THE MOODS OF THE GIRAFFE
A world tour is a project that often requires a lot of reflection. Rarely do we embark on months-long journeys without weighing the pros and cons, without questioning “what if things go wrong?”. When we started preparing for our 8-month adventure, ideas rushed through our minds. We knew we had an incredible opportunity to explore our planet for several months. We also knew we would witness exceptional things and have extraordinary encounters. We were about to be amazed during this long journey. Yet, a small voice also urged caution—a voice filled with fears and apprehensions about what awaited us.
Normally, we’re not the type to improvise our trips. On the contrary, Benjamin usually plans our travels quite precisely well in advance to get the best opportunities at genuinely interesting prices. This also allows us to know concretely what we’re going to do and be sure not to miss anything worthwhile. This time, it was different. Not only was the journey (much) longer than usual, but we were also covering multiple countries. We had never organized a trip lasting several months before. For such a long journey, it was impossible to book everything, to prepare everything in advance. Besides, leaving some room for spontaneity is also part of a long-term journey, and it would be a shame to set off with a too rigid itinerary.
It’s normal to feel fears and apprehensions when embarking on a project to travel for several months. Here are the main fears we faced when diving into this project. And here are all our tips to confront them and silence that small voice!
 We are François and Benjamin, Canadian and French giraffe hairstylists and travel enthusiasts. On this blog, discover our travels, tips, moods, and everything you need to become a giraffe hairstylist and embark on travelling the world. An honest blog with photos guaranteed 100% unfiltered and untouched. |
1. We may experience homesickness, or not disconnect enough
Venturing far from home to explore new cultures for such a long time means accepting not being immersed in one’s own culture daily. Choosing to visit mainly Asian countries with a culture vastly different from ours, we risked feeling far from home. Going abroad means setting aside our routine and habits to explore new things. It’s not necessarily speaking (or hearing) our language, not eating our favorite foods, not doing our daily activities… In short, losing the familiar elements that allow us to live comfortably without too much stress. Being in an unfamiliar environment is what we seek when we travel, but it can also be unsettling.
Of course, today it’s easy to stay connected to one’s culture anywhere in the world. A screen and an internet connection allow us to watch movies, series, or even TV shows when homesickness sets in. If you stay in international hotels like Accor, you’ll inevitably have access to American (CNN), French (TV5 Monde), or English (BBC) television channels.
It’s also easy to bring along your favorite music and cherished films—movies we know by heart but that always lift our spirits. However, there is still a real risk of not disconnecting enough. It’s essential to find the right balance because to travel and stay curious for several months, it’s better to detach from daily concerns. A constant flow of information about your home country can prevent you from fully enjoying your travel experiences. That’s why we never check our work emails during our trips, and we try to avoid French (or even international) political and social news as much as possible. However, we stay in touch with our families and friends via WhatsApp and occasionally through video calls.
The Giraffe recommends: Everyone has their own tolerance for the unknown. We view connecting to our culture as a refuge, so we only watch familiar movies or TV shows when we truly feel nostalgic or when we are in a city or country where we don’t necessarily feel very comfortable. And we avoid thinking about work and politics at all costs! Traveling for 8, 10, or 12 months is ultimately a short period in the grand scheme of life, so in moments of low spirits, we remind ourselves to make the most of it, and the charcuterie-cheese platters can wait!
2. We’re bound to get sick at some point
Embarking on a long-term journey is living a multitude of adventures, tasting various culinary specialties, engaging in unfamiliar activities, and encountering animals, wild or not. How can one not fear food poisoning, a sprain, insect bites, or allergic rashes? In some street stalls, consuming a simple plate of rice might deserve the Bravery Medal, as it can turn into a formidable weapon capable of incapacitating a Western tourist for several days. It would be a shame not to visit Angkor Wat because of food poisoning. Similarly, a sprain could greatly disrupt a road trip in Australia, especially if it affects the sole driver of the duo.
The stress doesn’t only stem from the potential impact of illness or accidents on the itinerary but also from the quality and accessibility of healthcare in many of the countries traversed. When crossing countries with rudimentary medical systems, it’s better to avoid getting too sick, not to mention the language barrier that can further complicate proper care.
