Every day since my return from Sweden I have crawled to my computer, booted up, all ready to send a blog, only to discover that…
I left half my brain in the air between here and Europe. Jet lag, I have discovered, is like being a half wit. You may have your own symptoms of jet lag, but mine make me feel half as smart as I am. This is a considerable disadvantage when I’m trying to write something of interest. Who I am in the pre-trip planning phase and who I am for a few days post-travel are often two completely different people.
The pre-trip me is ruthlessly focussed on the preparations: a carry-on suitcase meticulously packed so as not to weigh me down during my travels; getting as much information ahead of time about what to see, who I should speak to; how I will plan my days so as not to miss anything. My journals swell with notes of interest, dates and times – an abundance of destination details and questions to be answered. I take comfort in the pre-planning and organizing before a trip because I know that putting this structure around my days gives me the freedom to find the rhythm of each day and “let go.” It also helps me identify emerging themes and unique story ideas for each of my trips. In this instance, the theme for my trip was cycling. I was staying in Lund and Malmö. Cycling is a way of life in Lund. No other municipality in Sweden can match the frequency of bicycle travel achieved in Lund.
As for the post-trip me, well, it’s a far cry from this.
When I return, my jet lag symptoms are really an overload of the senses. I soak up so much while I’m away it takes me a while to sort out what I have captured, and since I’ve been home I realized some things about my trip that naturally follow only after the experience.
I’m working on more blog entries – thoughts about my trip and what I learned. Once I’ve sorted myself out, I’ll share those with you as well as some notes of interest about Sweden.
Filed under: Gender and Geography - The Travel Muse Tagged: | cycling, Sweden, travel
Hi Crystal. Thanks for commenting. I think it’s wonderful when we realize we don’t want to forget anything about the travels we take. Though I do wonder why it is we don’t acknowledge that our body and spirit are rightfully taking time to process what we experience. I’ve come to realize that when we do let this natural process happen, we begin to have a better understanding of the world around us. So that is why I’m really being patient with my thoughts.
I am also looking forward to being in Paris once again. Until August.
I know how you feel…my brain goes into overload when I’m travelling and as soon as I get back, it slacks off as though it’s worn out. I always collect and keep tons of paraphernalia from the places I visit – menus, free maps, ticket stubs, receipts – so as not to forget a single thing.
Can’t wait to hear more about Sweden as I’d love to get there myself one day. See you around here in August