Thursday, November 19, 2009

Jet Lag

It is a widely recognized fact that jet lag was invented by Jules Verne.

In his beloved & classic novel Around the World in 80 Days, our hero Phileas Fogg wagers he can accomplish the title's feat and starts an eastward trek. Thinking he has failed returning a scant 5 minutes late, he and his faithful servant Passepartout retire to his home for some well desired rest. The following morning his despair turns to joy as he realizes that he's crossed the International Date Line gaining a day and rushes to just win the wager.

Yup, you heard right, jet lag was invented in 1873 when Aeronautics was the study of balloons.

Tomorrow I return from Thailand. A journey that took Phileas almost half of his 80 days will take 30 hours. However it will also take 13 hours since I leave at 8:15 am and arrive at 9:15 pm. I'm looking forward to being home and the fight with jet lag.

My darling children have been calling be Future Man as Thai time is 12 hours ahead of home. I am therefore in the future and have special powers although they have yet to manifest. This has actually been a convenient time difference as I can connect with them in my morning - their night and vice versa.

But how real is jet lag? I'm running on 4 hours sleep right now so can't I figure out a plan to adapt to the new time zone within 24 hours of being home? Is it that people just don't try, don't plan in advance or even worse, use it as a crutch to get out of stuff they really just don't want to do anyway? I'm not sure but for the first time I'm going to spend 10 minutes and make a plan to return to full functionality within 24 hours.

Jules Verne - you've just met your match.