What Living Like a Local in a Foreign Country Taught Me About Belonging
When I first moved abroad, I was chasing adventure — or at least that’s what I told myself. What I didn’t realize then was that I wasn’t just looking for a new place to live. I was looking for a new way to feel at home in the world. 🌍What Living Like a Local in a Foreign Country Taught me.
Over time, living like a local in a place far from where I was born taught me surprising things about identity, community, and what it really means to belong.
The Shock of Not Belonging (At First)
I remember the first few weeks in my new country — the language was foreign, the customs unfamiliar, and even small things like grocery shopping felt like an uphill battle. People looked at me as an outsider, and honestly, I felt like one too.
I thought I could just blend in. But instead, I stuck out. And for a while, I mistook fitting in for belonging. Big difference.
Choosing to Live Like a Local
Things began to shift when I stopped trying to impress or adapt too quickly. Instead, I chose to observe. I started going to the same corner café every morning, even when I didn’t understand the menu. I asked locals about their favorite markets, not just the tourist spots.
I said yes to awkward conversations, to invitations I didn’t always understand, and to meals that didn’t resemble anything I grew up eating. I tried (and failed) to pronounce local phrases. I walked, instead of taking taxis. I made mistakes — and laughed at them.
That’s when people started to open up. And that’s when I realized: belonging isn’t something you’re given — it’s something you grow into. 🌱
What Living Like a Local in a Foreign Country Taught me.
Learning the Language of Connection
I’m not just talking about speaking the local language — though that certainly helped. I mean the unspoken language of smiles, shared rituals, and quiet respect. I learned how to show up without expectations and how to listen deeply, even when I didn’t catch every word.
I discovered that small acts — returning a borrowed item, learning someone’s name, showing up again and again — can create threads of connection stronger than any passport or birthplace.
I Had to Lose My Labels
Living abroad forced me to let go of the identities I clung to back home. In my new country, no one knew what I did for a living, what school I went to, or where I grew up. At first, that was scary. Who was I without all my labels?
But soon, I saw it as freedom. I was able to reintroduce myself not with my résumé, but with my presence. I could be curious, kind, generous — and that was enough.
It made me reflect: how often do we let titles define our place in the world, instead of our humanity?
Belonging Isn’t Where You Are — It’s How You Show Up
Over time, I built a rhythm: morning walks past the same baker, afternoon chats with neighbors, evening meals filled with laughter. I started to feel at home — not because I became “one of them,” but because I showed up honestly and consistently.
Belonging, I learned, doesn’t come from being the same. It comes from being seen — and allowing others to be seen, too. 🤝
🌟 Reflection Prompt
- Have you ever felt out of place but chose to stay and learn?
- What small rituals or practices help you feel like you belong?
- Are there ways you could show up more openly in your own community?
Final Thoughts
Living like a local didn’t just teach me about another culture — it taught me about myself. I realized that belonging is less about location and more about intention. It’s about connection, vulnerability, and showing up — even when you’re unsure of the rules.
And maybe, just maybe, the places we feel we don’t belong at first… are the ones that teach us the most about what it really means to be home. 💛
🌐 Related Reading
All about travel.
If you’re exploring the idea of connection while abroad: The Art of Belonging by Hugh Mackay