From Outsider to Belonging: My First Test Back Home

Sixty days back.

The chaos of arrival is over. The boxes are (mostly) unpacked, the wellness and fur-baby routines are set, and the kids are all where they are supposed to be.

Now comes the harder part: creating a life that fits the person I have become.

Coming “home” after years abroad is not as easy as it looks. The city feels the same, but I am not. That quiet shift is something only a few truly understand.

My first homecoming test came at an end-of-summer white party at our social club. We knew one couple. Just one. But they were busy reconnecting with old friends, and we didn’t want to hover on the edges of their circles. So, suddenly it was just the both of us together, alone. And for a moment, I wanted to retreat.

Instead, we chose to lean in. We walked up to strangers, shared our story, and listened to theirs. Soon enough, our newly formed friends were introducing us to their long time friends. And something shifted.

I remembered that everyone has a story. When you share yours, you build a bridge. When you listen to theirs, you become part of the collective.

Repatriating is not new for me. I've done it a handful of times. And each time I have to choreograph the moments. Even though I feel like a pro, I'm human, and there's that same pit in my stomach... until there isn't.

At sixty days, this is my reminder: discomfort is the doorway, and every transition holds both the fear of being lost and the gift of finding yourself again.

If you are in the middle of a transition... repatriation, a new role, or a new season of life...keep stepping forward. Your story has a place.

Let's create a bridge. I’d love to hear your story.