THE WANDERLUSTERS MIND PODCAST

Abby Lewtas 22/5/18 Abby Lewtas 22/5/18

Michael Huxley - Travelling the world as a nurse, author and travel blogger.

Today on the show, I am speaking with Michael Huxley. He is the founder of Bemused Backpacker a UK travel blog he has spent several years abroad travelling to over 100 different countries.

He is a published author, a qualified nurse and a world adventure.

Travelling to over 100 countries, Mike has been able to create a life exactly how he imagined.

About Mike

Today on the show, I am speaking with Michael Huxley. He is the founder of Bemused Backpacker a UK travel blog he has spent several years abroad travelling to over 100 different countries.

He is a published author, a qualified nurse and a world adventure.

“You go back to your old life and you cant really relate to it anymore. You start to feel alienated from the place you called home.”

— Mike Huxley

When coming home...

Emotions Mike faced - Alienated and like he didn't fit in.
What had changed - He didn't related to his friends anymore. He didn't want to follow the same path that most of society does.
Biggest Stress - The pressure to conform and settle down, especially from his parents.
How Mike supported himself - Thinking about the end game and what he really wanted and then started working towards that.
How did his mindset change - Selfish and focused on what he wanted to do.
3 Lessons learned from travel and reverse culture shock

You can have it all - you can have both a career and travel the world.
Wherever you go - people are the same, everyone wants the same thing.
The world is an amazing, safe and easy place to travel. Let go of the negativity that others portray.

Advise to himself for returning home - Always remeber that buying a plane ticket is very easy and there is always another place to travel to.

“Travel is not just something I do away from my ‘normal’ life, it is a part of my normal life.”

— Mike Huxley

Links

“Its your life, you can live it exactly how you want to live it, you’ve just got to go out and find a way to do that.”

— Mike Huxley

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Abby Lewtas 19/5/18 Abby Lewtas 19/5/18

What emotions you will face when returning from long term travel.

The top 6 emotions people face when experiencing Reverse Culture Shock. Unease, unsettled and sadness, empty, Excited and happy, Lost, trapped, confused, At first it's nice to catch up with friends and family, Dull and boring, flat, mundane.

The top 6 emotions people face when experiencing Reverse Culture Shock.

Top emotions you can expect to face

Unease, unsettled and sadness, empty
Excited and happy
Lost, trapped, confused
At first it's nice to catch up with friends and family
Dull and boring, flat, mundane

Tips to work through these emotions.

Unease, unsettled and sadness, empty.

Tip: journal write about this, talk to those close to you, seek help, other things you can do.

Excited and happy.

Tip: embrace this feeling and emotions and really step into it. Start to find a focus that makes you want to get up for every day career, project, hobby, relationship, lifestyle.

Lost, trapped, confused.

Tip: determine where this feeling is coming from may be through Journal write, meditation, turn inwards for answers. What area of your life do you feel this way career, finance, relationships, health.

At first it's nice to catch up with friends and family.

Tip: don’t let this be the only place. Meet them where they are at and don’t expect that everyone will relate and understand your experience. Be interested in what they have been doing in their life whilst you have been away.

Tip: know that some relationships will change, continue to seek new relationships and friendships with like minded people, it is something you would have done on your time abroad so keep embracing it. Know that you too have changed a great deal so some relationships will change. It’s ok to let go of relationships that no longer serve you.

Dull and boring, flat, mundane

Tip: find a focus, seek newness in your own home, how can you bring inspirations from your travels into your home life, adventure every day.

Rocio Cadena - A travel writer from Mexico now living in South Korea

Rocio is a Mexican-American writer and editor based in South Korea. She writes about all types and elements of culture, in-depth social issues, lifestyle and travel.

She grew up in Mexico and at the age of 11 moved to Chicago. She spent a semester abroad studying in Italy at universe and has returned to Chicago on a several occasions but now calls South Korea home.

Travel writer and english teacher, Rocio was born in Mexico, grew up in the U.S., studied in Italy and now lives in South Korea.

About Rocia

Rocio is a Mexican-American writer and editor based in South Korea. She writes about all types and elements of culture, in-depth social issues, lifestyle and travel.

“Just because our friendship has transitioned into something new it does not take away from the beautiful memories we have made already.”

— Rocio Cadena

When coming home...

Emotions Rocio faced - going to an alternate reality that she had left behind. Disorienting. Comforting as if she hadn't missed out on anything.
What had changed - Not much it seemed as though her friends were still doing the same things.
How Rocio supported herself - Kept in contact with friends from Korea, learned that relationships and friendships changed.
How did her mindset change - Nothing is good or bad its just the value we assign to it.
3 Lessons learned from travel and reverse culture shock

Adaptable and Flexible.
Outlook and attitude and how we choose to handle things.
Be vulnerable and open with ourselves and others.

Advise to herself for returning home - Don't resist what arrises, feelings or thoughts, just feel them. Challenges are good, dont run away from these times, lean into them and you will grow and evolve.

