#34. Homesick? Anxious? Stuck? 3 Mindset Shifts to Reclaim Your Joy Abroad

To share your own migration story or feedback email  [e-mail] 

This compelling podcast dives into Expat and immigrant women (and men) stories. Those who immigrate to the USA, tackling the struggles of homesickness, identity crisis, and culture shock in the USA while adjusting to expat life and navigating cultural differences. Through conversations on starting over, reinventing yourself, and finding purpose, it highlights success stories of women's tenacity, and the resilience of expats in the USA. It offers insights into bicultural identity, language barriers, and the challenges of living overseas. The podcast emphasizes the importance of a strong support system and wellbeing for women in pursuit of the American dream.

https://www.instagram.com/theplaces_wecallhome

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
What if the key to thrivingabroad isn't just where you
live, but how you feel inside?
In this episode, I'm sharingthree powerful takeaways that
shifted my perspective and mightjust change yours too, from
grounding rituals to emotionalindependence.
Let's explore what it reallymeans to feel at home wherever

(00:23):
you are.
Welcome to starting over in theUSA, the Expat Woman's Guide to
overcoming homesickness,embracing cultural differences,
and creating a new home awayfrom home.
On this podcast, we talk aboutleaving behind the familiar, you
know, the pangs of homesicknessand culture shock to the

(00:44):
journeys of reinventingyourself.
I'm Yolanda Reshemah.
And after relocating six times,I know firsthand what it's like
to start from scratch, feelinglike both a foreign child and a
foreign adult in a new world.
hello my friend.
This is officially my returnfrom that long summer break

(01:09):
we'll be going back to a regularschedule of two episodes per
week, one on Wednesday, whichwill be interviews with guests.
And on Friday you'll be gettingtools, tips and strategies to
help you in our new home abroad.
In today's episode, I'll beharking back to that discussion
with Dr.

(01:29):
Veronique episodes.
30 and 31.
There are a few things that shesaid that I want to pull out
because they've been on my mindand I keep playing over and
over, and it's always the sameKey things for me.
First being present smallrituals you and I can introduce
into our lives today to help usstay grounded.

(01:53):
The other thing I want to drawyour attention to is our
discussion around psychologicalindependence as opposed to being
codependent- relying on friendsand structures to take hold of
opportunities in makingdecisions and moving abroad is
one of those decisions.
My last big takeaway is simplythis, the weather inside.

(02:18):
Is the weather outside?
Why that is, and what it means.
Let's get into it.
There are many things my guest,Dr.
Veronique shared with us onepisode 30 that will stay with
me she shared a number of toolsthat she recommends we try.
The first being, taking deepbreaths, the second spending at

(02:41):
least 20 minutes a day in greenspaces.
But the third, the one I reallywant to bring your attention to
this idea of daily smallpleasures, and she gave an
example if you are having acoffee.
Don't just drink the coffee, buttake time, be present.

(03:02):
Sip your coffee.
Enjoy the aroma, the taste,enjoy everything about it.
Don't just guzzle it as youcheck your emails.
I'm not a coffee drinker, I am abig tea drinker.
I love my Earl Greys and my lapSan Ong and the rest of it.

(03:22):
but my favorite thing is to sitin my kitchen with dark
chocolate filled with gingercinnamon and orange peels
Whenever I break a chunk off.
I am present in the moment.
I roll it around my tongue.
And that is so pleasing, butit's something so simple.

(03:44):
That is what I'm taking away.
Also, 20 minutes of quiet timeper day to meditate and help you
return to yourself.
I interpret that as meaning.
Shut down the phone, the laptop,turn the TV off, and I get that.
I feel that sense of quiet andthat sense of calm when, when

(04:08):
I'm reading the word, when I'mreading any book, when I'm
sitting in my garden, thinkingabout nothing.
If that's even possible but forme it is.
Saying nothing, doing nothing,just being quiet.
There is a great sense oftranquility and it's
restorative, but I also realizethat these tools aren't just

(04:29):
about managing stress.
The tools are great, but thebiggest takeaway for me is what
she said about psychologicalindependence.
I've now come to learn that whenwe move abroad, we create
distance so that we canintentionally become
independent.
It's a way of creating distancefrom the people and the systems

(04:52):
around us that define us.
Who influence the way we think,the way we speak, the clothes we
wear, our beliefs even.
.When we tell ourselves, oh mygoodness, I can't do it.
I can't move abroad because I'mgonna miss my mom.
I'm gonna miss my dad, my aunts,I'm gonna miss the cats.
I'm gonna miss the pub.

(05:13):
I'm gonna miss the shops and thelifestyle, everything.
We do that, we talk ourselvesout of this opportunity of
seeing what's beyond the bordersthat we have created for
ourselves, and that is about ourability to trust our own
opinions, our ability to makedecisions all by ourselves, for
ourselves, and to handle the bigissues, to handle the challenges

(05:38):
that we face.
It's about our ability to feelgood in our own skin.
And to stop outsourcing our ownworth.
We can trust our own opinions.
The last takeaway brings meabsolute joy as well.

(05:58):
Dr.
Veronica said.
The weather inside is theweather outside.
Whoever you are, whatever stateyou are in, when you relocate
abroad, you travel with all ofyour skills, your abilities, but
also your hangups.
However you are feeling in yourcountry of origin, you will also
feel that in your newenvironment.

(06:20):
Take care of how you are feelinginternally first.
I would say my discussions withDr.
Veronique brought for me a lotof clarity.
It reminded me that the USA,this place that I never imagined
calling home is where I became amom.
It's where I deliver theseepisodes and it's where I have

(06:42):
become brave enough to do thetwo step down the aisle, in the
supermarket, just for a littlebit.
If you are considering moving oryou're living abroad, ask
yourself.
Do you feel good in your ownskin?
Are you trusting yourself, yourown opinions?

(07:02):
And what small pleasures willyou allow yourself starting
today?
Before we go, I want to inviteyou into a small moment of
presence.
If you have something nearby,like a cup of tea, um, a piece
of chocolate, or even a slice offruit, I'm inviting you to pause

(07:23):
with it.
Just let it sit on your tongue,taste it, feel it, and let it
remind you that joy doesn't haveto be loud.
It can be quiet and it can beyours.
This is your reminder that youshould feel good in your skin,
and you should trust yourselfwherever you are in the world.

(07:45):
That's it from me today.
Download the link and share itwith your expat woman friend who
needs to be part of thiscommunity.
We'll speak soon.
Bye.