Five things you must do before leaving home:
About to venture away or planning to.Great here are five essentials you must do before going on your journey.
1) Get a check up
Yes that’s right. Go to the doctors/GP and have a check-up. Re load on any medications you must take with you for the duration of your trip. Some of the must haves; UTI tablets, morning after pill, stool softener and stool stopper. There is nothing worse than not language barriers especially when it concerns your lower regions. Trying to communicate with a pharmacist and trusting what they have on offer can be stressful. I have a friend who went to China for a year and during her time she contracted a UTI, their Chinese dictionary did not have a translation and she did not know how to explain what was happening down there. She had to suffer a few weeks before she found someone who could assist her with medication. The morning after pill, this can be a contentious issue for me, since I date women but better have it and not need it that need it and not have it. Anything could happen good or bad but if it does you want to know you’re not carrying around a potential bun in the oven hampering those beers with dinner or getting ill. Equally condoms are necessary in your travel bag. Stool softener and stopper is good for those who have a sensitive stomach. And if you have to catch a long flight, train, bus or boat being able to control your rear might prove necessary.
2) See your grandma
Your grandma or nanny as I say is the most important person to see before going away. She was there when you were born and took your side when your mum didn’t. And as you are preparing to take off and see the world she will be counting her blessing until you come home. On that note your grandma could take another form it could be your parents, aunt a close family friend or a cousin the people in your life that will be with you in spirit. My nanny is never surprised when I tell her I have a trip and we enjoy weekends together without my cousins before we leave. So she can feel at east that I’m leaving and I can bond with her as she ages over the years.
3) Check your student loan
Does your country have laws that prevent you from exiting your country until you have made payments towards your student loan? In New Zealand we do have a law that can stop any persons trying to leave NZ with an outstanding student loan. It’s not easy to avoid student loan payments so you have to really try and not repay it to be alerted while checking in and boarding. I did the research and found that the minimum payment per year while living overseas is $1000 NZD. This is totally do able and with some planning beforehand I know I can travel with no chance of being stopped at customs.
4) Visit Your Besties
You may be saving for the holiday but seeing your childhood friends gives you some perspective. It is a small price to pay to get a bus or local flight to wherever life has taken them. Besties know where you have been in life and what you have you done. They only want the best for you and your journey. They will tell you how proud they are of you for your decision to leave. You will be able to reminisce and talk about all the fears that you haven’t said aloud yet. I have spent many weeks sleeping on couches or in the bed with my friends talking about where I’m going what I’m doing and how it might be. I always leave with a light heart and excited for the journey.
5) Be local
Go for a walk on your own, take photos of your favorite streets or locations. When you come back there might be some changes. But more importantly when you are away and becomes home sick a photo that you took can help you remember the mind-set you had when you took the image. You may miss the place but it’s only temporary. Life moves on as you have.
This also transcends to eating. Eat large eat all your favorite foods because you will soon savor the familiar taste in a new world. Currently I am preparing to leave and I have been eating up a storm. And I don’t even care if I gain a few pounds because soon enough I’ll be missing what milk tastes like and meat. Traveling changes the taste of everything. Their milk is different their bread is too the difference in climate makes for subtle changes in everyday food. So enjoy what’s in front of you.
There you have it 5 essentials to do before you leave home. Have I missed out your most important essential? If so please comment I would love to hear.
