Yes, this is probably a common thing for those who spend large portions of their time outside their home country--and the feelings are probably mixed depending on what those countries are and who the people are and where they have been living. I'm an American senior and left the States in my early 20's--not returning to live in the States until three years ago, when my family had some health problems to face and needed my help. I thought it would be permanent and burned my bridges to a degree. I have found it hard to adjust--I miss the feeling of community, an easy relaxed feeling in family centered cultures, special smiles with simple village people, outdoor markets where vendors and customers know each other, real life fragrance and smells, and am appalled by a current clear sense of divisiveness in the States as well as entitlement. There are lovely people everywhere and hate to sound negative, but my family is better now and I'm moving on--preparing to live in Bosnia this time. I have never been in this part of the world and am excited about all the other countries that are a hop, skip and a jump away. Very different from Africa, from India and the Far East where I have spent most of my life--though perhaps a bit similar to Russia and Kyrgyzstan where I spent a few years. Let's see.
Yes, this is probably a common thing for those who spend large portions of their time outside their home country--and the feelings are probably mixed depending on what those countries are and who the people are and where they have been living. I'm an American senior and left the States in my early 20's--not returning to live in the States until three years ago, when my family had some health problems to face and needed my help. I thought it would be permanent and burned my bridges to a degree. I have found it hard to adjust--I miss the feeling of community, an easy relaxed feeling in family centered cultures, special smiles with simple village people, outdoor markets where vendors and customers know each other, real life fragrance and smells, and am appalled by a current clear sense of divisiveness in the States as well as entitlement. There are lovely people everywhere and hate to sound negative, but my family is better now and I'm moving on--preparing to live in Bosnia this time. I have never been in this part of the world and am excited about all the other countries that are a hop, skip and a jump away. Very different from Africa, from India and the Far East where I have spent most of my life--though perhaps a bit similar to Russia and Kyrgyzstan where I spent a few years. Let's see.