Lately I have been reading a lot of posts about expats and what they consider home. In these difficult times which we are living, there is big migration. Some people going back to their home country while others are leaving in search of ‘shelter’ from this economic storm.
Once a person decides to expatriate their home, I think there will always be some ‘missing’ for home, but over the years that gets less and eventually disappears as your new expat country becomes home. But many of us expats are also guilty of making the comparisons for many years after we leave between our home and our new country, often over criticising or praising, giving us a incorrect view, based on our emotions.
Good topic to raise Christine and interesting article.
I love this quote
"Live where you are planted, or plant yourself where you are living. Such is the life of the long-term expat. We need to learn to live with uncertainty. We must use the ability to adapt and be flexible, required characteristics of all successful expats, to be at home and make a home wherever we are."
It is very hard to go back to anywhere (or any situation); as you comment things have always changed and more importantly our new experiences have shaped and developed us too. We are not who we were.
Where we come from will always feel "safe" particularly with our native language, places which are familiar and the close proximity of family and friends. However I have experienced being viewed differently when I visit my old home (mainly friends and family who don't quite get the "why" of living abroad).
My own feeling is that once you become an expat you are in for a serial life of being an expat!