I love the transitioning…the journey of getting to that new place and living in all the possibilities. I look forward to the newness of everything – the experiences a new place, people, culture, food, and whatever may come to me. It ignites a profound sense of joy and freedom.
I often stay in an area for a few months, usually doing a house/pet sit. I do a bit of research to get a feel for the place, to see if it is a place where I want to invest time and money. Sometimes a picture (expectations) is formed by this research and from the homeowner’s description which is not necessarily the reality.
For example, I was heading to Vieques Island, Puerto Rico after being on the Big Island of Hawaii for 6 months. I was so excited to be going to a Spanish-speaking environment in the Caribbean. Websites and the homeowner’s description of Vieques Island led me to imagine an almost perfect place. I was bursting with anticipation and excitement!
The homeowners picked me up from the airport, and gave me a quick tour of the island (yes, it is that small). I had to hide my shock. I needed to readjust my thinking. Reality did not match the picture in my mind. I erased that canvas and had to begin anew.
The ‘Spanish neighborhood’ that they used to describe the location of their home really meant the poverty section, where there was high drug activity. Potholes consumed the narrow streets. The town, which was probably photographed years earlier, was in need of severe renovations. The beaches were in need of some attention and care.
Being laid-back, as many islands are, there was no consistency with anything. Ferries ran, sometimes, whenever. Business were open, whenever. To see a doctor often took days of waiting at a clinic. I know that I am spoiled with my previous experience in Boston (US), which has great medical care and not every place in the States can measure up to it. So, I took this with much more ease than I did with the ferry not running due to…??? Never an explanation. Unfortunately, this lack of consistency with the ferry caused a delay in dental care which resulted in a serious and ongoing dental problem.
Ahhh…paradise….or so I thought.
Expectations…I had to let them go. I learned to do my research to make a decision, but to let go of everything else. And, I have learned that the people who are describing their place of residence are speaking/viewing it from their own lens. Perspective…theirs and mine, not always the same. Now, I listen differently when I am researching.
When I changed my perspective, I could see the beauty of Vieques and the rest fell away into the ‘this is their way’ pile that sometimes aggravated me, but mostly it gave me a sense of appreciation for what I had in the US. And, it gave me stories, that I can now tell with laughter.
Letting go of any expectations, allows me to adjust to the differences easily, which actually allows me to enjoy the experiences from the get go. Awareness of what I am accustom to and how it may impact my view is key. I can’t let go of my experiences. They are a part of me and I may be viewing from that particular lens. I am aware. I travel with the intention and purpose of exploring new places, learning about other cultures, lifestyles, and, it is a way that I am coming to know me. I don’t want expectations to ever ruin the travel experience for me.
The only expectation that I can hold on to is that I can and will create a magnificent experience no matter where I am.
What do you do? Do you have expectations as you travel and how do you handle the unexpectedness of a situation? Or, do you already have the ability to ‘go with the flow’?
NomadicLivingAndTravels 