Every trip back home feels like stepping into both familiar and foreign territory. After years of living abroad, I’ve started to see my home country through a different lens—almost like a tourist.
𝗔𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝘁𝘀, 𝘄𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗻𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝘀
➡️ One where we immerse ourselves in new cultures, languages, and ways of life.
➡️ Another where we hold onto the traditions, memories, and connections of our home country.
Recently, I visited Prague with a friend from my second home.
While walking the Královská cesta (Royal Route) and enjoying a traditional trdelník, I was yet again thinking about the lives of expats.
🌟 There are 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟳𝟬 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 expats 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲 (UN statistics)…
There is a growing acknowledgement in the research literature that 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 and that psychological support in the host country may alleviate distress for expatriates and facilitate their initial transition.
Additionally, 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝟱𝟬% 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲.
🛤️ Many expats, however, claim that living abroad as an expat family has been a rewarding journey, BUT it often comes with challenges:
𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲
Mastering a new language as an adult isn’t easy. It takes patience to embrace imperfections in speaking and writing. Even after years in Germany and over 25 years as an expat, I still feel a twinge of frustration when people correct my English, German, or meanwhile Czech🤷♂️
𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀
Raising children while adapting to a new culture is complex. Kids expect clear guidance, and we need to avoid the “us vs. them” mindset. Curiosity and an “observer’s mind” can open doors, but it takes time and energy to cultivate.
𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀
The need to belong is universal. Without it, feelings of loneliness or even depression can arise. Balancing two, three, or even four cultural identities takes intentional effort.
𝗡𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀
Holidays can be particularly hard, especially for first-time expats who are still adjusting.
I love my home visits; they remind me of my journey and how much I’ve grown. But they also raise a big question:
𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 “𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲” 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘂𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀?