What do you do when the institution you once trusted—a government, church, nonprofit, school, or company—shifts into something unrecognizable? What do you do when the values that once seem to reflect yours now feel foreign or even harmful?

Without debriefing you may:

• Struggle to explain your experience

• Feel like no one truly understands

• Miss opportunities to grow

• Carry unresolved grief or stress

It’s common—but it doesn’t have to be your story.

Instead of searching for a single place to call home, consider this: What if belonging isn’t about where you are, but about who you are becoming?

Sometimes, expats get stuck in a tourist mindset, consuming culture like a product instead of truly experiencing it. Here are three signs you might be doing the same—and how to shift toward deeper cultural adaptation.

Just like a kayaker must adjust to shifting tides and unexpected waves, people must adapt after a major life disruption.

By looking at repatriation and the expat experience through the lens of the hero's journey, we can see them for what they really are: not mere logistic transitions, but an opportunity for—and even an invitation to—profound personal transformation.

Take a moment to reflect on the trees outside your window. In winter, their branches stand bare, seemingly lifeless, against the cold wind. To the untrained eye, they appear dormant, stagnant, and still. But nothing could be further from the truth.

Not processing change works—until it doesn’t. The emotional clutter piles up, and eventually, it spills over. Just like a house jam-packed with old decorations, it starts to feel overwhelming and unlivable.

Letting go is not about erasing the past but about making room for the future. It’s a way of honoring who you were while stepping into who you’re becoming.

Transitions are challenging, but they’re also opportunities for growth and renewal. By avoiding these common mistakes and approaching change with intentionality, you can navigate life’s transitions with greater clarity and confidence.

Liminal spaces invite us to trust that the in-between is purposeful. Trust that the waiting isn’t wasted. Trust that the discomfort is shaping you into someone ready for what lies ahead. These spaces challenge us to let go of certainty and embrace possibility. It’s not easy, but it’s necessary.

While change might seem like the main event, transition is the deeper, more personal story.

Debriefing isn’t just a formal process; it’s a powerful way to turn our experiences—especially the tough ones—into valuable lessons.

Approaching travel with curiosity, respect, and an open mind can transform each of your trips into not just a great memory, but also an opportunity for growth.

During our time living in Southeast Asia, homesickness would sometimes creep in, especially when the differences in culture and daily life felt overwhelming. To cope, we developed a blend of old routines and new traditions that gave us a sense of comfort and excitement.

Resilience is born from facing that toll, owning it, and finding a way to carry it forward without letting it weigh us down. That’s the work of being an expat, of coming home, and of living authentically through all the changes life throws at us.

What if your experience abroad wasn’t just for you? What if every lesson, every struggle, every breakthrough was preparing you for a bigger role?

Being mindful of these five things will go along way in helping you adapt to your new home.

Do you know what’s the worst thing you can do when you move abroad?

But by avoiding these common pitfalls, you can navigate it more effectively and start embracing the adventure that lies ahead.