I’m back in Paris now. The motorcycle trip is over and my boyfriend has returned to Guatemala. As many travelers know, returning to routine life can be tough. Transitioning from an adventurous lifestyle to a regular schedule can feel pretty dull and has a hard impact on many people. Some even experience months of depression. It’s understandable; after living an exciting life for a year or so, being admired by others as if you were incredibly interesting, returning to everyday life can feel like you’re no longer special.
To cope, I’ve decided to keep myself busy by offering my time and help to family and friends. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be moving furniture, babysitting, painting houses, cleaning, and de-cluttering—tasks people often delay because they don’t have time.
Not only does this help me reconnect with my loved ones, but it’s also a way to show them I care, despite being away for months at a time. I’m not big on bringing back lots of presents because I often feel people don’t know what to give, spend money on things that won’t be used, and then you have to pretend to be happy about it. Instead, I prefer to give my time and bond over simple, postponed tasks.
I’m not planning to look for a “real” job right now. My plans are quite uncertain for the next few months, especially since the sale of my apartment fell through. I’ll talk about that later because it’s really frustrating at the moment! I expected to be back briefly, collect my check, and leave Paris to find a house of my own. Instead, I’m back living with my mom while I try to sell the flat again. Luckily, I also have access to my grandparents’ flat if staying with my mom gets too much, so it’s not all bad, but I hate when plans change!
I’ve put up ads, but I know the real estate market can be slow during the back-to-school period, so I have to be patient—not exactly my strength.
On the bright side, I’ll have plenty of time for personal projects, like working on my blog. It’s been a while since I’ve updated my theme, and the design looks quite amateurish. It takes me hours to do what a professional could do in a moment, but I enjoy doing things myself. So, I’ll focus on that in September, do some networking, and maybe find some freelance work in writing or translation. Bring it on, September!
