Leaving Britain after 13 years and moving back to Italy. I thought it would be more traumatic than it has proved to be. I missed the sun, the Mediterranean foodstuffs and it is such a change of pace to have moved to a 50k city from the pandemonium that is London.
When I left 13 years ago I was younger, more excited at the prospect of career and UK felt like a step ahead. Now I grew up, grew to hate cities, corporate life and found Italy a healthier and happier country for the next chapter. Also, a very underrated thing not many expats talk about, I missed not feeling like a stranger, an immigrant, a fish out of water. That’s a background emotion that never goes away, however integrated and fluent in the local culture you are.