20/04/2026
Are you living away from home?
In 2008, I made the moveāfrom my small countryside town in Belgium to Australia. It was impulsive. I didnāt overthink it. I met a good-looking stranger and followed him across the world. Ahh, the fun of being 24.
I wasnāt sure how long I would stay, or even if I would enjoy living there. But this crazy decision turned out to be one of the best Iāve ever made. And like many people, I thought: thatās itāthe move is done, the paperwork is sorted, and now I can just enjoy life hereā¦ right?
But thereās actually much more to it.
Itās not a decision you make once and then forget. You remake that decision a little bit every dayāfor years. Moving away, no matter the reason, is a lifelong process. Yes, youāre in a new place, and yes, it can be everything you hoped for. But you also lose everything that was once familiar.
The language might be different, and even if you become fluent, your accent never fully disappears. People will keep asking where youāre from, no matter how long youāve lived there. Is it fun? Sometimes. Iāve always thought people sound different in their own languageāthe way they laugh, giggle, or make little noises when theyāre not consciously speaking.
Food doesnāt quite bring back childhood memories, because itās never exactly the same. Itās not made with the same ingredients, in the same pots, by the same people. Flavours bring comfortāthey bring you home. Think of your favourite dish from back home. Imagine having it right now. Your eyes would probably light up just thinking about it.
New familiesāwhether through in-laws, friends, or even extended relativesāno matter how wonderful, never quite feel like the home you once knew. Celebrations like Christmas and birthdays always carry a quiet reminder that youāre away. Maybe youāre gratefulāperhaps you feel safer or more appreciatedābut it still resonates differently inside.
Even the little things change: the houses, the atmosphere, the gardens and parksā¦ even the way birds sing. In Belgium, birds are small, gentle, and melodicālike something out of a fairy tale. In Australia, they have main-character energy: loud, bold, and often high-pitched, as if theyāre shouting, āI will take you down!ā
I could go on with endless examples of what we missābut you get the idea.
If youāre living away from your home countryāwhether for a better life, safety, love, or workābe gentle with yourself. This decision has long-term effects, and itās okay to miss the things your body and mind once knew so well. Itās okay to feel great about your choice 95% of the time and still have days when you donāt.
That doesnāt mean you regret your decision or want to undo it. It simply means you miss what was once familiar.
You donāt have to āget over itā after a certain number of years. Youāre allowed to feel nostalgia. Youāre allowed to feel homesick.
Whatever your journey, I hopeālike mineāit turns out to be a beautiful one. And that, despite the things you miss, itās a life that truly makes you happy.
