Joining again with my other fellow expat ladies to discuss Homesickness! Something I am VERY well versed in…sad to say!
1. How do you fit in to your new culture without losing some of your identity?
I’m not sure I will ever fit in completely but the goal is to understand the culture, while educating everyone on mine! Perfect example: I just threw a friend of mine a baby shower yesterday and in Germany, this is not part of their culture. They actually think it’s superstitious to bring gifts for a baby that isn’t born yet. But we played games, had snacks, and my friend got a few baby gifts which was just so great. They didn’t have to accept traditions in my culture but it’s something I like to share with them. Something different. After the party, all of them were raving about how great that tradition is in America and they want to start throwing them all the time for their pregnant friends.
On the other side, they show me their traditions and the different things they celebrate here and I go into it with open eyes and ears. I try to soak up the culture and understand it. Mostly for my husband and our future children. I want this part of him to live on in our family forever.
I won’t ever lose my identity. It’s impossible. I’m a loud mouth NYer! But culture is simply something you have to accept as part of the expat transition and sharing your culture with others in return is a great gift!
What do you think your biggest trigger for homesickness is?
EVERYTHING. If I see families together, mom and daughters shopping, or if the leaves start to change. I’m a homebody and I miss my family more than anything but mostly, I miss my culture. The Syracuse basketball season is coming up, pumpkin flavored goodies are everywhere, and new fashions are coming out daily and I can’t be home for it. The German culture is so different. The language itself makes you feel like you’re a million miles away but the lack of peanut butter and pumpkin flavored foods kills me!
I tell everyone to try and focus on what you do have here. Peanut butter may taste like dirty cardboard but at least its here if you absolutely can not live without. And pumpkin…well…that’s something that just isn’t the same however, I have learned to make really cool recipes with pumpkin. Nothing sweet, no pumpkin pies or pumpkin muffins but I make a mean pumpkin soup!
Homesickness makes going home that much more special. When I see my family, I soak them up. I move a little slower and I relish in the time I do have with them. Whereas before I left the states, I didn’t see what was important to me.
But seriously….care packages people…send them my way!!! 😉
Until next time, Readers!!!! xoxoxoxoxo
The Diary of Sugar and Spice 
Whats your address love? Everytime I see something pumpkin I think of you!!!
Oh you dont have to do that! It’s so expensive to send anything! But thank you for the lovely thought!! 🙂
Care packages, Love them! I had a box of English goodies from my mum last week it was such a treat 🙂 I get that pang when I see mums and daughters out shopping together too
They really are the greatest!!! I’m currently waiting for a care package as well:-) Glad you got some sweets from mom!!
I’ve adjusted to autumn without the leaves changing the same way and no pumpkin stuff. But I have figured out how to keep doing my own pumpkin bread – even if my devil of an oven tries to thwart me efforts…
I love what you say about soaking up the time with family. I don’t think I could describe it any other way. And remembering that at least family is a Skype call away has really helped me.
Skype is only a phone call away! That is true! It’s funny how we adapt to change. We find ways to keep ourselves going through it all!
Just came across another blog post on homesickness that might interest you: http://www.legalnomads.com/2012/03/homesickness-travel.html
That’s a great read! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for linking up with us! I love that you threw a baby shower, I am doing a semi Halloweenish party because like I love to share where I am from in my new home!
Oh we LOVE to throw Halloween parties! We do one every year and last year we had over 30 people. They all come dressed up , its hysterical! This year we are doing costume contests and fun stuff. 🙂
O I would love to do that, my husband is in nursing school and they have a huge test in October so ours is going to be a hooray the test is done for them and for me a look at all my awesome Halloween decorations!
That will be fun!! And if nothing else, it’s your way of keeping the spirit of Halloween alive!!! 🙂 Life is hard as an expat but we find ways, right?! 🙂
Yes we do!
I reckon you need to book in a quick pop over to London – we’re beginning to catch Pumpkin/PB madness, including Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Lattes and Peanut Butter Cups. I’ve found some fab recipes with Pumpkin – do you get butternut squash? I’ve made quite a few cakes/muffins/smoothies (with and without Libby’s).
I love how you’re introducing new traditions as well though! What’s your favourite German tradition?
To London I go then! You had me at Pumpkin… 🙂 Sadly, none of that is here and butternut squash doesn’t exist either! I did not sign up for this!!! lol.
I’d say my favorite German tradition aside from the ever popular Oktoberfest, would be Fasnet (or Carnival) in February. It’s a massive history lesson dating back hundreds upon hundreds of years ago and creepy costumes that tell the stories. It’s really incredible!
https://thediaryofsugarandspice.wordpress.com/2012/02/16/its-be-a-crazy-german-day-during-fasnet/
Omgoodness – I just came across your blog (looking up German opinions on American food – for kicks lol) and saw Syracuse. !!! I’m from Syracuse – grew up in East Syracuse, a little while on the west side (skeery! haha), and Pompey and have settled down in the Village of Manlius… small world!
It is a small world!!! Well!! Glad you found me!