for nature is one of the lessons learnt by travellers.

3 Don't give in to routine, fill your daily life with adventure! 

During the trip, every day is different, every corner is new and every moment is full of new sensations. It is normal that, when we return, we long for that incredible feeling of exploring and discovering. But there are things we can do to make our routine less tedious. It works for us:

• Get together with friends. Take care of them and propose "out of the ordinary" plans. Even recover old friendships that you haven't known about for a long time. 
• Do something new every day. Even if it's small: changing streets to go to the office, taking a mid-morning break, listening to a podcast we didn't know about, writing, going to a talk on a subject we had no idea about, and so on.
• Take short trips on weekends. It works for us so that the next destination doesn't feel so far away!

Volunteers in one of the projects of the Kenya.

4 Do solidarity activities

Have you volunteered in a project? Have you learned about the educational or environmental work of an NGO? Have you been shocked by an experience (seeing polluted beaches; witnessing the exploitation of animals; seeing children working instead of going to school, etc.)?Use your experience to help improve these situations in some way! A journey can be the engine of change; it can drive us to be better people, let's make it happen!
We, for example:

• After seeing the huge plantations of palm oil in IndonesiaWe try to buy the minimum number of products that carry it.
• After learning about the elephant exploitation in ThailandWe follow a number of NGOs that defend the rights of the animal rightsWe spread the word and sign their campaigns, raise awareness among our people, etc. 

You can also go further: look for NGOs working on the issues you are concerned about The new technologies allow you a lot of possibilities!

Alfonso and other travellers in Bolivia.

5 Plan your next trip! 

It is our most infallible remedy! From now on, we can start thinking about the next holidays. What kind of trip would we like to make this year? Where would we like to go? Choose 2 or 3 and look for information and photos about them: follow their hashtags on Instagram, read blogs of people who have just returned, etc. And if you want to see how enriching it is to travel in solidarity, look for a project where you can fit in, contribute, learn and grow!

In our website you will find information about solidarity trips as different as: caring for rescued animals in Boliviahomework help for children in Kenya, Peru, Mexico, Nepal and Bali; to learn about the exploitation of elephants and dogs in Thailand or giving English classes to Tibetan refugees in India or young people without resources in Cambodia. There is a solidarity experience for everyone!

You already know. Choose your destination, and start dreaming! 

An ordinary street in Nepal. Every corner is a surprise.