Exactly four months ago yesterday, I landed in Southeast Asia wide-eyed and excited to begin a new chapter. After being so desperate to leave the comforts of the United States behind, this past week has left me yearning for many of them and suffering from a mild bout of homesickness. It’s a lot easier said than done to completely rid yourself of the things you take for granted back home and I’m finding as more time elapses on my journey, the more I long for the little things and to revisit the worn pages of the previous chapters I once enjoyed.

Don’t get me wrong. I am still loving every second of my trip and each day brings something new and more exciting than the one prior. But every once in awhile something will remind me of someone or something back home and reminds me that when I do come home, having those things again will be appreciated in a new way. The following is just a short list of some of the things that I tend to return to when pangs of homesickness hit:

• Cheese – Yes, cheese. Most people don’t really seem to get it when I tell them, but cheese – along with other dairy products – is sorely lacking in Asia. Ah, the things I would give for a baked brie or chèvre roll with cranberries and cinnamon. I’d even settle for a good sharp cheddar. Chris, this is your cue to comment on my cheese snobbery…I’m waiting.
• Baseball – The time difference has made it incredibly difficult to keep up with my beloved New York Mets games on my MLB Radio subscription and I also have yet to make a friend who can talk bats with me for hours on end. I miss my David Wright jerseys and heading to Citi Field on a weekend with my little brother or friends. Something I don’t miss? The heartbreak and frustration the Mets have given me over the past five years.
• Seasons – It’s sweltering hot in Bangkok right now. It’s the kind of heat that slaps you across the face the second you step outside and makes you want to run around naked all the time. While I’m thankful to have missed one of the worst winters the Northeast has seen in a long time, I wouldn’t mind a day where I can put on a sweater or hoodie, a hat, scarf and blankets.
• Driving – Bangkok has some of the worst traffic I’ve ever seen, and while I’d probably never attempt to drive here, I do miss cruising down I-95 in my Baby Blue that my brother is ever-so-cautiously watching over and probably racing about town in.
• Home-cooked meals – Dad’s Sunday gourmet meals and Mom’s macaroni and cheese. Enough said.
• Wardrobe variety – I remember when shopping was a major downfall of mine. While I’m happy to have kicked the habit, I do miss owning more than five shirts, two pairs of shorts, two dresses, one pair of jeans and a pair of flip flops. Like my brother’s watchful eye on my car, I’m sure my sister’s keeping a close watch (or wear, likely) on my clothes.
• Live music and Broadway – Before travel, most of my leisurely spending money went toward concerts
  

  Casa Villa tacos courtesy of Chris Preovolos

  and plays. It didn’t matter if it was a local band or huge national tour. Generally, if there was a stage with a singer and a guitar, I was there. I’ve finally found a couple of places in Bangkok with a decent live music scene, but I’ll look forward to coming home and seeing some of my favorite performers again.

• Being a ‘regular’ – Weekend nights out almost always led me to my favorite bar in Connecticut with one of my best friends, resulting in far too many drinks, a new bartender crush and dancing to an awful cover band. It may sound silly, but it’s nice to revisit places where you’re known and get special treatment from time to time.
• Sierra Grille salads and Casa Villa burritos – The same way good coffee has remained elusive throughout Southeast Asia – I still can’t get used to the whole condensed milk, super-sweet, syrupy coffee – I have yet to find good Mexican food, though this one comes as less of a shock. Back home I tend to overindulge on Mexican (you mean four times a week is too much?!) and I do still find myself missing it more often than not. Though, Thai food has become quite the nice alternative, as they have a similar affinity for chilis.
• Peoplesickness – It’s simple really; I miss you guys. Family, friends, beagles, adorable children I babysat, old coworkers, mentors, bartenders, et al.

It’s not too late to send me your best budgeting tip for backpackers for Part II of  ‘How to Deal: Budgeting.’ Send me an e-mail at lovewiththeworld@gmail.com to have your favorite tip included!