31/12/2025
As the year draws to a close, we often find ourselves walking through streets filled with bright Christmas lights and festive cheer. But for many living in a foreign land, this season brings a unique kind of silence. Have you ever stopped in your tracks, hit by a sudden wave of loneliness, feeling as if everyone else has a place to return to except for you?
This has been another year of adapting, persevering, and building a life in a new country. In the blur of those busy days, it’s easy to feel like the person you used to be is slowly fading away.
During the holidays, homesickness tends to become more vivid. We realize that what we miss isn’t just a specific place or a favorite meal; it’s the people who understood us without words, and the version of ourselves that existed so naturally among them.
Perhaps you’ve felt the pressure to stay strong for your family, or felt that because this was a path you chose, you "should" be happy. This expectation can sometimes cause us to lock our hearts even tighter, especially when daily conversation in a new language doesn't quite capture the deep fatigue or subtle loneliness we carry inside.
Throughout this year, people from many different countries have visited YOU&ME with the same quiet question: “Everyone else seems to be doing fine. Is it just me?”
Our answer is always a gentle "No." The anxiety or helplessness you may feel right now is not a sign of failure. It is a signal from your heart—which has worked so hard all year—that it is searching for an emotional sanctuary. It is a completely natural response to the brave act of planting roots in an unfamiliar land.
At YOU&ME, you don’t have to pretend to be perfectly adjusted. You don’t have to perform "happiness" for the season. Here, your language, your culture, and your values are respected exactly as they are. This is a safe space to slowly and securely lay down the weight you’ve been carrying.
Regardless of your origin or background, your story is precious. As you wrap up this year abroad, let us be your kind and welcoming neighbor. You don't have to carry the end of the year alone.