Boo :(

Alan and I parted ways today, he’s headed back to the states to begin his medical residency and I’m on my way to Tokyo for more adventures. Needless to say it’s been 8 hours and I miss him already!

You never realize the struggles you will face during an extended vacation with your mate. <--------------more------------>As an experienced party to such trips, I’ve found that it helps to set realistic expectations going into it, whether you’re traveling for 2 weeks or two months. To be attached to the same person for 24 hours a day requires a tremendous amount of patience, self-awareness and communication. One might say this is a given for all relationships, every day, but while traveling the it applies doubly so. You must both be able to set boundaries when you feel cramped, and to step back and acknowledge when it’s time for a break. I think if both parties are capable of that, it’s a wonderfully enriching adventure and allows you both to learn things about each other you wouldn’t have otherwise.

Anyway I’m surely the last person qualified to give relationship advice, but the things above have made for the best vacations and experiences of my life, especially this most recent one.

To Alan, I love you more than ever, and I look forward being in your arms again!