As strong as I like to believe I am (though really, I’m afraid of a lot of things) I do have bouts of loneliness from time to time. It’s important during the difficult moments to have quick fixes to help beat the blues.
What I’m learning:
Make sure you have a support network back home and abroad.
I don’t have many friends here in Taiwan, but the few I do have I’m grateful for. Recently, due to infected bug bites, I contracted a serious MRSA infection and ended up hospitalized for five days. Though frightening, I’m grateful I had the support of a friend here as well as my family back home.
Reach out and Skype Someone
If you don’t have Skype yet, what are you waiting for? Ask your family and friends to sign up as well. Skype to Skype calls are free; Skype calls to landlines or cell phones can be ridiculously cheap. Make sure you have/purchase a web cam too; those face to face Skype conversations mean a lot when you haven’t seen your family for months.
Feast Your Eyes on Something Beautiful
When I’m feeling exhausted after a rough week at work, or just missing home/wanting a change, I hop on my motorbike, drive off into the mountains, or get on a train and get lost. The excitement helps me take my mind off unpleasant thoughts and exploring new places, observing the locals, and gazing out at miles of beach or the mesmerizing slope of the mountains reminds me why I chose this life in the first place.
When dining solo…
I dine solo all the time. Normally it doesn’t bother me but recently I’ve become somewhat of an attraction at my favorite hot-pot place. Crowded with families and young people out with their friends, I’m often gawked at and it’s hard not to feel a little lonely and out of sorts when this happens. As others have mentioned before me, arm yourself with a good novel!
Remember the Reason
Remind yourself how amazing the journey has been and how many adventures await in the near future. Many women who travel or live abroad are soul-seekers, on a quest for something more (though of course, that’s not to say women who don’t travel are not the same way!). There are those of us who heal from old wounds and change dramatically throughout the journey. Travel helps us blossom. Remember the real reasons you left in the first place. Continue to have faith that you’re on the right path, with magic beyond your wildest dreams waiting around the bend!