In a previous article I wrote about cultureshock and the emotional side of adapting to life in Southern Italy. 

The quality of caffè in Italy is undeniable. Yet the Italian coffee moment is about much more than taste.

Feeling at home abroad is a deeply personal experience. It´s  shaped by who you are, where you come from, and the social and cultural context you step into. Looking back on our life in Italy, I´ve realised that feeling at home depends less on where you live and more on how you live in that place.

After leaving The Netherlands and now living in Salento, Puglia for almost five years, I have come to recognize something unexpected about long-term expat life, something that isn´t often talked about.