“Its so important to be open and share whatever we are going through, especially if we are going through a difficult patch because people are happy to help as long as we let them know.”

— Rocio Cadena

Pip Honour - A wellness journey and a travelling adventure.

Pip Honour is a Wellness Coach and Meditation Teacher. She works with women 1:1 and in groups to help them create more Confidence, Clarity and Calm in their worlds. Her work is grounded in the belief that transforming your mindset will create positive and lasting change.

Pip went on a six month adventure spending 2 months in Europe - Italy, Croatia, France, Germany and Hungary, 1 month in South Africa, 1 month in India and 1 month in Sri Lanka before returning to Australia to grow her life coaching business.

Creating a confident body image, mindset and setting up her own business during her travels through Europe, South Africa, India and Sri Lanka.

About Pip

“What I’ve experienced is to be treasured by me.”

— Pip Honour

When coming home...

Emotions Pip faced - Excitement and nervousness although felt ready to return home. Deflated. Frustration.
What had changed - Her work and work environment from corporate to her own business. Not having a regular monthly pay check.
How Pip supported herself - She got a puppy and took time to be appreciative for everything she had.
How did her mindset change - Gained perspective. She didn't need a lot to live life.
3 Lessons learned from travel and reverse culture shock

Continue to be open minded and be considerate of others.
We get to choose how we create our life.
Remain present.

Advise to herself for returning home - Consistancy and routine is so important and also plan your next trip to keep your adventure alive.

“By going on this big overseas trip, I felt a real sense of perspective and the simple life that I really want to create.”

— Pip Honour

Pip on hill of dubrovnik-6702- Dubrovnik.jpg

Links

Website: www.piphonour.com Scroll to the bottom of Pips home page to access your Self Retreat Freebie from Pip.

Pips Instagram: @piphonour

Facebook: piphonour

“We are our own creators and we get to make our own decisions and when we sit in this space its really really empowering.”

— Pip Honour

Nuwara Eliya-4155- Landscape in Nuwara Eliya.jpg

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Abby Lewtas 5/5/18 Abby Lewtas 5/5/18

What is Reverse Culture Shock?

What you can expect and the different phases when your transitioning through Reverse Culture Shock. What is Reverse Culture Shock? Is a upsetting and disturbing feelings and emotions experienced by some people upon returning home from spending a significant time overseas.

What you can expect and the different phases when your transitioning through Reverse Culture Shock.

What is Reverse Culture Shock?

Is a upsetting and disturbing feelings and emotions experienced by some people upon returning home from spending a significant time overseas.

Signs that you could be experiencing reverse culture shock.

You have changed and notice that you don’t relate as well to old friends and those around you.
You feel alone as if there is no one who understands
You feel bored
You're living in your past travels and experience far too often
You compare your current situation to your past experience overseas
You only think about the good things of your travels or time abroad

Different phases of this transition.

Realisation of the return home
Initial excitement for landing back in your motherland
Denial of your return home
Unhappiness, Misery, Gloom, Melancholy and sometimes depression
Frustraion about your position
Adjusting adapting and experimenting
Owning your decision to return home
Integration, finding purpose and meaning

Hannah Morris - Humble beginnings to intercultural learning.

Dr. Morris (Hannah) is an international educator and world traveler passionate about assisting others as they navigate their own intercultural transitions. Her current work is based on her professional experiences abroad along with her research in higher education and intercultural learning and it has enabled her to combine the academic and practical knowledge of cross-cultural transitions to help students, families, and schools around the globe.

Having visited over 50 countries Hannah met her partner whilst living in India and now helps others with student re-entry transitions.

About Hannah

Dr. Hannah Morris is an international educator and world traveller passionate about assisting others as they navigate their own intercultural transitions. Her current work is based on her professional experiences abroad along with her research in higher education and intercultural learning and it has enabled her to combine the academic and practical knowledge of cross-cultural transitions to help students, families, and schools around the globe.

Hannah was born with the travel bug. A daughter of an adult third culture kid and a self-described gypsy, she has visited over 50 countries and lived on four continents. She met her partner at a Halloween party in New Delhi, India while she was leading a group of students in Incredible India. A year later she moved to Delhi to live with him and a year and a half later they re-entered the US to spend a year in DC, a new city for Hannah.

“Surround yourself with a really supportive group of people who you know will cheer you on.”

— Dr. Hannah Morris

When coming home...

Emotions Hannah faced - Difficulties with political situations and reigniting friendship circles. She felt lost.
How Hannah supported herself - Completing re-entry transition before heading off again. Being a tourist in her own town. Find things to appreciate every day. Being open to meet new people.
How did her mindset change - Sharing her feelings with others, realising that its ok to be sad.
3 Lessons learned from travel and reverse culture shock.

Friendship groups dont magically happen when you return home, you have to work to create and foster them.
Work to your strengths, don't just make your ideas fit.
Enjoy the ride - make the best out of everything you can.