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Description

I spent five months abroad last year. My daydreams were my reality. Back home, these are my thoughts and where I am now.

Since I came home two months ago, I don't know what to do with everything I experienced last year while I was abroad for five months. It is far from my normal life at home and I haven't figured out how to set out or use what I collected during my wanderings. I have a literal mountain of journals that I keep in a chest and I haven't even cracked one open. To write one blog for my website, I close the computer every time or put down my pen because I can't think of where to focus or to begin.

Before I ever traveled, and when I was super convinced I would never get the chance, I remember meeting people who had traveled. For example, I met someone who has been to a different country. I got the feeling as if I was staring into a bright light. This was not in the idolization of the individual who had traveled. It was the blasting light of wonders, ideas and overwhelming thoughts of I-don't-know-anything-about-this. I could barely manage to ask, "Did you enjoy it?" Creating any question in the face of something so unknown to me like travel was inconceivable.
I see and understand similar scenarios when I am asked about my trip. I think it goes both ways. It is hard to talk about them believe it or not because I am blinded by the complex question of "how was your trip?" I panic and think, what trip? Was it real? Where did I go? Oh gosh, how can I even compact it into a single expressible phrase? Then to the person asking the question, that is usually the only question I will get. I don't expect anything else. How do you talk about such a thing? Good, bad, or totally normal?
I mostly remember being hungry lol but then I remember all the amazing conversations I devoured with strangers, and fantastic parks, crypts, and corners of the world I strolled. I enjoyed the world when it rained, snowed, the leaves fell, the sun burned, and more. I spent every day on the streets or in the woods, hardly ever going inside and never sitting still.
In short--let's cut through these wandering thoughts--the most digestible part of my memories are my photos. They give me bite-sized stories in each one. Also, it is the only organized thing I have. My mum surprised me when I returned with complete printed photo albums from each city I went to. Photo albums and a select few of her favorite photos blown up to 5x7s and hung sparingly in my room.
As for the writing, I feel too close to the experience. As you can tell, it all wanders in my thoughts right now. I'm unable to sharpen or pinpoint any striking ideas.
It's funny that my fantasy stories feel and sound more realistic in comparison. My book takes much of my free time currently but someday soon I will surface from that and consider the reality I dreamed about and lived back in 2019.

Travel Website:
mcdonalddl40003.wixsite.com/tr…
(full gallery of all my photos! a few blogs. Not sure when I will continue these blogs)

Some of the full photos with info on each location:

Find more in my gallery!

Description

I spent five months abroad last year. My daydreams were my reality. Back home, these are my thoughts and where I am now.

Since I came home two months ago, I don't know what to do with everything I experienced last year while I was abroad for five months. It is far from my normal life at home and I haven't figured out how to set out or use what I collected during my wanderings. I have a literal mountain of journals that I keep in a chest and I haven't even cracked one open. To write one blog for my website, I close the computer every time or put down my pen because I can't think of where to focus or to begin.

Before I ever traveled, and when I was super convinced I would never get the chance, I remember meeting people who had traveled. For example, I met someone who has been to a different country. I got the feeling as if I was staring into a bright light. This was not in the idolization of the individual who had traveled. It was the blasting light of wonders, ideas and overwhelming thoughts of I-don't-know-anything-about-this. I could barely manage to ask, "Did you enjoy it?" Creating any question in the face of something so unknown to me like travel was inconceivable.
I see and understand similar scenarios when I am asked about my trip. I think it goes both ways. It is hard to talk about them believe it or not because I am blinded by the complex question of "how was your trip?" I panic and think, what trip? Was it real? Where did I go? Oh gosh, how can I even compact it into a single expressible phrase? Then to the person asking the question, that is usually the only question I will get. I don't expect anything else. How do you talk about such a thing? Good, bad, or totally normal?
I mostly remember being hungry lol but then I remember all the amazing conversations I devoured with strangers, and fantastic parks, crypts, and corners of the world I strolled. I enjoyed the world when it rained, snowed, the leaves fell, the sun burned, and more. I spent every day on the streets or in the woods, hardly ever going inside and never sitting still.
In short--let's cut through these wandering thoughts--the most digestible part of my memories are my photos. They give me bite-sized stories in each one. Also, it is the only organized thing I have. My mum surprised me when I returned with complete printed photo albums from each city I went to. Photo albums and a select few of her favorite photos blown up to 5x7s and hung sparingly in my room.
As for the writing, I feel too close to the experience. As you can tell, it all wanders in my thoughts right now. I'm unable to sharpen or pinpoint any striking ideas.
It's funny that my fantasy stories feel and sound more realistic in comparison. My book takes much of my free time currently but someday soon I will surface from that and consider the reality I dreamed about and lived back in 2019.

Travel Website:
mcdonalddl40003.wixsite.com/tr…
(full gallery of all my photos! a few blogs. Not sure when I will continue these blogs)

Some of the full photos with info on each location:

Find more in my gallery!