Going abroad and actually living in Australia for 6 years was pure excitement. Meeting new people, visiting new places, experiencing new cultures, spending most of my time outdoors and just in general living in the most beautiful part of the world was incredible. I became more open minded because I left everything I knew behind and was forced to get out of my own comfort zone.
Besides all the excitement of living in the most beautiful part of the world I had already caught the travel bug and decided to leave Australia to do some traveling in South America, Europe and eventually living some time in my home country Germany. When I eventually returned to Germany I expected that things were the same as when I left. I spend the first few weeks with family and friends until the daily life kicked in and I realized how much had changed. Life of family and friends changed and moved on without me. I had developed new attitudes and beliefs, new things were important to me and I lost old habits that i was happy about that i lost them. My perceptions, how I saw things and people, changed. Home was not what it used to be and I was not the same person anymore.
I was not surprised to read on various blogs that many repatriates find it harder to fit back in. I expected the transition into the unfamiliar when moving abroad but I didn’t see the culture reverse shock coming. That sense of being in limbo, neither here nor there.
I am still missing the foreign experience and with that my constant curiosity. The sense of being alert and awake all the time. I am missing my new friendships and places that over the time became familiar. My life in Australia and traveling broadened my horizons, made me more open-minded and has shown me what truly matters in life.
Readjusting to life in my home country still feels like a rollercoaster of emotions. Looking forward one day and back the other. It feels like I am always missing somewhere. I am not sure if I can ever put down roots permanently for once in my life. I still have the desire to move back abroad and to discover the world. Until then, I am seeing my current home through the eyes of a tourist, with curiosity for new places around me.
For now i will continue on a journey about discovering myself, finding out what I feel good with, finding the right balance.
Leave a Reply