I’m about to embark on my own journey as an expat. I’ll be living in Paris with my EU husband.
I speak good French and having lived in France twice before for 9-mo stints each, I am familiar enough with French culture to empathize with the negative and positive critiques that people share on this subreddit. In other words, I know what to expect.
Nonetheless I am still nervous about the move; fitting in, finding a community, finding my tribe. I’m nervous about feeling like I’ve made a colossal mistake to sell everything and move here.
The truth is is that reading this subreddit does not make me féel very optimistic. I read posts lamenting the move abroad, the regrets you have, the challenge adapting, and none of which are unwarranted! I get it Expat life is difficult!
……But my question is…is there anyone here who is happy with their decision to have moved abroad?
I’ve lived in several countries now, and my happiness levels varied. I have lived in four countries outside the US over the past 15 years, and I’m batting .500. Things to keep in mind: you can’t change cultures, you can only change yourself. You can’t change the number of other expats in any given area, you can only change how you interact with the ones that are there, and by extension how you integrate into the local community. But you know all that, since you’ve been there twice for extended stays.
I think you carry an advantage vs. some who’ve had bad experiences - you’ve already been there, 9 months at a time. You didn’t expatriate after a nice holiday or after a two week business trip. Your eyes are open as to what you’ll face. Don’t worry.