Ken and I weighed the pros and cons of repatriation for many years before settling on April 5, 2013. We kept finding excuses to stay in London indefinitely. Why? We were really happy in our surroundings, our careers were both on an upward trajectory, and we didn’t feel the need to be back home to start our family, amongst other surface-level arguments around travel, food and access to great cultural institutions. Many of the downsides that started to surface included the cost of living, the perpetually gray and cold weather, distance from family, and our inability to commit to indefinite leave to remain (ILR). Most expats who stay past five years in the UK gain this coveted status, although most of them have to come off their expat packages and localize to achieve it. We liked having the insurance of a living stipend and return ticket home whenever we were ready to use it. Many people thought our son would automatically receive a British passport for being born there. Not so! Our Tier II sponsored visa status meant we were going to come home at some point in the not-so-distant future. I guess deep down, we preferred to pretend we were locals for a few years rather than actually become locals.
Now that we’re back to reality in our home country and settling into a new phase of life, how do we feel about our decision? It’s probably too soon to tell, as our hearts are still somewhere in limbo over the Atlantic. However, we’ve managed to keep in line with some of our adopted ideals from our stint abroad by finding a small space to rent in a central location within walking distance of shops, restaurants and parks. It’s impossible to manage without a car in Houston, but I’m proud to say that we were able to do it for a whole week! It hasn’t been difficult finding ways to fill our social schedule again either, as friends and family are anxious to start integrating us in their plans again. Additionally, I’ve reconnected with many of my friends, who are also new moms, so my baby boy and I will have ample playdates and activities to fill our downtime.
Other expats warned us about the initial period of fear, self-doubt and reverse culture shock, but reassured us that all of it would soon pass. As hard as it is to go through a huge upheaval again, I’m excited about a new beginning and the possibilities that repatriation brings. The first of many experiences as a new family will be to buy our first home.
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