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I've decided I want to remain an expat
I've been in North America on holidays since the end of June and I've realized on this trip that I'm actually very happy living life as an expat in France.
It feels so good to finally realize this. Even at the beginning of June I wanted to move back to Canada!
One thing that has helped me come to this is hearing about my friends and relatives lives. Not one person I've spoken with here (besides my parents) has said to me that they are happy, my friends have actually all (on separate occasions) complained in detail about their lives (husbands, kids, jobs, house etc...).
Has anyone else noticed this?
I feel that my life overseas isn't boring at all. There is always something interesting to discover or people to meet. My friends in France all seem very happy with life and are always ready to have fun and not just go home from work and sit on the couch.
Re: I've decided I want to remain an expat
#1-BFP 08-22-09 ~ M/C 08-31-09 at 5 weeks 6 days
#2-BFP 08-6-11 ~ Due 04/18 ~ born via c-section April 22, 2012
My Blog
Glad to have you back and happy!
I absolutely understand where you are coming from. While I think I would rather be an expat in Europe instead of Australia (there's just more to do , see and experience there), I have every intention of remaining an expat. I have no desire to move back to the states.
I agree with you. I love my life. It's funny how being around people who have what you think you want and aren't happy about it puts things into perspective.
*edited for spelling.
Absolutely.
I have no desire to return to the US now (I think I'd be happy never returning, but I don't think FH feels that way). Sadly, we may have to return after our time in Tstan is up if we can't find a good deal anywhere else.
ETA - we could stay in Turkmenistan as long as we want, but I am way too cut off from the outside world here. Crappy internet, BBC, CNBC, Facebook are blocked, crappy healthcare, really far away from any friends... it's just not somewhere I want to be long term. I want to remain an expat, but not on these terms.
What an amazing realization to have made! I'm hoping to have some self-discovery on my upcoming trip to the US as well.
Do you think that you guys will remain in France permanently then?
I know that my friends and family in the US don't have it perfectly, and many of them are also complaining about their lives but I have a similar situation as Jeanine. I want to be an expat for at least a few years longer, but not in the exact situation we're in now.
I'm so not ready to give up the 5 weeks of vacation, part-time career opportunities, affordable education programs, and great healthcare. I am ready to be done with the distance from my family-especially my mom, but it's possible that when I start going home 3-4 times a year that this will get better.
Most likely. We are going to start looking to buy a house in the next year. I'd love to move back to Asia, but H doesn't want to, plus he has his business in France.
H's parents have decided to "move" to France. His dad arrives in September to look for an apartment, then they will spend their time between Canada and France. So at least we won't have to worry about travelling to visit them anymore.
The hardest part is visiting my parents and brother. I felt so guilty since having M about living so far away. That was the main reason why I wanted to move back. I spoke to my mom about it and she told me not to feel that way and that of course it's hard, but that we'll manage to see each other when we can.
What a weight lifted.
Its a good feeling when you finally realize where you feel most comfortable.
I've been in the States for a week now. I'm so happy being with my dad, but realized that if I ever move back here, I will suffer seriously with culture shock.
Its nice to feel comfortable with where you are and knowing that for the time being, it is really the best for you and your family.
I'm glad you figured it out for yourself, it so much better to discover what you want this way than being forced with a decision.
I've grown to accept the fact that I'm far away from family and friends. My big 'I really don't need to move to the States' moment was accidentally timed perfectly with FH and myself getting serious. I visited my parents, and while I used to always be booked solid with friends to meet up with and things to do, I wasn't that time. A couple of people bailed on me and I came to realize that I only saw the rest when I went out clubbing or so. They'd always meet up at clubs or bars, but never really made time for me.
Only 2 close friends remained and took the effort and have ever since. My family doesn't live close to my parents, so I still wouldn't see them much if I moved to the US. I just had the a-ha moment: Am I really going to give up healthcare, vacation time, better social security, education and all that for just 2 friends. Friends who've remained loyal and who I still talk to and hang out with and all that on both sides of the pond.
My food blog
What I'm looking forward to in 2012:
Eating our way through (northern) Italy on vacation
<a href="http://www.thenest.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Home DHow do you feel about H's parents moving to France? Do you have a good relationship with them? Ideally in the future I'd really like to be able to split my time between to places as well, but we're young and I know we have a lot of hard-work to put in before we're in the position to be able to do this while still accomplishing our other goals.
It is incredibly hard having a child so far away from family. My heart breaks at the thought that C will most likely not have the same close-knit relationship with my family that I do if we stay here, but NLFoodie made great points about all of the other benefits of being over here.
You'll have to keep us updated when you guys start looking for a house. I love house-hunting and can live vicariously through you.
Also, very happy that your mom was so understanding.
I get along really well with his parents, but I am a bit apprehensive about his mom butting into our lives a bit too much. Luckily they will stay with SIL until they find their own place.
I am a bit jealous though that they will get to spend so much more time with M than my parents will. But I know that's just immature on my part.