TRAVEL: HEAVEN OR HELL

(Or What to Do When You're at This Wonderful Place And You Cling to Bad Poetry in Your Head)

Travelling sounds  wonderful. Seeing things, meeting new people, discovering different cultures and habits. You might be travelling with friends, especially in the high school/college years. I mean, a group of people you like to hang out with, exciting new places, and no one to tell you what to do—what's not to like?

Well, there are thousands of organisation-related things, but they're not what I have in mind. I wanted to ramble a bit about what to do if you're one of those people who need alone time about as urgently as they need air.

I have no idea how many people are like that, nor do I know how many of those travel (either alone or in groups). But I'm one of them, and it really sucks when you end up someplace exciting and you can't decide whether to focus on the fact that you can barely swallow because your throat hurts so badly, or the fact you're practically falling asleep right there because the pain kept you up most of the night.

For all the people out there who know how that feels—I'd like to give you a solution. I really would. But I don't have one myself. The best I could come up with is a small piece of advice. (Also, I'm focusing on the road trip kind of travel here. It may apply to other types as well, but just so you know what I have in mind when I'm writing this.)

For those who are NOT like that, who don't need to retreat to their room (that they may or may not have): if you're travelling with someone who does need alone time, try to understand that it’s a very real need. It's not laziness speaking, or the fact that, for some reason, your friends/co-travellers/whatever wouldn't be interested in the place. After all, unless we're talking school trips, they chose the destination, too. They are not trying to sabotage your trip, either, when they say they want to go back to the hotel/motel/people you're staying with. It's not a pet peeve. I don't know about others, but I get physically ill if things get too bad. So would you rather leave the city centre a bit earlier (if you must go together, that is) every night, or waste an entire day looking for the chemists shop and, possibly, a doctor?

For those who ARE the I-need-alone-time people—it's not always easy, but it can be a bit easier.

-Try to travel with people you know well, not just somebody you know. It's easier to share a room with your best friends; silence doesn't get awkward, you can be your usual silly self (and be silly, laughter makes everything better), and they probably know you enough to understand you might need to be left alone for a moment or two.

-Get enough sleep. In my experience, everyone is sleep deprived and keeps running on excitement, which is all well and good for a while, but your body will have its revenge if your don't allow it to rest.

-Prioritize. If you have two days to see a place like New York City, you won't even be able to see 5% of it. Not even close. So talk to your travel buddies, make a list or something, and stick to it. Running around like an idiot because you could see a thing or two more will not make the trip that much better, but it will make you even more tired.

-Take breaks. That sort of goes together with prioritize. Seriously though, do it. Sit down when you eat. Go to a coffee shop and take your time. It'll give you a reprieve from the movement, excitement, and perhaps even planning if you're the unfortunate person who has to lead the trip.

-Music. Headphones on, world off. It works for me.

-Try to eat avoid junk food. It's not truly possible (it's a road trip, and you're a student who's always broke and would probably rather spend money for [insert object of obsession here] than good food, but the last thing you want is your digestion rebelling. Huh, I guess that goes for everyone...

I don't think I've got anything else. No idea if his has been helpful in any way, but at least you've either seen that you're not he only person with problems, or you feel very grateful you're an extroverted people-person right now.