S2EP1: Romanticizing Abroad (*even when you know better)

Ever catch yourself missing that abroad life—despite knowing you struggled just to survive it? In Season 2, Episode 1 of Wannabe Americana, we dig into why returnees often romanticize the places they once called home—everlasting nostalgia blurring the reality.

Join me as we unpack:

• The bittersweet fog of “reverse culture shock” – why home isn’t what we remember (or imagined)

• Why the “abroad fantasy” persists, even when you moved back knowing it wasn’t all glamorous

• The tension between missing the energy, freedom, and novelty of abroad—and needing to slow down, be present, and build where you are

• Real talk on how to move forward: small steps, real acceptance, & letting go of comparing your life to someone else’s memories

Stories from Reddit that hit home:

“Honestly the grass is always greener. I recently moved back… now all I want to do is go back… the feelings of FOMO will pass eventually.”

“This is the curse of being an expat. You never fully fit into your new place, but you also no longer fully fit into where you came from.”

Subscribe, like, and hit the bell to follow the journey of unlearning heavier-than-life expectations—and finally existing where you are, one step at a time. Drop your own returnee story in the comments—I want to hear your "I miss abroad, but…" moments.

Keywords: romanticizing abroad, reverse culture shock, returnee struggles, missing abroad, diaspora nostalgia, moving home, expat FOMO, Wannabe Americana S2