tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17482029.post3880928428480129648..comments2023-03-24T03:01:13.985-07:00Comments on Expat Focus Blog: Curious expat behaviourUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17482029.post-60025528070926419112008-10-01T08:18:00.000-07:002008-10-01T08:18:00.000-07:00Interesting observation, and I share it - in part!...Interesting observation, and I share it - in part! In Scotland I didn't want to join the German club, because if I had wanted to be surrounded by Germans I'd have stayed at home, right? Besides, for some reason it was super easy for me to jump in and feel at home in Scotland immediately, homesickness was the furthest thing from my mind, in fact I thought I was born in the wrong country. <BR/>Then in Catalunya things were a little different - I'm an outgoing person, but in my experience the Catalans were more complex and difficult to get to know and befriend in the beginning. Plus, I was working in a German company and friendships with other Germans living in Spain just happened more easily. I think it took about two years to form "proper" friendships with a few locals. <BR/>Now, across the Atlantic and with over a decade abroad under my belt, happening upon fellow countrymen is pretty rare that when it does happen, it's great fun and a joy to compare notes and reminisce. German food is available to some extent in the grocery store, and though not a remedy (nor source) of homesickness, it does bring back memories and reminds me of certain parts of the culture I grew up in. I don't see anything wrong with that, on the contrary - sometimes it's nice to remember where I came from, and how far I've traveled. :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com