Jetlag Diaries

Issue #40 · The beauty of inviting chaos, rejecting comfort zones and blindly putting your trust in strangers.

Picture this: You’ve just touched down in a new country after a long, restless overnight flight. You hurriedly gather your things and sleepwalk off the plane, unsure of what time zone you’re in, what year it is, or what planet you’re on.

An electrifying flood of unfamiliar sights, smells and sounds greets you: neon signs pulsating in a language you can't read, unidentifiable aromas invading from all angles, the symphony of human chaos harmonized in a key you’ve never heard — and you haven’t even left the airport terminal yet.

The nerves build as you wait in the immigration line, unsure of what lies ahead: Will the people be friendly? Will you be able to find an ATM? Has a few weeks of Duolingo practice really taught you enough to get by? All of your research and planning is finally about to be put to the test, yet those dogeared guidebook tips suddenly feel insufficient.

Your body clings to the rhythm of home — circadian and otherwise — as the sharp mechanical ‘clamp’ of your new passport stamp yanks you from liminality. You’ve officially been welcomed into this foreign land, no safety net or chaperone provided. As you step out into your new surroundings, a fusion of anxiety and exhilaration courses through you, and the hunt for your suitcase and a sense of direction finally begins.

Each passerby offers a glimpse into the cadence of everyday life, though it feels like you’re watching a movie without subtitles. You catch snippets of conversations that you don’t understand, but surprisingly, there are some that you do — as it turns out, everyone laughs in the same language.

Your 3am eyelids struggle against the piercing sun, and the world unfolding before you is washed in a dreamlike, surreal haze. The architecture, the landscape, the vehicles, the storefronts — it all feels so fascinatingly…different. Yet an inexplicable magnetic curiosity invites you in, as if to remind you that your comfort zone will never expand unless it’s purposely stretched.

After a few minutes of clumsy charades, the shopkeeper finally understands your gesture towards an unpronounceable chocolate pastry — or is that sausage? Either way, you dig out a handful of heavy coins and allow them to be plucked directly from your palm, hoping that no ‘tourist tax’ was also collected. Sometimes, you simply behave no choice but to roll the dice on strangers being good people.

In fact, with each small win and gesture of hospitality — the welcoming smiles, the nods of approval, the friendly exchanges — you begin to feel more at ease. Though the specific execution of habits and customs here are approached differently, you can’t help but notice the similarities that defy borders. Maybe this place isn’t as foreign as you thought?

Still, you’ve accepted that at some point, things will go wrong: a missed train connection here, a wrong turn there. But even the most frustrating travel mishaps and misunderstandings evolve into funny stories with enough time. So why not lean into the chaos? When negotiating with the unknown, sometimes it’s better to simply toss your map in the trash and put your faith in the magic of detours. After all, the whole reason you came here was to get a little lost.

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Recommended related posts:

• Follow Me to Weird Places — Encouragement to step off the beaten tourist path and get lost in unpronounceable places.

• Deep Chats with Strangers in Airport Bars — A front-row seat to the comedic chaos of humanity in transit. Pull up a chair!

• Schlepping It — Reality check: The full-time travel lifestyle isn’t always so glamorous.

PS: I’d love to hear what you thought about this issue. Email me directly at hello@emilyannhill.com and I pinky promise I’ll reply back.