Visiting Home While Living Abroad

Visiting Home While Living Abroad

What's it like when you visit your country of origin for a vacation?as an expat?

Out of the 21 years that I have lived in the US, I have visited my "home", Bangalore, India at least 18 times.

It's always a journey of nostalgia, rediscovery and accepting and?embracing the changes.


Photo of Vidhana Soudha, the state government headquarters in Bangalore


Over the years I have witnessed the transition of Bangalore from Garden City to the Silicon Valley of India. From a peaceful pensioners paradise to a bustling and at times chaotic?metropolis.


One of the things that hasn't changed about?returning home is reuniting with my family and friends.


The time is never enough, there is always reverse culture shock, and saying goodbye to my loved ones?is bitter-sweet.


?Over the years I have developed a few strategies to make the most of my trip that I would like to share with you.

  1. Plan Ahead:?I try to reach out to loved ones and friends?before my trip to schedule time together. Once I get there, I get so caught up with catching up, I don't always have the time to contact folks I want to meet up with.
  2. Meet in a Group: I always have limited time and can't meet everyone 1:1, so I usually?organize a meetup or get together where you I can?meet friends and family.?
  3. Create New Memories/Rediscover Local Culture: Instead of just reminiscing about the past and how amazing it used to be, engage in new activities like checking out a new food joint, visiting a place you have never been to before or attending a local event. Or host your own meetup to make new friends. I hosted a wonderful meetup today at Copper + Cloves with Nida Sheriff , Krithika Srinivasan , Gloria Kamal and Geeta Manian all repats to Bangalore.

The Expat Woman Meetup in Bangalore


4. Embrace the Changes: Adapt to the changes?in your home country—new buildings, altered neighborhoods, new technologies and even shifts in societal attitudes.?

5. Enjoy the moment: Appreciate the?here and now rather than dwelling on memories or how things were.

Do you have anything to add to my list? Let me know in the comments


You may?know that I have started doing travel/city videos in different countries that I visit to give expats living there or planning to move or visit, a visual peek into the place.


Even though I have lived in Bangalore on and off?for 13 years before I moved to the US, there are some old and new?hidden and not so hidden?gems that I am discovering because of the video I am shooting on Bangalore.?


UB City Bangalore


It's amazing how you can take where you live or visit?for granted, and it sometimes takes playing tourist or in my case making a video to truly appreciate or learn more about the?culture, and unique experiences that your surroundings have to offer.


Stay tuned for my video which I will upload to the travel section of The Expat Woman YouTube channel.

?

Thank you for reading this and enjoy the rest of your week!

Best,

Nyna

P.S.Check out a few of my travel videos here?and subscribe to my YouTube channel to get notified when I upload my Bangalore and other travel videos.

P.S.S Here is a video of The Expat Woman Entrepreneurs Event I hosted in Bangalore in 2019


Benjamin Small

Living the expat life and helping others do the same

7 个月

Great tips Nyna! We always feel a little bit of pressure to make sure we are doing the rounds when we go back to France, doing all the catch ups we can to keep everyone happy, often to the detriment of doing the things we love to do back home. Super difficult balance.

Karin Knecht

Bi-lingual Expat/Leadership Coach helping leaders unlock their full potential and create high-performing multicultural teams - Consultant - Speaker - Facilitator - Author - Fractional - World Traveller (English & German)

8 个月

Good points. I’m making business and personal appointments in advance, too. I have a group of friends that get together when I’m visiting my home town. It’s always a lot of fun. I make a point to schedule time for myself, too.

回复
Joseph Countryman

Experienced, Motivated, Supportive Teacher With Proven Track Record Of Success. Focused on Helping Students, Families, and Teammates Achieve Their Goals

8 个月

Excellent tips, Nyna! I can relate to planning ahead to schedule time yet feeling like the time runs out too quickly and I didn't get to see everyone... I really love the idea of organizing group events instead of trying to do the 1:1s. I'm going to start incorporating it more;) Thank you!

Sandra Morno MBA, EA ?????? MoneySmart Travelnista

Tax strategist for women traveling/living abroad with US businesses ???????? l Making Taxes Easier ? | Expat ?? | Digital Nomad ?? | Travel and Taxes ?????? | Foodie ?? | Wine Lover ??

8 个月

Great tips!! Planning ahead is so important. And of course for me I am thinking taxes and how to write off the trip!! Sounds like you are mixing business with fun!! I love it!

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