Becoming an expat is one of the bravest things you can do, and it opens your eyes to a way of life that can make you a better, happier person. Thanks for sharing!
Loved reading this and can relate somewhat relocating from Scotland to - yes, London. A less exotic move but a mental shift to make a new home nonetheless.
I do feel I've found a little corner of London that doesn't scream "Sunday scaries" however. Instead pubs and restaurants are buzzing every night of the week (maybe we have post Covid hybrid working to thank - got to take the positives where we can right?!), people know our names (and drinks orders) and it's the perfect mix of a close knit community and a constant source of creativity and events!
As an expat living in Sydney with part of my soul scattered between Sydney and Dublin, I really loved this! Family is in Ireland but Sydney is happy home, especially now they’ve started importing Tayto 😉
I came across this Substack by chance and so happy I did!
I feel like we have lived a similar life. Born in London - but from 1 YO moved around all the Channel Islands/Isle of Man/Spain before landing back for 6th form and Uni, followed by a big stint in London.
Made the move to Brooklyn 2 years ago with the “I’ll be back in 2 years” mentality, and here I am not planning the removal vans anytime soon.
This made my feelings feel very validated - thank you ♥️
I totally understand the London Sunday Scaries, I still get thrust back into that world when I go for work, but in Cumbria and the rural north, we have exactly the kind of life where every day is a new adventure and a chance to explore solo or call up a friend for an impromptu day out or evening.
I felt this when I moved "home" to New York after years in Paris. I'd proudly label myself a New Yorker while aboard but actually living here again was a difficult series of reverse-culture shocks that left me in tears on the subway more times than I could count. After 7 years I've mostly made peace with New York but yet my trip to Paris next month feels a bit like finally going home even if just for a week.
I just spent a month in Spain life swapping with a friend in London and it lit up and soothed my soul in so many ways I’ve realised London hasn’t been for a little while now. The way you talk about the sense of discovery and get up and go you feel when you go somewhere new and seeking a new sense of life and belonging in a place is exactly what i think I’m seeking. And strangely nyc has been calling for a while! Thank you for this piece, I strongly believe in resonating with things at the right place and right time and this is one of those moments.
“but being able to be blissfully unaware is what being ‘home’ is all about. “
As an American living in France and still learning the language I totally agree with this! I find not being able to hear the small talk around me turns the soundtrack of my day to day activities into soothing white noise.
I completely agree - and this sentiment reminds me of the quote, 'Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.'
I find myself wondering if I will move back to the UK (I’ve been in Canada for 12 years) but then I spend time with British people and I find the mentality so cramped and stifling, I couldn’t be around that 24/7
I lived in Aberdeen for a year, and we didn’t even have a Waitrose, and it was not a happy season for a cook like me as Sainsbury’s was the best we had. 😵💫😵💫 There were some very friendly folks there, but the weather was AWFUL . Lovely read 🌸
Is that the UK you're thinking of, or London?
Becoming an expat is one of the bravest things you can do, and it opens your eyes to a way of life that can make you a better, happier person. Thanks for sharing!
Loved reading this and can relate somewhat relocating from Scotland to - yes, London. A less exotic move but a mental shift to make a new home nonetheless.
I do feel I've found a little corner of London that doesn't scream "Sunday scaries" however. Instead pubs and restaurants are buzzing every night of the week (maybe we have post Covid hybrid working to thank - got to take the positives where we can right?!), people know our names (and drinks orders) and it's the perfect mix of a close knit community and a constant source of creativity and events!
An ideal home (for now...)
Sounds encouraging! Where is this place you speak of?
As an expat living in Sydney with part of my soul scattered between Sydney and Dublin, I really loved this! Family is in Ireland but Sydney is happy home, especially now they’ve started importing Tayto 😉
I came across this Substack by chance and so happy I did!
I feel like we have lived a similar life. Born in London - but from 1 YO moved around all the Channel Islands/Isle of Man/Spain before landing back for 6th form and Uni, followed by a big stint in London.
Made the move to Brooklyn 2 years ago with the “I’ll be back in 2 years” mentality, and here I am not planning the removal vans anytime soon.
This made my feelings feel very validated - thank you ♥️
Ps love Hudson, what a beautiful place! Especially at this time of year
LOVE this!! I live in Glasgow for 10 years before moving back to the States. GOD, I miss Waitrose!!
I totally understand the London Sunday Scaries, I still get thrust back into that world when I go for work, but in Cumbria and the rural north, we have exactly the kind of life where every day is a new adventure and a chance to explore solo or call up a friend for an impromptu day out or evening.
Not even Waitrose is what it used to be … just a shadow version of itself! So there you go, America wins on all accounts 😅
I felt this when I moved "home" to New York after years in Paris. I'd proudly label myself a New Yorker while aboard but actually living here again was a difficult series of reverse-culture shocks that left me in tears on the subway more times than I could count. After 7 years I've mostly made peace with New York but yet my trip to Paris next month feels a bit like finally going home even if just for a week.
As a Brit that relocated to Sydney eight years ago, I feel this in my bones! Thank you so much for such an eloquent piece of work x
I just spent a month in Spain life swapping with a friend in London and it lit up and soothed my soul in so many ways I’ve realised London hasn’t been for a little while now. The way you talk about the sense of discovery and get up and go you feel when you go somewhere new and seeking a new sense of life and belonging in a place is exactly what i think I’m seeking. And strangely nyc has been calling for a while! Thank you for this piece, I strongly believe in resonating with things at the right place and right time and this is one of those moments.
Got to listen to your gut and make ‘home’ wherever home feels right!
“but being able to be blissfully unaware is what being ‘home’ is all about. “
As an American living in France and still learning the language I totally agree with this! I find not being able to hear the small talk around me turns the soundtrack of my day to day activities into soothing white noise.
Haha - yes that’s one way to avoid it too. I think ‘small talk’ (i.e bitching) breeds from bored people at home with nothing better to do!
I completely agree - and this sentiment reminds me of the quote, 'Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.'
I find myself wondering if I will move back to the UK (I’ve been in Canada for 12 years) but then I spend time with British people and I find the mentality so cramped and stifling, I couldn’t be around that 24/7
Welcome home!
Born in the Midwest I could never go back (it’s practically a foreign country) and I am proud to be a New Yorker!!
Love visiting Hudson for a touch of “country.”
I lived in Aberdeen for a year, and we didn’t even have a Waitrose, and it was not a happy season for a cook like me as Sainsbury’s was the best we had. 😵💫😵💫 There were some very friendly folks there, but the weather was AWFUL . Lovely read 🌸
Thank you for this, I really relate 😊