Another element contributing to this stress is that when one is ill, the only desire is to be at home. What better treatment than being in a familiar environment, in one’s bed, under the blanket, with no obligation to go out? Being unwell while thousands of kilometers away from home is even less pleasant, especially if staying in basic hotel rooms.
The Giraffe recommends: During travel, the saying “better safe than sorry” makes perfect sense. That’s why we are generally cautious on the road (for example, we never rent two-wheelers in Asia, despite numerous recommendations on social media) and with food (we know our limits and adapt our diet and eating practices to the hygiene standards of each country). We also always travel with a first aid kit. It comes in handy and sometimes makes all the difference when no doctor or pharmacist is nearby.
3. What if we end up getting tired of the beautiful things?
It might seem audacious to talk about weariness when fortunate enough to live such an incredible experience as a several-month-long journey. Nevertheless, the fear of fatigue is real and legitimate. Isn’t it possible that during the journey, we might grow tired of discovering new things? That we may find it increasingly challenging to be amazed by what surrounds us? While preparing for the trip, reading blogs, and discussing it with others, we came across people who claimed to be jaded by their travels. They had embarked on journeys of varying durations to diverse destinations and no longer felt the desire to enjoy the experience. Sometimes, they preferred to stay in the hotel rather than explore the wonders the country had to offer. It was as if the spark that had driven them to undertake the journey had extinguished.
It would be a real shame to have crossed half the globe only to prefer staying in the room reading rather than going out to explore the beauties of a country. But several months are long, and after seeing beautiful landscapes and buildings, living new or exciting experiences, is it possible to be constantly amazed? To find all these temples, statues, monuments, and landscapes magnificent? Won’t they all start to look alike? We still vividly remember our visit to Bagan, Myanmar. The first stupas we saw there were splendid. However, after three days of seeing and reviewing hundreds of stupas, the enthusiasm eventually faded.
This weariness on a “traditional” trip likely has less impact because one sees the end of the journey and the return home. It may seem easier to overlook and enjoy every moment on-site. On a journey of several months, the risk of getting tired or becoming a bit jaded is more significant.
The Giraffe recommends: To minimize the risk of growing tired over the months and discoveries, we took care to include moments of rest in our itinerary. We avoid the frenzied travel pace where visits are consecutive, which is manageable for two weeks but not for eight months. Additionally, we decided not to explore every corner of a country, allowing us to laze on a beach for a day or read on a café terrace to recharge our batteries. In 8 months, we’ll see enough incredible things, and it’s okay if we miss that ‘must-see’ temple according to Lonely Planet or decide not to visit a palace that looks identical to one we’ve already visited elsewhere. In short, we avoid the overdose.
We also tried to vary the countries. Even though a significant part of these 8 months is dedicated to Asia, we’ve also planned visits to countries in the Middle East, Oceania, and South America. Diversifying countries and experiences can help limit the risk of weariness. This is, in fact, one of the goals of our world tour: to touch the diversity of the world as it is.
4. Will we manage without a social life?
Embarking on a world tour, we agreed to find ourselves alone, just the two of us. We set aside after-work drinks with colleagues, activities with friends, and family dinners. Being somewhat reserved by nature, we don’t always seek interaction with others. While traveling, we prefer to live our experience in privacy. We’re not the type to strike up conversations with every person we meet, desperately trying to stay with locals or share a drink or meal with them. We’ve encountered situations where interactions with Western tourists mostly had economic motives – initiating conversation solely to sell us a massage, a guide, a tuk-tuk tour, or a hotel. Of course, like everyone, we appreciate genuine and selfless exchanges, but let’s be honest, these interactions are unfortunately more challenging when not traveling with a local or speaking the language.
Again, for a week or two, it may not have much impact, but for a journey spanning several months, the risk of loneliness becomes a different challenge.
The Giraffe recommends: The blog you are currently reading and the associated Instagram account (thehairygiraffe_travel) stem notably from this desire to address the fear of having a limited social life for several months. This blog allows us to share our travel experiences, fears, good ideas, and feelings with others. We also wanted to take them along with us around the world and show them the landscapes as we saw them, in all authenticity, through our photos. Writing this blog also brings us closer together by having this shared activity. It serves as an outlet for expressing some of the more challenging moments.
