Adapting to a culture is more than participating in its customs and understanding what individuals value, how they behave and what matters to them. It’s about questioning your own identity, re-discovering, and expanding it. That is both liberating and disorienting.

I left my home country when I was 23.

Back then, I had no idea how much culture shapes the way we see ourselves.

In this episode, I dive into some of the core feelings that come with being a foreigner and how to navigate a hybrid identity that is formed once you leave your home country.

00:00 Highlight

00:32 My background, moving countries and changing

03:30 3 phases when moving countries

10:11 Identity, Culture, Language, Belonging

11:10 How is our identity formed

14:10 Our identity is supposed to be stretched

15:14 Why culture impacts our identity

16:27 7 ways that changing cultures can affect us

19:30 Why humans long to belong

21:20 Is language just a communication tool?

23:00 To understand a language vs. to feel a language

24:09 The 3 layers of language

25:42 Key concepts

26:25 How can we better navigate a cultural change

If you live abroad and find it hard to put your experience into words, come grab a seat at The Adult’s Table and let’s talk about it!Instagram: @theadultstableshow TikTok: @theadultstableshow