Being an expat is like carrying two worlds within you, both deeply intertwined yet often conflicting. In today’s uncertain political climate, that sense of displacement can feel even more intense. As an intercultural psychologist, I’ve seen firsthand how this emotional balancing act takes a toll on those far from home, navigating not only new cultures but also the turbulence of global instability.
When you leave your home country, you don’t just leave behind a place—you leave behind the framework through which you understood yourself. Your language, your customs, your very way of seeing the world becomes part of a distant past, and in its place is the challenge of creating a new version of yourself. It’s exhilarating but also deeply unsettling.
Add to that the chaos of the political world—the changing borders, rising nationalism, and the growing uncertainty about what’s coming next. Suddenly, as an expat, you’re no longer just someone from another place; you’re an outsider in a world that seems to be pulling apart. The fear of political shifts, the possibility of being turned away, or the loss of your sense of safety make the world shake beneath you and you feel all alone.
And yet, despite all of this, there’s a strange kind of beauty in the expat experience. It forces you to build a new kind of resilience, to adapt not only to the world around you but to yourself. You learn to weave together your old identity with your new one, creating something uniquely yours. It’s messy, it’s complex, but it’s real.
In these uncertain times, it’s important to remember that there’s no right way to feel. The homesickness, the loss of belonging, the frustration—it’s all part of the journey. The trick is finding ways to stay grounded. Surround yourself with a community, hold onto the traditions that matter to you, and be gentle with yourself when it gets tough. It’s okay not to have all the answers.
If anything, the expat journey teaches us that identity is fluid and ever-changing, and in that fluidity, there is freedom. In the face of uncertainty, we are forced to become more than just survivors. We are sculptors of our own lives, finding strength in the cracks between two worlds. And that, in itself, is something truly extraordinary.