As the title, I relocated to Switzerland 10 months ago.

In the beginning I had the usual normal anxieties of moving away from home for the first time. However as time went by, adapting to living in Switzerland became harder for me.

I feel a bit defeated because Switzerland is a beautiful place and there are so many good things I love about it, but I just cannot seem to be happy 😔 winter is now here and I feel a bit worse.

I am thinking of moving back to my home country. The thought of being back around my family, the things I love to do, my old friends is making me want to go back more and more. I had an easy life but my salary was not the best hence why I wanted to move.

Is it normal to regret? I am very disappointed in myself for feeling like giving up and going back. But I have been quite depressed for the last 7 months.

When I said the words out loud that I want to go back home I felt a huge sense of relief…however I am still hesitant to lose the opportunity to live here.

I am welcoming any advice you can share. Thank you everyone.

  • NoRamenPlease@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    That’s very relatable. When I moved to Japan I almost gave up after my first year. Extremely cold winter, scorching hot summer, far as fuck from my family, I didn’t speak a word in Japanese. I was done. Enough. Bye. One Sunday morning I woke up, called my parents and told them I would try staying one more year. I remember crying on the phone saying I was sorry (they were really looking forward to have me back home). That was almost 10 years ago. I learned that being an expat is a bittersweet experience. You miss your friends and family, but once you meet them you enjoy their company 1000x more. You learn how to value spring a bit more once you experience a harsh winter. You look forward for the first snow of the year after a 40°C afternoon in August. I still don’t understand A LOT of the lingo here but every time I go to the city hall and deal with the Japanese bureaucracy by myself it’s a little victory. My advice to you is:

    • winter is not forever
    • it’s normal to regret and have second thoughts
    • try to make plans that will make you look forward to be there next month (plan a road trip/ a concert you’d like to attend to/ whatever floats your boat)
    • your friends wouldn’t give up their goals/dreams because they miss you. Love and respect them but don’t give up on shit you fought for because of them (a bit harsh I know) If after that you still feel like going home, then maybe Switzerland it’s not for you. But give it a try. Good luck OP.