Home sick home: What former expats miss most about living overseas

I spent some of the best years of my life living overseas. New country, new culture – everything all new. It was exciting to embark on a new life chapter, make a fresh start and be whoever I wanted.

But then the reality hit – adjusting to it all. New job, new friends, new language, new routine, new ways of living. It overwhelmed me. Many times I asked myself if the grass was greener on the other side, ie back home.

The author during her stint living in Tallinn, Estonia.

The answer? In some cases yes; in some cases no.

While those were adventurous times, they were scary too, and slowly but surely the yearning for my homeland crept in. Yet I still miss things about Estonia, London and Paris – all places I once resided. I miss the energy of London, its food markets, and the fact that you don’t have to look hard for something to do. Spontaneity is very much a thing; everyone always seems to be up for doing something, rain or shine.

I miss the cobblestone streets of Estonia’s capital Tallinn, and feeling like I was a Disney princess wandering its enchanting medieval Old Town. I crave its elk pies and Saku beer. Paris – well, it’s the carbs I long for. I miss my almost daily run to the boulangerie to practise basic French “une baguette s’il vous plait” and discover a world of bread and patisserie treats that would do little for my desired Euro summer bod. And I would love to return to Paris to experience its pulsating nightlife, kitsch bars and continue uncovering its hip, grittier side.

Those are just some of the things I miss about my adopted homes, experiences I can’t replicate back in Australia after my life overseas ended abruptly thanks to the pandemic.

But what about other expats? Do they have the same longing for their former homes in other countries overseas? I ask some of them what they miss most and why.

Uganda

I lived in a tiny village in Central Uganda for eight months in my mid-20s.

Lindy Alexander worked as a social worker while she lived in Uganda for eight months.

The village was so small that even Ugandans hadn’t heard of it and would tell me “there is no such place”. But such a place did exist, and while we didn’t have electricity or running water, we had the sweetest, juiciest pineapples and mangoes I’ve ever tasted. In mango season, children would arrive at my back door with armfuls of them. There was one woman in the village who would sit on her raffia mat selling pineapples. She would expertly cut the pineapple skin off with a huge, sharp knife and then cut the fruit into pieces, leaving the stalk for us to hold onto. I’ve never had pineapple like it before or since.
– Lindy Alexander

Bangkok, Thailand

Carolyn Beasley worked as an environmental consultant while she lived in Bangkok for three years.

After living in Perth, which was pretty sleepy at the time, Bangkok was just non-stop. We lived in a small, quiet apartment block, but just down the street was Sukhumvit Road, where there was always something to see. I miss the tastes and sounds too; the beeping horn of the fruit and vegetable ute or the squeaky bicycle horn of the straw broom vendor. I didn’t always love the smells, like when I had morning sickness and couldn’t handle the whiff of boiling pork knuckles on the street at 7am. But mostly I miss the people. I’d studied basic conversational Thai and this was a game changer. It unlocked a world of connections and plenty of laughter (at me).
– Carolyn Beasley

Los Angeles, US

Bryce Gerovich worked as a chiropractic aide and personal trainer while he lived in Los Angeles for six-and-a-half years.

I miss the variety of nature and the different weekend adventures available. It is one of the only places in the world where you can ski in snowy conditions (less than two hours outside of Los Angeles) and then go to the beach to get a tan all in one day. You can drive towards San Diego and walk across the border to Mexico for a weekend in Tijuana. Go on a five-hour drive to Mammoth Mountain for skiing and sit in the natural hot springs surrounded by snow. Go to Palm Springs or Joshua Tree in the desert, just two hours away. Swimming and boating in lakes such as Lake Arrowhead are less than two hours away; Laguna Beach is an hour away, and a Dutch-inspired wine region town called Solvang near Santa Barbara is two hours away, to name a few.
– Bryce Gerovich

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Amsterdam is a small city. It’s like a village compared to Sydney. And yet there are always interesting things happening.

Chris Frith worked as a broadcast content co-ordinator while he lived in Amsterdam for two years.

It feels like there’s something for everyone. It has a dynamic cultural scene that’s constantly evolving and changing. I miss living in a place that prioritises bikes and pedestrians over cars. I hadn’t ridden a bike that much since I was nine years old. The whole city is within a 15-minute bike ride of the front door. You can get anywhere you need to go and not be stuck in traffic because the infrastructure is there.
– Chris Frith

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Rebecca Haddad worked as a content editor while she lived in Dubai for three and a half years.

I miss the authenticity and everyday routines of the city that so many visitors don’t get the time to experience. The quiet walks through the historic district to spend a few hours working and drinking mint and lemon juice in the garden oasis of the Arabian Tea House. The balmy late afternoons at Kite Beach, watching the sun glint off the Burj Al Arab before sinking into the Gulf. I would venture alone at 9pm in my former neighbourhood of Al Barsha for a few laps around the local park, still a hive of activity with families getting out after another day of oppressive desert heat. The weekends were spent escaping the city, whether for desert camping in the neighbouring emirates of Umm Al Quwain or Abu Dhabi or hiking in the mountainous village of Hatta. I also miss being able to stop to take in the adhan (call to prayer) five times a day, reminding me that behind the glitz and glam is a city and emirate still very much rooted in culture and tradition.
– Rebecca Haddad

London, UK

Michael Abson worked as a digital marketing manager in London for six years.

While I’ll always call Australia home (who can say no to those sandy shores?) and while I did get homesick while I was over in London, I never thought I’d miss the overcrowding and over-priced craziness of London. I used to scoff at the low wages compared to what we are compensated with here. I used to get annoyed at the crowds of people getting on a tube train every 90 seconds. I used to get frustrated at the £5 ($9.60) lukewarm pints. I used to hate sitting on the Piccadilly line for 80 minutes to get to Heathrow.

But now I’m finding myself missing a lot of it. The chance to go to a different European city each long weekend; the opportunity for a casual Tuesday drink to go next-level crazy, and, perhaps most of all, the sheer diverse range of people you’ll meet and things you’ll get invited to. London really does let you live life – especially your 20s and 30s – to the fullest.
– Michael Abson

Have you returned to Australia after living overseas? Do you miss it? Post a comment and share your stories below.