Stick a fork in me: I’m done.

Today’s the day that I’ll finally touch back down on English soil after my mammoth trip, and you know what? I’m actually quite excited.

Over the past month or so, I’ve started to miss my home comforts and looked forward to returning more and more with every passing day. That’s not to say I haven’t enjoyed the last month – far from it. It’s been as fun as any other since I left home in February 2014.

Right now though, I’m feeling ready to go back for a few reasons.

Loved Ones

Naturally, I miss my family and friends. So much has changed since I left home and I’ll probably be spending the next few weeks catching up on what’s new in everyone’s lives as well as sharing my stories from my travels. 13 months is a long time to be away from your loved ones.

The fact I’ve got tickets to a hell of a lot of gigs with my mates and getting to see my beloved Rochdale play week in week out is exciting me too. They’re perhaps two of the things I’ve missed the most. I used to go to a gig every week or two at home, and going to watch Rochdale on a hungover Saturday was part of my weekly ritual, so it’ll be nice to get back to that – at least temporarily.

At a gig with the lads – I can’t wait for plenty more of this!

Home Comforts

The home comforts I mentioned before are something I’m really excited about now. The idea of having my own bed in a room that I’m not sharing with numerous other people is exciting me more than I could ever say.

Hostels are great; I’ve met a lot of awesome people in hostels and wouldn’t have had half the experiences I’ve had without them, but there comes a time when you really start to crave your own space and resent making the effort to have the same conversation with people day in day out. There’s only so many times you can tell people in a day where you’re from, where you’ve been and where you’re going next.

Awesome hostel memories!

Talking of home comforts, I can’t wait for a big greasy plate of fish and chips with mushy peas. I’ve had it a few times on my travels, but nothing has quite lived up to the English version. It’s the little things in life.

Looking Ahead

Finally, I’m excited to go home because it means I can get excited for the future. I think it’s safe to say that for the next few years or so I don’t want to be in England, which means that once I’m home it’s time to start looking ahead and planning where I’m going to end up next!

I had planned to do a CELTA course and crack on with another teaching job abroad once it was done. However due to a few last minute cancellations the course is no longer running until June, so I now have to think about an alternative. I don’t have much of a plan right now, which is actually quite exciting in a way. Whatever will be, will be.

It’s been the best time of my life but after 13 months, 15 countries, endless memories and countless new friends, it’s time to finally go home; if only for a little while.