BootsnAll Travel Community

Hi All.

I'm currently in Krakow, Poland...and I'm finding it somewhat difficult here...

It's partly because there is stuff going on at home that I can't fix and am finding it difficult to deal with...

But also, I go out and am afraid of getting lost and not finding anyone that speaks English to guide me back home...the names on the shops are definitely not recognizable, so I find it difficult to find a restaurant or a supermarket or a bakery..etc. I don't have any friends here and it is low season so there are hardly any people in the Hostel, in fact I have a 10-bed dorm to myself...

I keep telling myself to just get out there and explore, the way I did in Paris just before Christmas...but somehow this feels different...

So I figure I'm homesick...and I am only here for four days, I don't want to waste it!!

Any advice? Do you ever get homesick on your travels?

My advice is to let it wash over. Let it consume you. Let it bite the sad and vulnerable parts of you. Let that homesick feeling make you it's lap dog. But for a day. Take the day. Do nothing. Mope around. Feel like shit. Cry. Phone your friends and family. Feel sorry for yourself. Don't try to set up a block at all. For a day.


In my experience, it does no good to fight this feeling. It just becomes insidious and eats at you. You gotta let it run it's course for a day. In the end, it's part of the experience as well as anything else. Embrace it. Most of the time, the feeling fades if you let it go. If it persists.....well, I guess it's time to come home and enjoy a nice Joe Louis.

But, if you got four days, you won't be any good for all four if you don't let your insecure feelings boil off.

Hang in there, says this travel putz. You are out there and every experience you get, no one can take from you. You probably won't die from getting lost. You can make it.

Thanks for letting us help. Good luck, Helen.

D

Hey Helen,
I hope you're feeling better by the time you read these replies.

I can definitely relate to having down times - and like Piecar says, sometimes it's the right thing to just accept it and not pressure yourself to go out if you don't feel like it. Sometimes I do that - I read (cave in and spend 10$ on an imported English language Marie Claire)or go online or buy an expensive coffee or something.

I hope this next part doesn't come across as unsympathetic because that's not my intent at all - first of all, I think you will find someone who speaks English, but second, getting lost can still give you an opportuntity to meet someone who helps you. It might be a strange way to look at it - and I get lost pretty frequently and it's mainly annoying to waste so much time - but I've also been really touched by people's helpfulness sometimes.

Hope you feel better.

Also, some kinda routine helps me get over it. Even if you're only there for 4 days, is there a deli or corner shop, or heck, even bar, that you can claim as "your regular place" and go to once or twice a day?

Alternately, is there some specific thing that'll make you feel connected to what you're missing? I know I go on mad food rages, and keep a small stash of american junk food around just for that. I *think* you can get pringles anywhere.

Or, like piecar said- call home. Sometimes, just talking to people back home (assuming they're the supportive type) can make you feel so much better. I mean, sure, it's kinda anoying, when you're totally down, to have someone tell you how cool the neighbors think it is that you're all alone on the other side of the world, but... Just talking to everyone can make you feel more connected.

It'll get better. And if it doesn't, you can always hunt down a bunch of people who sound like you and get drunk and lame together.

j.

Admittedly I do not consider myself a hard core adventure type traveler. The first time I went to Paris, I hated it. Had trouble figuring things out. Got lost in Montmartre. Too many hooded figures hanging around the metro. Didn't realize you had to hang on to your metro ticket to exit. Lots of everyday things that are so obvious once you know that guide books don't bother with. Was miserable. then I saw an Irish pub. Ordered a pint, relaxed, regrouped, asked a few questions made a few friends and I was good to go.
Now I can Bonjours and bon soir with the best of them.
I just googled Irish pubs Krakow
Go have a pint and a chat

http://www.cracow-life.com/krakow/where_to_drink/pubs_c...etails/146-Irish_Pub

thanks guys, it's much appreciated!!!

I spent yesterday just totally vegging out and relaxing and sleeping...I went out briefly but basically hung around eating and chilling...

Today I was determined to do something so I booked a Tour to Auschwitz...just got back...Boy oh Boy does that put my life into perspective!!

I am feeling somewhat humbled by the experience and realising that so what if I get lost...I'll just take a map with me and if I get dreadfully lost then I'll just stop someone and point to where I want to get to..

Just ordered Pizza and I'm going to chill again tonight...probably going to Wawel Castle tomorrow or another sightseeing Tour...

Thanks again everyone...Its much appreciated when I know I can come here and someone will try to help...

Hi Helen -

Sounds like you're already beginning to feel better, but I thought I'd add a quick note.

First off, I agree 100% w/ what Piecar wrote. I'll just add to it. When I went on a 3 week trip by myself a few yrs ago, I was doing really well, and loving [almost] every minute of it, for the first 10 days. Then a major holiday hit on the island, and most everything was shut down, and coincidentally the weather that day was extremely bad -- I've never experienced winds like that before - it was so windy, I couldn't even go outside and walk around for 2 or 3 hours. [Well, I guess I could have, but I would have been miserable. I hate wind. ;-)] So all of that started my feelings spiralling down, and seriously, I was in a bad funk. I was mopey-sad-lonely-homesick-this-sucks-travelling-is-overrated-irritable-cynical-BLECH. :-) So, I was that way for about 10 hours in my room. And because I allowed myself to sit in my pool of crappy feelings, it slowly eased up as the day went along ... but I was still relieved when it was time for bed, and the day was officially over. Woke up the next morning, it was beautiful outside, I was as good as new, and the four days following were some of the best of the entire trip!!

Hey! Helen, I guess I'm one of the odd ones because I never have gotten homesick, but I think that's because I've basically been on a journey for the last 33 years.

One young lady I met tells me she does what Piecar suggested and looks up local ex-pats in the area. She also checks the local embassies and consulates because they usually have or know someone that's doing something for their nationalities on local holidays.

Glad you are feeling better and wishing you a wondrous journey.

Well things have got MUCH better!!!

I was in a 10-Bed dorm alone...until last night when a great woman came in and introduced herself and persuaded me to come out to the Bar...where I proceeded to get rather drunk...LoL...

Met some great guys who I partied with and had a complete giggle...

Now we're all off to the Salt Mines this morning...all the guys with my Roomie as well...and we're going to swap rooms today for one that is busier...

So all in all things are looking up....things at home still not great but to hell with it, I'm here and I'm going to enjoy myself!!!

Thanks for all the support guys...

There's always one guy who will console you no matter where you are in the world.


This is me after a Taiwanese restaurant tried to serve me a chicken foot. McNuggets were never better.