get it.
Travelling abroad can be a challenge, no matter where you’re heading, especially when you’re crossing an ocean. I’m tall and large, so no matter what I do I’m going to be uncomfortable, so I’ve given up on trying to make the long transatlantic flight more comfortable and just assume that it’s going to suck and prepare to suffer. But, after that flight, I can enjoy stepping into the “heaven” of the airport.
I used to book upgraded seats in advance, but I’ve stopped doing that and just accept that I’ll be miserable for 10 hours. That’s when the silver lining appears; I’ve found that once I resign myself to suffering, the suffering isn’t so bad; it almost becomes a game. I can enjoy the food on KLM flights, for example, and then, after I land, I can finally stretch my legs and walk around. I need 36 hours or so of recuperation after that long flight, but it’s totally worth it.
Travelling long distances is a challenge no matter where you’re from. Australians, New Zealanders, and North Americans all travel long distances and have to suffer a bit. For North Americans, it’s usually a transatlantic flight, while Australians and New Zealanders typically travel to Southeast Asia and have long flights to get there. A New Zealander here shared their experience of Berlin to Vietnam, then Vietnam to Auckland, and finally Auckland to Wellington. By the end of that long haul, their feet were swollen and their urine was amber. No matter where you’re from, long-distance travel can be tough. But, if you resign yourself to the suffering, it can be an enjoyable experience.