That’s lovely, and I agree: If you don’t feel homesick, you’re really at home … in the world.

Dear Joan,

Yes, it’s so good to be able to travel so easily. I think we expats have a few decisions to make about where we hang our hats, especially as we get older. How well integrated do we feel as part of the community we live in? Or is distinction and difference and expat subculture rather than integration what we want?

When I first came to Germany I avoided Americans. My studies and jobs in Germany had nothing to do with expats. It’s only since I became a teacher and came to Munich that I really started networking with other English speaking expats. One of the things I like about MELTA is that it is so well integrated in this city… though things could be even better.

We can have the best of both worlds, traveling and having jobs, being there and being here. But, and it is a big BUT, it is an effort, keeping up relationships long-distance and being savvy about social security and all that. It’s not always easy, right? But I really like that Irish saying (and the Irish would know): “The world’s your oyster!” (=die Welt liegt dir zu Füßen)

My grand uncle on the other hand, said to me when I was a child and after I had told him I wanted to travel: travelling is good but don’t forget the older you get the more drawn you’ll be to the old homestead and back to your roots!
Thank goodness for the EU and for how easy travelling has become for us here – I can come and go and feel free.