The Step Out the Door “The Ozarks is where I belong.” This wasn’t a declaration of pride, but rather a simple, subconscious inner agreement that I was satisfied where I was: in my small hometown, where things felt familiar, predictable. As an introvert with high levels of social anxiety, these were desirable qualities. I wanted … Continue reading The Homebody Expat: Part I
Category: The Homebody Expat
The Overlooked Trials of Grocery Shopping as an Expat
It was my first morning in the Netherlands. I got out of bed, light on my feet, the air charged with my own exhilaration. I poured my cereal, and stood looking out the window at my new home of Rotterdam as I took my first bite— And spit it out. Sour milk. I looked again … Continue reading The Overlooked Trials of Grocery Shopping as an Expat
The Sentimental Expat: Obsession with Memories
When a Homebody Becomes an Expat When I saw that orange box of Arm&Hammer baking soda in the aisle, I must have perplexed the customers around me as I suppressed a scream of excitement and ran to it, eyes glittering. This, strangely enough, was a reminder of my homeland.This was an unexpected part of me … Continue reading The Sentimental Expat: Obsession with Memories
A Socially-Anxious Expat’s Guide to Learning a Language from Books
Many expats move to a new country and have no problem learning the language. They simply immerse themselves in the culture, and start talking to people from day one.But what is a severely shy and introverted expat to do?Someone whose meek attempts to communicate with the locals end in confusion, frustration, and anxiety rather than … Continue reading A Socially-Anxious Expat’s Guide to Learning a Language from Books
Brittany Bulut 