Nobody will like to carry a heavy backpack, but things are different especially
when you travel abroad. The size of your backpack is getting bigger and bigger
when you travel for a long time.
I have an unforgettable experience regarding heavy backpack when I went to Europe
in 2000.
My travel was almost finished when I took a train from Paris to Zurich, Switzerland which was my last destination before flying back to Korea.
In Paris, before going to Switzerland, I had to buy all presents for family, friends, and even my students. My housewives class used to collect some money whenever I left for backpacking. So I decided to buy some French cheese that we couldn’t find easily in Korea. Some cheese coated with wax got all my attention. They looked like jewels.
I kept choosing all kinds of beautifully wrapped cheese. My big mistake was that
I didn’t realize how heavy they were.
The next day I took a subway in Paris to the train station to catch a train for Zurich. I could barely carry the heavy backpack.
Once I got on the subway, I put down my backpack. When I heard the next stop was
the train station where I had to get off, I had to lift it to carry on my back again. Oh, no! I almost got pulled back and fallen on the floor of the subway by the weight of the backpack. All of the passengers were watching me. I felt very embarrassed. One of the passengers stood up and helped me.
When I arrived in Zurich that night, I had to find a motel. Each step with the backpack was torturing me. I desperately wanted to be free from the backpack. The heavy backpack ruined my last minute pleasure!
Since that time, my number one rule while traveling is not to buy much unless it is very light or I really need it.
Since I came back from Paris, my new favorite food has been smelly cheese : ) The strong smell reminds me of Korean anchovy sauce.
I thought a hernia was when a organ or part of abdominal cavity slips out of place because of too much straining. Then the doctors have to push it back in place or get surgery. Anyways its very painful.
At least the cheese didn’t rot and start smelling like butt.
haha, hernia? I’ve never heard they may get the disease if they carry heavy things.
Wow you’re lucky you didnt get a hernia. I hope everyone really really appreciated the cheese! I’m used to carrying a heavy backpack from the groceries, but I can’t imagine carrying all that weight throughout a vacation. You a tough lady. :)
Z