5 Signs You’re Living in the Wrong Country

The place we live in influences and contribute a lot to our personalities, and shapes us to who we are as a person today. Believe it or not, places can bring out all sorts of moods within you that you didn’t know existed. Every city or country has its own personality and energy and with that, it also has the power to influence those who live in it.

As expats, we don’t always have the privilege to choose which country or city we’re being assigned to and sometimes even saying “no” is not an option, but how can you tell if your current place of residence isn’t quite the right fit for you? Or more so, what can you do about it? Here are 5 signs that you’re living in the wrong place and the best things you can do when you find yourself in this situation.

1. You Have Something To Rant About Everyday

When the cultural behaviour of locals, transportation or even something as general as the weather can tick you off and send you to an all out twitter/FB rant or even a full on verbal rant, you know there’s a problem. If you constantly find soemthing that annoys you so much you just have to rant about it to feel better, then this is one of the tell tale signs that you’re living in the wrong place. Stressing yourself out over the smallest things that you can easily ignore if you wanted, shows that you are very agitated in your current living condition.

What you can do when you’re faced with situations like this (if moving out of the country is not an option) is to find a way to relax. There are many yoga exercises or even simple breathing techniques that will help you manage your temper and stress. Also, you can try to look for ways to work around or address something that annoys you instead of just complaining about it.

2. You Can’t Wait For Your Next Vacation

If you’re too anxious to get away even on weekends, then that is one sure sign you just really don’t want to live there. Even as expats, your new residence should be a home away from home or an oasis which can take you away from your dull life back in your home country. If you are homesick to the point where you don’t really go out other than for work for more than a month then you might have to re-think not just the country you live in, but also your career as an expat. If you are always looking to get away that you fly, ride or row out of that country or city every chance you get even if it means going hungry for a week or two, then this is a definite sign that you shouldn’t be living there anymore.

What you can do if you are unable to leave permanently is to manage your trips very well. Going away frequently not only creates financial problems, but it can also take a toll on your body, health-wise.  Exhausting yourself every time off to get away from your country of residence is not a good thing, and if you get away too much you just end up dreading going back more. Instead of always going away, just try to stay in. Arrange a relaxing weekend in the comforts of your own pad where you can control mostly anything. Try watching TV shows or movies or have a party with your expat friends and unwind without having to go too far.

3. You Don’t Eat Anything But Familiar Fast Food

One of the most important things in moving to a new place is the food. If you can’t even bring yourself to try the local food, then that’s also a good sign that you’re not a good fit for this country. Even famous fast food joints like McDonalds modify their menus to accommodate the local flavours so you might have a really hard time to adapt if you can’t stand the local taste. If you find yourself running to the nearest McDonalds or KFC every single meal, not only is that wasteful, it’s also very unhealthy.

If your favourite cuisine is not readily available in your current country of residence, there are several ways to make the things easier for you and not be dependent on familiar fast food joints. There’s always a market or grocery store where you can buy fresh ingredients and cook things for yourself, the way you want it. If you’re not much of a cook, then take some time to do some research online to see favourable local restaurants with good reviews and quality food that you might enjoy.

4. You’re Always Dressed Uncomfortably

If you find it hard to adapt your wardrobe to the weather conditions in your current country of residence, then this is also a sign that you shouldn’t be living there. Sure, boots, coats and scarves may be your signature style and they are very in fashion in your home country, but if you now live in a tropical country where the weather is either 33 degrees, or endless rain, then it’s really time to let go of those furry boots.

What you can do if you can’t leave your living situation is to force yourself to adapt. You don’t have to throw all your clothes away and buy new ones, you also don’t have to wear what all the locals are wearing if you’re not comfortable with their style, but the most important thing is to keep it simple. You don’t have to be something you’re not, but maybe just lose the coat and boots if it’s sunny. Don’t subscribe to magazines or follow blogs that show you winter and autumn clothes if your current country of residence doesn’t have these seasons. There’s always a way to work on your personal style to be comfortable in any weather, you just have to put in more effort.

5. You Don’t Feel Like Yourself Anymore

If you or the people you’re closest to start to tell you that you don’t even sound like yourself anymore, that’s a big deal. If you realize that you’re agitated with everything, find yourself saying things you don’t normally say, or have to change your actions too much to adapt to your current living situation, then something has to be done.

If it gets to a point where a place changes you for the worst, then it might be time to seriously think about moving out. You never want to put yourself in a situation where you start to lose track of your own personality to adapt to your surroundings. At first, it’s normal to be out of place, but if time passed and you don’t like who you are becoming, then there’s no other choice but to move out.

Bear in mind, any place has the power to bring out the best and worst parts of yourself. You can always try to be more optimistic and positive about your living situation, but you have to keep in mind that the most important thing is that you feel comfortable with the changes that you are making to adapt to your new life.