Keeping the European holiday vibe going back here at home

What an amazing journey we have had these last six weeks travelling in Europe.

We are now home, back to our regular routines around the house. I am happy to have the stability and comforts of home, but there is a bit of culture shock after our long absence.

How does one get over a change? Obviously, we can’t live in “holiday mode” all the time—there needs to be some balance in life for it to be sustainable. With that in mind, I’m not thinking “back to the grindstone” of everyday life. Rather, I’m planning to inject a dose of this culture I’ve enjoyed as a regular way to keep things interesting.

My first gesture is to add long walks into our regular weekly routine. We walked between 25,000 and 35,000 steps each day on our trip and we enjoyed being outside in the fresh air. At home, we don’t do that many steps every day, but with winter coming, I want to create the habit of being out and enjoying the scenery. (If I start now, I am less likely to wimp out when it gets cold.)

The next thing Hubbie and I agreed to is scheduling a day, on a regular basis, when we speak French at home. That way we’ll have a chance to keep practicing our language skills with a bit of homemade immersion. Duolingo is great but immersion is what seals the deal in improving our skills. I can’t afford to go back to Paris every week, but I can recreate the ambience (See, I’m already using French words.)

The other part of immersion is exposing oneself to the culture, so I plan on keeping that up, too. I’m going to research some French recipes and try them. I would like to learn more regional dishes and by doing it in French, I’ll brush up on my cooking vocabulary at the same time. I can post my favourites in English, if you want.

There is one catch to trying more recipes. I think it would be tough to eat much more food than I already do. I’m hoping to start up a dinner club with some others who want to cook and share ideas (Think potluck meals combined with ”Somebody Feed Phil”. If you haven’t seen this show on Netflix, it’s a great combination of foodie fun and travel ideas.)

Lastly, I want to keep alive that sense of adventure I tapped into on holiday. That means more tourist-in-my-own-town activities and being spontaneous about enjoying my surroundings, whatever the weather.

I know that for me, it’s a great way to keep my energy and enthusiasm fuelled when I feel blah, and it helps me remember to be grateful for what I already have.

I know everyone is on the heels of Thanksgiving. So, does that mean you want a break from rich food? I know that for me it means gratitude is top of mind. That makes me think of dishes that showcase our wonderful fall harvest.

If your culinary sense of adventure needs a pick-me-up, here is a recipe I love at this time of year. Plum Torte works for brunch or dessert, or anywhere in between if I’m serving it.

Italian plums are called Quetsches in France. That was my nickname when I lived there as a student. They work wonderfully in this dish.

I hope its simplicity and diversity will inspire you to create your own immersive experience with a friend or loved one.

Bon appetit.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.