S2E4: The emotional spectrum of holidays spent at home
Episode notes
Remember those golden holidays back home, surrounded by familiar faces, savouring traditional delicacies and getting immersed in the joyous festivities? These memories can stir up a mixed bag of emotions, especially for those of us living overseas. In this engaging discussion, we unpack those complex feelings of nostalgia, longing, and sometimes, shock and frustration, that bubble up during such holidays. As we walk down memory lane, we scrutinize the inevitable comparisons we make between our homeland and our adopted country - an oscillating sentiment that veers between idolizing the familiar and vilifying the old.
The conversation doesn't stop there! We also address the tumultuous phase of reintegrating into our home culture and the disruption it causes to our identities. Experiences of feeling like a stranger in your homeland or grappling to fit into the mainstream culture in your adopted country can be daunting. Yet, they are crucial parts of embracing a new identity. Our discussion highlights how nostalgia can sometimes cloud our vision, and how crucial it is to stay connected, even if it's virtually, to keep ourselves grounded. Tune in to share the joys, the shocks, the realizations and the valuable lessons that come with spending holidays back home.
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We are here, too is a podcast about mental health and life abroad, hosted by Francesca Lo Verso, an Italian counsellor living in Scotland.
We are here, too exists thanks to the support of friends, family and those of you whose testimony of life abroad inspired me. Thank you!
Host and editor: Francesca Lo Verso
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Cover illustration: Candela Sánchez
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