The other day, I stumbled upon this definition of expat and immigrant:
An expat is someone who lives outside their home country for a limited time, while an immigrant is someone who moves to a new country with the intention of settling there permanently.
And I found myself wondering, then what is the term for a person who is in the middle between living outside their home country for 30 years but wants to come home in their old age?
Such complex dilemma, I know. But it’s exactly what I’m feeling at the moment, how do I settle in the middle between expat and immigrant?
(Side note: my most recent picture of Shibuya, my least favorite city in Tokyo)
I was asked several times by my fellow colleagues, why do I want to return to Japan, which honestly I always dodge with the typical ”I love the food, culture, sight-seeing” etc. But of course one does NOT leave her own home country to a new continent just for sushi, does it?
So I tried to put into words what exactly is the reason, but I’m still struggling to do it. If only it was straightforward.
The other day, we held a makan-makan with a newfound friend. Honestly it was my newfound friend rather than husband’s, because I share a lot of similarities with her and messaged her first, which escalated into a lunch at my crib and her coming from 2-hour away by train just to meet us. For that, I’m really thankful.
But I’m most thankful to have found a friend in this place, because Japan can be lonely sometimes. I mean, sure, I am the happiest human being when I’m being left alone, but the things we have in common mean a lot more to me. It was our first meetup and we even went to karaoke for the first time with them, oh how things have escalated so quickly for us, even the kids to do that!
And considering it’s been hell for me to open up to a complete stranger as I didn’t have good history on opening up to a new friendship..
New resolution for 2025: make new friends!
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