Travel Fatigue

We have been in Mexico for 33 days. In that time we have slept in nine hotels and two apartments in 10 different towns. We have visited three Mayan ruins and four beaches. We have swum in six swimming pools, two oceans, two rivers and one cenote. We have driven more than 3,000 km over the course of more than 30 hours. We have eaten out at least 60 times at more restaurantes, comedors, cocinas economicas, and cafeterias than I can count. I don’t even want to think about or admit how much money we have spent.

 So we are tired.

The kids have been skeptical about this whole travel thing from the start. They sensed our enthusiasm and were willing to go along for the ride, but it is clear they would have been just as happy hanging out at the PG pool all summer. I have been so proud of them, trying new foods, optimistically packing up bags and looking forward to each new destination, jumping in to each new body of water no matter how deep or murky. But every outing and adventure has taken a bit of cajoling, usually ending with enjoyment and gratitude that we made the effort. Josie has consistently taken more convincing and has a lower tolerance for things like sand, wind, sun, heat, cold, bugs, etc. However, in the end even she has come along for the ride stoically and delighted in the journey when all is said and done.

But we are tired.

The kids talk mostly about home these days. Josie and Jasper have been intensely planning her birthday party (which will be in October), putting together lists of guests and a schedule of events. Jasper continues to perseverate on what pet he wants to get when he gets home (how he has decided on an iguana), where it will live, how he will take care of it. Every time we mention a family member or friend they say, “I can’t wait to see them! When are we going to SEE them?!” We have been looking at pictures from home every day. Before we left we had been “homeless” for a month, so they are really ready for a space they can control and a routine they can predict.

Peter continues to work relatively long days. He had four days of vacation with us (during which he worked a bit every day), and during the trip down to Chiapas he was able to relax and enjoy the journey, but it has been a long stretch of balancing work and family. He is looking forward to riding his bike to work, getting caught up on emails and other projects that demand his attention, digging into analyzing and processing the work he has done here. It will be good to have separation of work and home again (not to mention just HAVE a home).

With the exception of one delicious four hour stretch in San Cristobal, I have been with my children for 24 hours a day this entire vacation, many nights sleeping in the same room or bed. At Mazunte the other day Peter and the kids were happily engaged in building a sand castle, so I said, “I am going to go out and swim alone for a bit.” What decadence! By the time I made it beyond the breakers I heard a delighted, “Mama!” as Jasper came bounding out to join me, thrilled to have his Mama to himself. Sigh. This time has been a gift, and I have enjoyed nearly every moment with them, trying to soak it in and store it up for the year to come. But I could use a little time to myself, or at least to something else. My mind has started to drift back to my classroom, my students, setting up the new house, getting the kids set for school… I am starting to transition.

And yet, we have two more weeks. And there is so much more to see and do.

We arrived in Oaxaca two days ago, and there is so much more to say on this topic. The city is both soothing and stunning. Every moment is met with a new encounter with a fascinating person or beautiful artifact or delicious experience. The temperature is perfect. The streets are clean and quiet while being filled with people and music. We have just begun to scratch the surface of exploring this place, and I have been told we will never want to leave.

My greatest challenge now will be getting the kids to continue experiencing and appreciating where they are now and not get caught up in where they want to be: back home with their friends, family and things. How can I keep this place from getting lost among the others? How can we all make sure we remember?

I guess I’ll just keep writing.