So, you’re time living abroad is coming to an end and you’ll be returning home. Whether you loved every minute of living abroad or if there were a lot of ups and downs, you’ll want to take the final days and weeks to soak up the last moments, take a mental picture to remember it all. Living abroad changes you and challenges you, so taking the time to reflect as well as the time to soak up the final moments is essential to closing a chapter in your life.

If you’re considering moving abroad, then you should probably prep yourself for the emotional roller coaster that comes with becoming an expat. You need to know what you’re in for before you make that final decision to book a one way ticket. If you’re about to read this blog, then you’ve probably already made that final decision to book a ticket and just doing your research.

Since moving to Germany 4 6 years ago, I continuously seem to have one main conversation whenever I meet someone new. It goes something like this:

Friend/Student/Stranger: “Where are you from?”

Me: “I’m from California”

Friend/Student/Stranger: “WHY did you move to Germany?”

In the summer of 2012, I made my solo journey, with a one way ticket to Germany to teach English abroad and travel through Europe. I had planned to stay for no more than 5 years, but not less than 1.

But suddenly my life changed and I found myself staying longer than planned. And now, the internal fight of where “home” is ping pongs my heart back and forth.