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Back from vacation: who do you call?
When you get back from vacation, who do you call to let them know that you're home safely and okay? Do you call the same people when you take off on vacation, too? Or do you just not let anyone know when/where you're traveling, so that you don't have to deal with it? I wonder if this has changed for some people since 9/11, as well...
Ktspktsp and I have traveled a lot while we've lived in Iceland, both domestically and internationally. When I traveled in the US, I always made a point of contacting both my mom and dad both (separately, since they don't live together) before taking off, and after arriving, to let them know that I was okay. I figure this is common courtesy to relieve my parents from worrying about me, and I don't mind doing it.
However, living in Iceland, I get requests to notify both my grandma and aunt (who live here) anytime I travel a significant distance, even within Iceland. So now I contact my mom, my dad, my aunt, and also my grandma--that's at least 4 phone calls and/or e-mails on each side of my trips (and if I don't call them--they find me somehow).
It gets a bit old, even though of course I know they mean well. Naturally, I feel most responsible to my parents, but I think my aunt and grandma see themselves as my "guardians" while I'm living in Iceland... nice thought, but I'm almost 29. I don't want to be disrespectful, but not sure how to tell them to bug off in a nice way.
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And think not you can direct the course of Love;
for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
--Khalil Gibran
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