I have small feet and therefore leave a small footprint but last week I left a very large one of a different kind. In just seven days I managed to clock up a total of seven flights which equals a significant carbon footprint and I dread to think how many miles I'll need to cycle to compensate for this.
Many of my friends think I live a 'rock and roll' lifestyle with all my travel. I won't deny that I love discovering new countries but the reality is often far from glamourous. One particular moment, or should I say several hours, was on the third and final flight of one journey where I was sat amongst a large family including three toddlers. I sympathise with parents travelling with young children. I find it challenging enough just organising myself but after a nine hour relay of continuous screaming from all three I began to loose this sympathy. I am not a parent and probably shouldn't comment however, not one attempt was made to comfort or reprimand these unruly children. With no apologies forthcoming, the situation became increasingly awkward as the rest of the cabin started to show their frustrations when unable to sleep through the racket.
After these past few weeks abroad I actually began to miss my own culture. I'm not saying that we, the British, are always polite but we do have a certain way of doing things. Whether it is our habit of frequently apologising to each other, forming queues or inclination towards modesty I'm not sure - but I know I've missed home. Sometimes I admire the audacity of foreigners as they walk to the front of the queue or ask for exactly what they want; I just hope for the sake of my friends and family that I haven't brought too many of these traits home with me.
