It's an interesting rollercoaster, preparing for a trip into a place that is so vastly different and exciting, yet can also be lonely and absurd. I still have no clue how to prepare for such a trip mentally. But I thought I'd list some of the things I've done these past days, weeks. Perhaps they one day help someone else going for a trip into the Great Unknown.
Ow, and I will list some physical preperations at the end as well ;)
Mental Preparation
Think about your goal
Why are you travelling? Connect to your inner value, your goal in life. Which may be extremely small and mundane, and can also be of the 'taking-over-the-world'-kind of goal. Connecting to this purpose in your life, and see how your travel plans align with that.
Being in touch with this 'meaning of life' -- which is not a given and not something easy to find -- is essential everywhere, anytime. But especially when you are going away from people you love, to a place you know nobody. I can recommend reading Viktor Frankl's 'Man's Search for the Meaning of Life' in case you are interested in reading more about this.
When do you feel at home?
Are you going to live somewhere, how will you deal with not feeling at home? What will make you feel relaxed, what do you need in order to feel at peace with yourself? Perhaps this means bringing a small notebook just for you to jot down frustration or on-the-fly-poetry that only makes sense to you. Perhaps it means earplugs.
For me, this means bringing some creative materials so that I can create this 'own space' instantly by putting a crayon to oa piece of paper. Ow, and I've loaded up my e-reader with interesting books, both on China and very different books that are not about China, so that I can enter in different kind of worlds as I please.
How will you deal?
One way to prepare, is also to already enjoy things before you go. Reading up on things, history, options. What would you like to visit? And most of all, how will you be dealing with things? @dbooster gave me the great idea to join the initiative he has been spreading on steemit, by getting people involved across Asia to publish 'Radom Fact': a picture with something random which actually tells a lot, which might seem normal, but because you look at it with the eyes of an outsider, you notice it is not normal at all. I've really enjoyed his 'randomjapan' tag for a while now, and am looking forward to participate with #randomchina when I'm over there.
Things like this will help me focus. Last time I felt easily overwhelmed, I didn't know what to do with all those impressions. And I didn't take the taime to process them well, or at least I could have stayed more true to that feeling and find ways to express them. The random-approach will help. Show what is going on inside and outside of me, without already deciding what it should be like beforehand.
Physical Preperation
The Weather
It might seem bland, but knowing what kind of weather you're heading into is kind of a key. Shanghai is hot and humid. So I'm taking one light jacket and one warmer pullover, which I know I will probably not use.
But weather also influences the kind of physical problems you may encounter. Sun screen. But also indigestion from not properly prepared food. And there are precautions you can bring with you, like O.R.S. And musquito repellant, of course.
While you head to the Great Wall, think about the Great Firewall as well.
I won't go into specifics, as I'm not an expert and there are many places where you can find lots of information about all of this. Let's just say China has specific ideas about internet. Read about it before you go. And consider signing up for ExpressVPN.
Rest
These last few days I'm taking some bike rides through the countryside here. Enjoy the peace and quiet surrounding I call home. I'm taking in huge gulps of fresh air and trying to take it easy this last day before travelling. And yes, I'm restless. And that's perfectly fine.
Ready. Steady. Go!
Are you also travelling, for work or otherwise? How do you prepare yourself? Let me know in the comments!
These are some great things I hadn't thought about when traveling before. I especially like what you said about connecting your travels with your goal in life! I've recently become aware of how much of my life I have lived without purpose or direction, just going along for the ride. Now I try to make my choices based on whether or not said choice will propel me towards what I want from life, and if it is allowing me to live authentically. I'm not traveling just yet, but I will be in August and I am really excited to finally see more of the world.
Enjoy your stay, Noby! I look forward to reading about you experiences in China!
Life goals and the purpose of life are cinnected as much as possible to everything i do. Hard to imagine a life differently. Good luck with your mental prep for your travels in August!
I would have to say I'm more of a 'loose' traveler. Like to have an idea of where to go, what to see, but take a very 'see what happens when you get there' approach. Seems to leave things open to meeting people and truly seeing what the 'place' is all about. I spent 3 months in NZ and meeting the people and staying in their homes and experiencing it all was the most fun. Though it's SO much easier when you share the language. (Even so...at times I had NO idea what was being said
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I do like your idea of things to bring and such. Earplugs (many) are a key for me, you can sleep more places. Plus buses are SO noisy. The clothes, having whatever you might need for warm/cold/wet, just means you can enjoy it all that much more without distraction. And a camera. Takes care of a lot of boredom/loneliness, if and when it arises, because you can turn over so many visual rocks with it. Plus allows for more interaction with local folks. And as you point out, it is SO different in other countries, there is so much to record. And write about on Steemit ( :
And of course, the writing materials. Though I suppose that is what folks use laptops or phones for now. Not as disconnected, I suppose. But good old paper and a pencil works ALL the time. Sounds like a glorious trip. And a whole lot of fun. Enjoy.
Yes, i agree with all of that. I am normally the loose kind of traveller as well. Yet china is a league of it's own. Or at least that is what i discovered on previous trips. And as I'm traveling for work, I am a bit more constrained than normally. Travelling to live somewhere feels so much different from travelling for leisure. Anyway. Im sure to try my very best to enjoy it. I'm at the airport waiting for my flight.
And so it begins!
I'm a big fan of the notebook idea. Not only for random poetry or venting frustrations, but for questions to... well, to no one, but I suppose to myself, or maybe to the universe. It is, I think, a good way to remain objective and not instantly grow angry/annoyed at things we don't entirely understand.
"Hmm... everyone is spitting there. Why is that?"
It is also a nice way to remember things that we are curious about when we meet someone who is open to answering such questions.
"Hey.. question, I noticed everyone is spitting on the train this morning. Why do they do that?"
I have been keeping a daily memobook since I came to Japan, so that is well over a decade of questions.
I'm looking forward to #randomchina!
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This is a great post on how to get ready to travel to somewhere so far away! How long are you going for? I bring creative materials too when I travel because it helps me to have something familiar with me. I'm a planner and I always look up what the weather will be and what I will need based upon what activities we will be doing while there. Great post!
Ivy