August 15: Memorable Moments: Finding Flexibility
One of the challenging yet exciting aspects of a summer journey abroad is learning to adapt to unexpected circumstances. I’m the type of person that thrives on organization, routines, systems, and procedures during the school year. But I try to set much of that aside while traveling, learning one step at a time to become more flexible. Read more of the details here.
There are occasions where habits can be helpful while on the road. For example, after loading my bags each morning I always do a safety check to make sure I haven’t forgotten a buckle, loop, fold, or strap. Several times this summer I have discovered something I missed, catching my mistake soon enough to prevent the potential loss of a bag or increased instability on the bike.
However, while changing lodging and cities almost every night and languages and currency every few days, it’s impossible to predict what obstacles will arise or how you will respond to them.
Sometimes the challenges are relatively minor. For example, in more than half of the hotels I stayed at the toilet, shower, mini fridge, or air conditioner were broken. To keep positive, I learned to think of non-functioning fridges as cooler chests. Rather than complaining about something that most likely couldn’t be fixed, I just asked for two bowls of ice cubes to put next to my food and kept the door shut as much as possible, allowing me to safely store perishable snacks.
One night my air conditioning remote control broke at the same time the unit itself started spewing out air fit for a meat locker. I started shivering and was so cold I couldn’t sleep because, like almost every hotel I stayed in, there were no blankets or comforters in the room. I put on my only warm layer (a hoodie) and when that wasn’t enough, I donned my rain jacket as well, finally getting a few fitful hours of sleep.
Other inconveniences are due to a matter of personal preference as it’s just a fact that you can’t always find what you’re used to when away from home.
I don’t spend much time on personal care but really enjoy sporting bright red glossy nail polish on my toes during the summer months. When the pedicure I gave myself in early June wore off three weeks into my trip, I searched in vain for replacement enamel.
After several forays into various markets and pharmacies resulted in no nail polish sightings whatsoever, I decided to settle on what I would normally consider a hideous matte pink color I found in a souvenir shop that reminded me of something my daughter put on me when she was a toddler.
Handling mechanical issues in foreign countries can be a little more stressful. When my shifter broke just south of Casablanca, Morocco and I made my way to a local mechanic with a hole in the wall shop right on a crowded sidewalk, it was a little disconcerting to see him rummaging around in a bin of loose nuts and bolts to find something to put my lever mechanism back together. However, I’m grateful the fix held until I could install an OEM part a week later in Switzerland.
Due for a service while in Turkey, I managed to find a kind mechanic north of Corlu who graciously offered to fit me into my schedule. As I simply needed to have my chain tightened and my oil and air filters replaced, it was rather alarming to find the gentleman removing much of the outer frame of my bike and examining wires.
Another customer acting as a translator explained to me that Ali insisted on doing a thorough inspection given how many miles I had left to travel. Spending more than three hours in a cluttered mechanic’s work area in 94-degree heat wasn’t what I had planned for my afternoon. But trusting that Ali had my best interests at heart, I decided to pull out my laptop and get some work done to pass the time. Ultimately, I learned more about my bike and left prepared to finish off my trip with Adventure Baby in sound working order.
Although some of the difficulties I encountered this summer were more problematic than others, they all provided me with an opportunity to develop more patience and flexibility. Remembering these experiences when I return home will help me learn to be more grateful for conveniences that I might have taken for granted in the past.
