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?
Im very happy but be aware that the first five years is just a mix of adventure, frustration and depression. Someone told me years ago to make a rule to NOT move back during those years. Fight it out.
They were right but the danger of doing that is never wanting to move back anymore. And constantly feeling conflicted between the two countries. Your home country WILL change significantly while youre gone and things will become foreign to you - yes even in the US.