Since moving out of the United States in 2020 it’s been a wild journey. There’s interesting highs, but also some catastrophic lows.
When you’re on your own, thousands of miles away from friends and family, it can be difficult. You don’t have the people you can rely on for coffee dates, hugs, or grunted bonding over a sporting event. It’s just you.
The feeling of total isolation isn’t covered enough in the expat/digital nomad/emigrant community. There’s so much glorifying just how much greener the grass is that many totally blow past the struggle of fitting in, making friends, and forging your own tribe.
I’ve been in Albania now for over a month now, and I’ve discovered I don’t have a clue how to make friends here. Every country is a little different, as making friends is as much a cultural experience as it is getting out there and seeing what works.
In South America, most of the countries I easily made friends, while I struggled in Argentina (figures it would be the country I decided to live in for 3+ years). Everyone is a little different and everyone struggles in their own way. But I think it’s important if you’re considering a move abroad to know this is a very real possibility. Not to alarm you or force you to throw the hand brake on your move. But understand, fitting in, making friends, and finding your tribe of people isn’t always easy.
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