Having formerly lived abroad for 10 years, I remember this feeling very much. My wife and I put it down more to envy, people were jealous we lived a more exciting life than them (those who cut ties or simply never visited us despite initial close ties) and they had never had the guts to move abroad and kinda regretted it. Some people I was less close to became closer friends because instead they became interested in my experience, in what it meant to live elsewhere and live a different life.
And to reply, sort of to A. M. Haus, I'm not from North America, so no, it's not just US culture, it's certainly at least Western culture, if not universal.
I'm in the process (early) of moving abroad and I've gotten this from family. I'd liken it to crabs in a bucket pulling one back in when it starts to crawl out. It isn't something I can explain to people who are ok with staying. Every little way life in the Midwest eats away at your soul and makes you existential.
I am pondering the cultural aspect of this. When things happen, and I have been through a lot this year, where some serious situations should naturally prompt phone calls and follow up phone calls or messages. The flood of sympathy messages initially came in online, but it was the noticeable lack of human contact -just a voice over the phone- that has made me take a good look at my relationships. My woman tribe -my Golden Girls- came through big time. But the people I thought would be here for me, are not.
Which brings me back to the culture. Is this what our (US) culture is now? Are we so shut off that people don't have concern for one another? Or do we simply not know how to care? -Where sending heart and prayer emojis over social media accounts is thought as good enough?
Having formerly lived abroad for 10 years, I remember this feeling very much. My wife and I put it down more to envy, people were jealous we lived a more exciting life than them (those who cut ties or simply never visited us despite initial close ties) and they had never had the guts to move abroad and kinda regretted it. Some people I was less close to became closer friends because instead they became interested in my experience, in what it meant to live elsewhere and live a different life.
And to reply, sort of to A. M. Haus, I'm not from North America, so no, it's not just US culture, it's certainly at least Western culture, if not universal.
My wife and I have the very same conversations.
"you think you’re better than us now"
I'm in the process (early) of moving abroad and I've gotten this from family. I'd liken it to crabs in a bucket pulling one back in when it starts to crawl out. It isn't something I can explain to people who are ok with staying. Every little way life in the Midwest eats away at your soul and makes you existential.
I am pondering the cultural aspect of this. When things happen, and I have been through a lot this year, where some serious situations should naturally prompt phone calls and follow up phone calls or messages. The flood of sympathy messages initially came in online, but it was the noticeable lack of human contact -just a voice over the phone- that has made me take a good look at my relationships. My woman tribe -my Golden Girls- came through big time. But the people I thought would be here for me, are not.
Which brings me back to the culture. Is this what our (US) culture is now? Are we so shut off that people don't have concern for one another? Or do we simply not know how to care? -Where sending heart and prayer emojis over social media accounts is thought as good enough?
I haven’t noticed this yet. We were only away five months before coming back the first time.
For my part, I make the same level of effort to stay in touch wherever I am.