Social media also naturally helps us stay connected to the world. Our Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp accounts allow us to maintain a connection with our families and friends on the other side of the world. An occasional Skype call also boosts morale and helps overcome the occasional bout of homesickness.
And, inevitably, the best remedy is to push ourselves, break out of our shell, approach others, and simply start a conversation. If we wait for others to approach us, we may mainly attract touts. But if we take the initiative to engage with others, we increase our chances of fostering a genuine and authentic encounter. This can only enrich our journey and bring about a bit of change in who we are!
5. Will we be able to tolerate each other?
Spending 8 months together inevitably means accepting to be with each other all the time. It’s going on expeditions and visits together. It’s eating together. It’s traveling together. It’s sharing the same limited common spaces, such as a car or a hotel room.
Being around the same person 24/7 for such an extended period can eventually take a toll on one’s mood. You start noticing every flaw. Irritation sets in at the slightest habit. The little quirk that normally makes you smile ends up royally getting on your nerves. Even if we love our partner (and our children for those traveling as a family), constant proximity can quickly turn into headaches and spoil the journey.
The Giraffe recommends: Even though we get along very well during our travels, it’s essential to have moments alone, to refocus on our individuality, and alleviate any tensions that may have arisen. It could be a walk, a swim, a yoga or meditation session, reading time, sudoku or video games, a visit to your hotel’s gym… The possibilities are numerous. The idea, once again, is to ventilate, change the atmosphere, and reunite with the other in better conditions.
Another method we use is dividing the shared space so that each person can have their own territory. For example, we often choose rooms with two separate beds. Not only is it often more comfortable (rooms with two beds are sometimes larger, and double beds are often small…), but it also visually defines the space (“this is my bed, that’s your bed”) and, incidentally, avoids any issues in countries where LGBTQ+ individuals may not be welcomed.
Having your own bag can also be a way to create a personal living space. Each having their suitcase or bag can give the impression of having their own living area. You can choose the size, material, and color you prefer. You can then put whatever you want in it, things that bring you joy. You can also decorate it as you wish by adding stickers or hanging charms. Finally, you can keep it tidy or in constant disarray. It’s up to you; it’s your space. And when you’re away for several months, your bag becomes your only anchor, a kind of portable home.
6. Will returning to the daily routine be possible?
We believe, like many people, that embarking on a world tour is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Such an adventure inevitably changes the traveler, leaving profound memories, making them aware of many things, and reshuffling certain priorities. For 8 months, we will have lived at our own pace without specific obligations or commitments. We can wake up whenever we want, go wherever and whenever we please. We have (mostly) minimal stress. We’re far from the daily grind. We engage in something that truly fascinates us every day. We are constantly active, always on the move, and not sitting in front of a screen. We live in extraordinary places. It’s natural to worry about what comes after the world tour.What will happen? Will we want to go back? Yes, if only to see our families and friends, sleep in our own bed, and eat French food. Will we go back to work? We’ll have to because we’ll need to replenish the funds that have significantly diminished during this lengthy journey… Will we want to go back to the same routine? Hard to say. It would mean returning to a schedule with alarms and public transportation to endure hours of work. Perhaps we’ll desire something else. Maybe this journey will have transformed us and made us reconsider our priorities. Perhaps we’ll work less. Perhaps we’ll pursue something entirely different.
When embarking on such a project, we have no idea how it will change us and what the return will look like.
The Giraffe recommends: It’s probably better not to dwell on all of this. The experiences lived during these months of travel will change us enough that we won’t be able to make decisions until it’s finished. A journey of several months is an excellent opportunity to assess our lives, our daily routines, and answer the numerous questions we had before our departure. But it’s not therapy. Change will happen gradually, and experiences will transform us over time. Then, upon our return, we can make the right decisions!
All these fears are legitimate, and the cautious voice will always try to prevent us from being completely carefree. However, the most important thing is not to give it too much importance. The essence is to enjoy: traveling for several months is an incredible privilege, often possible only once in a lifetime. So, listen to the cautious voice, take necessary precautions, and then set it aside and enjoy!
All our articles about our round-the-world trip:
Find all the Moods of the Giraffe articles:
