I’ve heard from a lot of expats who reluctantly have to be relocated to Europe that it could be difficult to adapt back to life in European cities again, some told me they got ‘’spoiled’ by the feeling of safety in Seoul, Tokyo Shanghai or like Hongkong, also the convenience such as accessibility to supermarkets, convenient stores etc. There could be more but that’s all I can recall.
So did you find it difficult or challenging once you go back to live in Europe, after experiencing Asian cities for several years, if not, i would be interested to know why as well.
I certainly don’t miss the smog of Seoul, or the yellow clouds blowing down from China.
Security is really an overblown concern, there are not many cities in Europe that are cutthroat. Cleanliness is a bigger difference, you do miss the squeaky clean metro and public places.
Convenience: I love kombinis as much as the next guy, but I also know what makes them possible is brutal hours and underpaid staff. Flashbacks of an elderly cashier at the supermarket next door in Tokyo, who had to stand all day and bow to each and every customer until her back was bent… I’m okay with not being able to buy a bento on a Sunday at 3 am if that means the store workers are not exploited and overworked.
What I miss, strangely, is population density. There’s a certain charm to rubbing elbows with thousands of strangers in lively streets at every time of night and day. But now that I have a family, living in a European city is hands-down better (work life balance, school system and child services…).