Great article- I’m more or less the opposite to you as I’ve lived in the place where I was born most of my life. I’ve always felt somewhat not “good enough” because of it. I think I agree now that it’s not so much where you’ve lived / where you’ve been as what’s going on inside. Thank you for such an insightful post
I actually have mad respect for people who are truly happy to live in their hometown, or my favourite, people from the countryside who hate the city. Embracing our roots is so important, no matter where you end up living! Thanks for reading, Sue!
My husband has never lived anywhere else than the town he was born it. He's never felt the need to live somewhere else because everything he's ever wanted and needed is right there in that town. I've always flitted from place to place, trying to find something better (or worse: myself).
I really respect his mindset, and it has helped me settle into that town a lot easier (because obviously I moved in with him). He's at home in that town, and I'm at home where I feel loved.
I love this!! I can definitely relate, I moved away (to London and Berlin as well haha) in my early twenties and now am back in my hometown at 30, entirely by choice. Being away helped me appreciate things about this city that I was never able to see before. Thank you for sharing your experience and good for you that you aren’t having it anymore 🙏
As an Italian living abroad, I’ve heard my fair share of prejudices and racist remarks over the years. Strangely enough, they only deepened my pride in where I come from, eventually drawing me back R(H)ome—longing for the very things I once tried to leave behind.
I've said this a lot from experience too, nothing will make you appreciate and reconnect with your roots more than seeing them from a point of longing and emotional growth. It simply makes you see things differently. And how nice to be anywhere in the world but still love the land of your birth, even with every personal experience or trauma that can tie you to it in the same way.
True!! It’s a complex thing to feel happy somewhere else, but also long for and miss your home. I definitely appreciate my childhood so much more now that I’m older. Thanks for reading.
This. I see my experience reflected almost too closely in yours. I moved from Italy to London in 2015 and only lately have been feeling not just more nostalgic but also more appreciative of what makes the place where I grew up special. Thanks for making us expats feel seen!
Aww this was SO GOOD!! As I celebrate my 10 years, too, your words echo in me. I remember feeling exactly the same about big cities. Feeling the incredulity when meeting people who came from Milan, or who went to NY to study. IT seemed so grand compared to my small town. I wanted to come back with stories! I wanted to have access to everything! Now I wouldn't mind going home every other year and enjoy the small things XD
This was so beautiful! I think pride in where you're from does grow with time. I love the mountains of North Carolina, where I grew up going to summer camp, and the beaches, where I spent the rest of my summers. I was very unhappy in school, so I don't love my hometown in NC, but I definitely have state pride---there's so much beauty once you drive a few hours out of the suburban hellscape parts haha!
Thanks so much for reading, Caroline! I fully agree, it took a long time for this pride to grow for me, but I'm glad it finally did. I would actually love to visit the Carolinas, as well as other less-visited US states (from an outsider perspective) like Utah etc. If you ever want Ireland reccs, you know where to find me!
Great article- I’m more or less the opposite to you as I’ve lived in the place where I was born most of my life. I’ve always felt somewhat not “good enough” because of it. I think I agree now that it’s not so much where you’ve lived / where you’ve been as what’s going on inside. Thank you for such an insightful post
I actually have mad respect for people who are truly happy to live in their hometown, or my favourite, people from the countryside who hate the city. Embracing our roots is so important, no matter where you end up living! Thanks for reading, Sue!
My husband has never lived anywhere else than the town he was born it. He's never felt the need to live somewhere else because everything he's ever wanted and needed is right there in that town. I've always flitted from place to place, trying to find something better (or worse: myself).
I really respect his mindset, and it has helped me settle into that town a lot easier (because obviously I moved in with him). He's at home in that town, and I'm at home where I feel loved.
I love this!! I can definitely relate, I moved away (to London and Berlin as well haha) in my early twenties and now am back in my hometown at 30, entirely by choice. Being away helped me appreciate things about this city that I was never able to see before. Thank you for sharing your experience and good for you that you aren’t having it anymore 🙏
As an Italian living abroad, I’ve heard my fair share of prejudices and racist remarks over the years. Strangely enough, they only deepened my pride in where I come from, eventually drawing me back R(H)ome—longing for the very things I once tried to leave behind.
I've said this a lot from experience too, nothing will make you appreciate and reconnect with your roots more than seeing them from a point of longing and emotional growth. It simply makes you see things differently. And how nice to be anywhere in the world but still love the land of your birth, even with every personal experience or trauma that can tie you to it in the same way.
True!! It’s a complex thing to feel happy somewhere else, but also long for and miss your home. I definitely appreciate my childhood so much more now that I’m older. Thanks for reading.
This. I see my experience reflected almost too closely in yours. I moved from Italy to London in 2015 and only lately have been feeling not just more nostalgic but also more appreciative of what makes the place where I grew up special. Thanks for making us expats feel seen!
So happy this resonated with you! 💜
Aww this was SO GOOD!! As I celebrate my 10 years, too, your words echo in me. I remember feeling exactly the same about big cities. Feeling the incredulity when meeting people who came from Milan, or who went to NY to study. IT seemed so grand compared to my small town. I wanted to come back with stories! I wanted to have access to everything! Now I wouldn't mind going home every other year and enjoy the small things XD
Yes there’s something very special about the dull, boring things as well 💗 thanks for reading gal!
This was a pleasure to read. Thank you for writing it.
Thanks so much for your support, Paula! So glad you enjoyed it :)
This was so beautiful! I think pride in where you're from does grow with time. I love the mountains of North Carolina, where I grew up going to summer camp, and the beaches, where I spent the rest of my summers. I was very unhappy in school, so I don't love my hometown in NC, but I definitely have state pride---there's so much beauty once you drive a few hours out of the suburban hellscape parts haha!
Also I have ALWAYS wanted to visit Ireland - it looks so so beautiful!
Thanks so much for reading, Caroline! I fully agree, it took a long time for this pride to grow for me, but I'm glad it finally did. I would actually love to visit the Carolinas, as well as other less-visited US states (from an outsider perspective) like Utah etc. If you ever want Ireland reccs, you know where to find me!