Charlie, this is beautifully written in all its brutal honesty. At one point I had to stop sharing my traveling experience with friends and business associates because all they grasped was the romance of the story even while I simultaneously attempted to tell them: “Wait, no, it wasn’t that good.” However it is good for the soul. These experiences that expand us as human beings and which alienate us from those we love — these are the times we experience real growth. Thanks for sharing.