After Living Abroad for Many Years, i Feel Like a Stranger in my own Country Now. the Cultural Norms and Social Expectations Feel so Different, and i’m Struggling to Reconnect. how can i Overcome This Sense of Alienation?

Dear friend, what you’re experiencing is completely normal and valid. Many returnees describe this exact feeling – like being caught between two worlds. Please know that this discomfort is temporary. Your international experience has given you a beautiful perspective that makes you unique. Start small: observe local customs with curiosity rather than judgment, like an anthropologist studying a fascinating culture. Reconnect through food – visit childhood eateries or cook family recipes. Join expat-returnee groups where people truly understand this transition. Be patient with yourself; cultural reintegration takes time. Remember, you’re not losing your global identity, but beautifully expanding it to include your roots again. Every day will get a little easier as you rewrite your relationship with home.