Thursday, April 12, 2012

King of the Road

K is for King of the Road Skies

Today feels like a good day to interject a word or two (okay, more than two) about my husband. This was primarily a work trip for him and tagging along afforded me a small glimpse into the sort of travel he does on a regular basis. Since January he's been to Korea, Singapore, Turkey, Shanghai, Taipei, and Hong Kong, plus has trips to South America, India, and Russia already on his calendar in the next three months. While that may sound exciting it is also exhausting.


There are long haul flights combined with in -country short haul flights combined with the upside down time changes. Add to that being ever mindful of the local custom regarding greetings, meals, business etiquette, and dress. Then of course there is the language. Imagine sitting in meetings and listening to presentations for several hours a day three or four days straight where you don't speak the language. Imagine after about every third word that is spoken another voice comes in your ear with the translation. Anyone else thinking Excedrin Headache # 99? Anyone else old enough to remember those ads?

I think the biggest thing for me though, would be the idea that I'm ON all the time...going to a dinner/party/point of interest with a smile on your face when what you really feel like is room service and some mindless TV. In spoken English please.

Just writing that makes me tired.
Which is why I'm not the one in a role like his.


Hubs has never met a stranger and has a special gift for making friends. He doesn't turn up his nose when an unrecognizable entree is set before him. He doesn't have to pretend to be interested because he really is interested. He's not afraid to experience something new every single day. He genuinely likes people and is good at making them laugh, even when he doesn't speak their language. Not speaking the language doesn't keep him from trying, believe me. This is met with varying degrees of success I should add, but his hosts always appreciate the effort. He embraces the differences in cultures around the globe and finds a way to bring people together. 'On' is pretty much his modus operandi no matter where he goes so this role he's in now is a good fit for him.


That being said, even someone who likes to meet life head on, at some point finds this sort of travel a little wearing. I gained a new appreciation for his work ethic and joie de vivre as he nudged me through Asia.

Yes, sometimes I have to be nudged.
Pulled actually.
Grabbed by the hand and dragged along for the ride.

Of course he knows this about me and understands that occasionally I have to be talked into the fun. Which is why he gave me pep talks for the days I'd be on my own and made things easy on the days we were together.

Note to self...when hubs returns from these long trips be nice. Not that I'm not nice, I'm always pretty nice, but sometimes I have my own agenda when he gets home after several days away. People ask me what are some of the challenges in having a spouse who travels a lot and I would say this is one of the challenges. Your other half has been going 24/7 across multiple time zones and needs to lie low for the weekend. You've been home with too much time on your hands and want to get out and do something. For the record-he is much better than I would be at getting out and doing something on the heels of a big trip.

I want to remember how I feel right now....home for almost two weeks and still a little foggy. A long to-do list at my fingertips but not really up for much more than making the bed, catching up on essential paperwork and laundry, and getting some sort of meal prepared.

Grateful for a husband who criss crosses the globe, lands stateside, then goes to work the very next day.

Without complaining.
Pretty sure that's the important part.

23 comments:

  1. I am amazed at how your hubs handles the international flying, time changes, language barriers, etc. too. My hubby traveled with Coca-Cola years ago in much the same way. Exhausting with a "capital E"! Even now he travels every Friday & Monday (and sometimes during the week) to be here. I have learned that "down time" for him is necessary...critical for sanity and for his sleep and refreshing the body. I don't schedule much to do on weekends and leave that up to him. PS: I think our husbands were made from the same mold.

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  2. What an amazing team you are. He travels, you hold down the home front. Sort of like our military families. Bless you both for what you do.

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  3. I truly don't know how your hubby does what he does! One of my closest friends has a husband who travels to Dubai and Mumbai constantly. He's gone for weeks at a time...and that's all they've ever known. My friend stays home and cares her her elderly mother-in-law and their 16 yr. old son. I stand in amazement of them both. I hate it when Chris is gone for 3-4 nights out of the week.

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  4. I have enjoyed the photos of your trip. I am glad you have the A-Z challenge to spotlight them and you have done a good job of it.

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  5. What a great tribute. I have great respect for people with that work ethic combined with a love for people. I would enjoy meeting him. My hubby travels a good bit as well ans goes to work the very next day without complaining. It really boggles my mind. The grace of God in our men's stamina needs to be celebrated!! Thanks for inspiring me.

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  6. Y'all are definitely a great team! I love the way you put each other first. I can't imagine you ever not being nice, Joyce. EVER.

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  7. Your Hubs sounds like a fine man!
    Thank you for taking us with you on your trip, you are a good traveling partner!

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  8. I think our husbands were definitely separated at birth! : )

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  9. I'm glad people like your husband exist to do jobs like his - so I don't have to! It would be fun once in a while but I can't imagine putting in the hours and miles he does.

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  10. Just reading about all of Daddy's travelling/work schedule makes me tired. I think we both know I would have a few words to say if I had to go to work the day after a trip like that. (Think back to me having to go to school and take a French exam the day after we arrived in England...)

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  11. What a nice post about your husband...he sounds like a great guy and I bet you miss him when he travels. Mine use to travel when we first married and it was an adjustment but glad he doesn't anymore....great 'k' post!

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  12. God bless your Hubs. I couldn't keep a pace like that for any length of time! He surely seems like the right man for his job!

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  13. I do not know how he does it. Or you, for that matter. It must be hard not having him home often. It's always good to appreciate your spouse and you did a wonderful post in showing that appreciation.

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  14. Great post about your husband! I'd be a mess if I had to travel like that. I feel like I'm trying to get back in the swing of things and we just went to Missouri. :)

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  15. Such a nice post for the Hubs! Does Hubs read your blog? :)

    That job does sound exciting, but I can imagine it would be quite exhausting.

    What's the grossest thing he has had to eat?

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  16. Awwww...that's such a sweet post! Now hubs needs to do it your way for 2 weeks...I don't think he could do it! :)

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  17. Kudos to your husband--and you, too. I don't know how either of you deal with all of the traveling, but I'm sure it keeps life exciting :)

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  18. Wow! That wears me out just reading it. My brother travels across the US like this and tells me how weary he grows. He just thinks he's weary!,

    Your Hubby sounds like a real trooper and a super guy!

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  19. I can relate to your husband... I feel like I am always on, and have never met a stranger... Just a friend I don't know yet... I frequently have to talk Paul into fun too... I always think "Why, he knows he will probably enjoy himself when we get there/do that, yet he is ever the reluctant pessimist!

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  20. his kind of travel would wear me out, too...especially at this stage in my life. Years ago I would haved LOVED to trapse thru many airports to go SEE and BE in other parts of the world...but not so much anymore.
    I've loved all your pictures!

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  21. Bless his heart when he does retire he will be lost. lol. I think it would be so hard, for you because he is always gone, but for him, because he lives out of a suitcase. I am so impressed the way both of you hold it together. I love it when you get to travel with him because we get to go too... hahaha.
    until next time... nel

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  22. Wonderful post about your husband.

    Susanne
    PUTTING WORDS DOWN ON PAPER

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  23. Joyce, I know exactly what you mean although Mark doesn't travel overseas as often your hubby does but he does travel all the time. I always think it's so exciting but he tires of it. Here I am at home wanting to go out to dinner and he just wants to stay home! Your husband has really seen the world. How does his body handle those time changes?

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