I’m a Spanish person living in the Netherlands for already almost 9 years. In one hand at some point in these last years, I started to feel like I don’t belong in Spain anymore, and on the other hand, I think I’ll never feel fully integrated in NL. Any thoughts? Advice? Someone feeling the same?
I mean, belonging is more about the people tham the place. You can find locales that your soul attaches to (I camp at one such place a couple hours from here every summer. I should ask the wife about another camping trip to my favorite campsite I am willing to tell people about, sugarloaf ridge by Santa Rosa, CA. So many great memories out there. That’s another place that soothes my heart.
But like, it’s the people with whom you find home and your belonging. That’s where the metaphorical “Home” is. If you’re close enough with your friends that you can tell them your problems (believe me I know how shallow some friendships can get and how you can cling to them because at least it’s a friend), and/or if you’re in a relationship, tell them you don’t feel like you belong, you think it’s a mental health thing but you’re not sure, and you could use a little extra support the next little bit. Real friends will be there.