The return journey home is unique for everyone, including our editors; it’s a meaningful and essential part of the travel experience
The world is full of rich cultures and diverse ways of living that coming home after a trip, especially a long one, often feels like stepping into a new reality. When we travel, we choose places that we think we’ll love, places that inspire relaxation. What happens after we return home from that dream destination? Does home still feel like home? The return journey is unique for everyone; it’s a meaningful and essential part of the travel experience.
I remember coming home after a long trip and feeling overwhelmed by the chaos at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Just getting my luggage and making it through my ride home was loud and filled with so much chatter. Lagos is unlike most dream destinations — it’s rarely marketed as a place for relaxation, but its energy is part of what makes it so unforgettable.
While there are popular beaches, gourmet restaurants, hotels, luxurious spas and a well-known night scene, it is a fast-paced city and returning to it can be jarring. Although it took some time to adjust, I missed the food — and was excited to be returning to my weekly bowl of Egusi soup. Also, I always miss my family and friends whenever I am out of the country, even though I stay in touch. Returning home means being physically closer to them, and I cherish the short drive that separates us.
Even while I was away, home was always on my mind. Although I enjoyed exploring the new environments — calm and serene compared to Lagos — home never left my mind, especially the delicious delicacies. I wanted to know more about what others’ experiences were like when returning home, so I spoke to editors on our team, who had recently returned from their travels.
Wherever Denise goes, she brings home with her
A strong grounding in one’s culture and traditions can help make travelling away from home easy. For Denise, our Ag. Managing Editor, this rings true. “I come from riverine people, I am Ijaw, there is this saying that wherever there’s water, you can find an Ijaw person. And there are practically bodies of water everywhere in the world, so you can always find an Ijaw person somewhere,” she says.
Although not everyone thinks of home on a trip, Denise believes that it’s easy for her to be present in her travels. “I think of home as wherever I am in the moment. I’ve developed a global sense of belonging, so I make each place feel like home. When I travel, I’m fully present — immersed in the culture, the people, the experience. Of course, I think about my family, my siblings, or a loved one who’s far away, but thoughts of ‘home’ itself rarely linger.”
Coming home can be a reminder of how special home is — and for Denise, it reaffirms just how much she cherishes the space she’s intentionally created for herself. She is reminded of how much she enjoys the space she has carved out for herself. “Everytime I travel and come back, it reiterates how much of a peaceful sanctuary I’ve made my home and how much I love to spend time by myself.” The way Denise curates her space prioritising aromatherapy, makes returning home to it very special. “Opening the door, walking in, and just smelling my home is one of my favourite things about returning home from a trip. I love the way my home smells, I have lots of incense, diffusers and candles. It’s very pleasant.”
Denise is well aware that many parts of the world move at a completely different pace than Lagos — she’s used to the contrast by now. “In Lagos, you have to look 10,000 times before crossing the road,” she says with a laugh. “But elsewhere, there are zebra crossings and everyone actually stops for you.”
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For Wumi, every trip is an escape — but home will always have her heart
Wumi, our Fashion & Beauty Editor, is the kind of traveller who fully immerses herself in every moment. “When I’m away from home, it feels exciting,” she says. “There’s a buzz from the anticipation of new sights and experiences. It also feels freeing, like nothing can touch me; there’s a part of my brain that feels protected. The only time I think about home is when I check in with my loved ones and also share my experiences with them. I try not to think about it. In fact, I have a post on Instagram that says nothing prepares you for the reality of coming home after a trip. That’s how “lost in the moment” I get.”
Like many Nigerians, Wumi misses one major thing when travelling: the food. “I miss the range of options that I can easily get compared to when I’m travelling.”
Still, returning home to a city like Lagos can be daunting for many Nigerians, and for Wumi, it’s no different. “Whenever I return home, the perspective is always ‘We need to do better as a country.’ It’s sobering that things work elsewhere, but it feels like rocket science here.”
While some find the contrast between the dreamy travel destination and the familiar home jarring, Wumi takes it in stride. “I won’t say coming back home after a trip is a shock, I just go on and on about how Nigeria is lagging until I’m exhausted. My favourite thing about returning home is the familiarity of it all. You never feel that sense of belonging elsewhere. Yorubas say Ajo o dabi ole, meaning no matter where you travel to, it never feels like home.”
Tobi travels to disconnect — but home is where the reflection begins
For Tobi, our Content Editor travel offers a chance to disconnect from the demands of Lagos life and step into a calm, relaxed version of herself. “I hardly think of home when I’m on a trip,” she says. “I always feel like a different person, almost like my problems stayed back and didn’t travel with me.”
Even while enjoying her time away, Tobi stays connected to her community. “I live in Lagos, a deeply chaotic city. I hardly ever miss it when I’m away, but I still stay in touch with my friends and family back home; they keep me grounded,” she says.
No matter how far she goes, coming home always triggers a deep reflection on the country’s future. “The one thing I always think about is how much untapped potential we have in this city and country. It’s always a bit shocking coming home after a trip, for sure. Lagos is chaotic — loud, often dirty and very very crowded. It’s often jarring to come back from nice, tranquil beaches or high-rise hotels to the unapologetic chaos of Lagos.”
Although returning home may be jarring, Tobi takes comfort in having travelled out in the first place. “My favourite part of coming home is getting to revisit and relive the memories through pictures, videos or shared anecdotes with whomever I travelled with. It’s also getting to share those memories with the people back home, and also whatever gifts I brought back for them,” she says.
For Esther, getaways are refreshing but nothing compares to the familiarity of home
Being away from home always feels like a breath of fresh air for Esther, our Copy Editor. She loves choosing peaceful places that help her slow down and step away from the usual fast-paced life. When travelling, she stays completely in the moment — “soaking in the new environment, the people, the food, and the experiences.” For Esther, it feels freeing to be away, without constantly thinking about what’s going on back home. She likes giving herself that space to enjoy something different.
Still, even during the most amazing trips, there are little things she ends up missing, like the certainty of food from home. “Trying something new whenever I travel often comes with a bit of risk: what if it doesn’t taste good? What if it upsets my stomach?” She misses the comfort of familiar food and how easy everything feels at home, like knowing exactly where to go, what to eat, and how things work.
For Esther, coming back home is always a mix of emotions. Sometimes, after being somewhere that’s clean, quiet, and well-organised, home can feel a bit overwhelming. “It hits me that there’s still so much work to be done at home.” But even with all those feelings, she knows that there’s something special about the familiarity of home. “Even if it’s messy and imperfect, it’s mine. And that sense of belonging is what makes coming home truly special.”
