This was beautiful, Ofelia. As someone who chose to move away from my family because of a desire for a certain lifestyle (no car, city, etc) this resonated more than I can say. Thank you for sharing your writing with us all. It’s a gift ❤️
This is so so beautiful. So thoughtful and so well written. I literally cried through it—you perfectly encapsulated what it feels like to live, not only far away from family and your first hime, but to live abroad as well. Love you!
Ophelia, I rarely get chills while I read a piece. But my whole body was overwhelmed by your work. This is so beautiful. It’s so relatable for me in many ways, I live about 5 hours from family (it is not a continent away, so I can only imagine how you feel) but I do often feel that I am on an island with my children. I too can attest to witnessing the deepening of smile lines on my parents and Tony’s parents and the ache to slow down time and hold tightly the moments I do get with them.
“To always feel like something is missing, no matter where I am”
Your writing is incredible, Ofelia. So many bittersweet feelings captured in this piece. I actually teared up at the “ils me manquent” translation… the sentiment feels so much more meaningful that way!
This was so beautifully-written and made my heart ache. The part about envisioning your children visiting you in the future hit especially hard because that's something my husband and I talk about all the time (how we'll only get pieces of them when they're grown up). Thank you for sharing your reflections with us. Sending you lots of hugs. x
Thank you, Maria ❤️ Such a bittersweet reality that awaits us. I hope you get more moments together than you envision and get to travel often to wherever their heart takes them in the future.
You are a beautiful writer, and I know that I'll come back to this piece time and time again because you've captured the feeling so sharply. Thank you for writing this. <3
This was beautiful, Ofelia. I lived in Sydney for a few years, and coming "home" to the UK to visit family and friends wasn't something I could do easily - plus, the time difference made communicating difficult.
I always felt a pang when I spoke to them, and when my young nephew looked sad whenever he asked why I didn't live in England. It was hard, but it was also one of the best experiences I've been lucky enough to have.
I am currently living that and it is so bittersweet. It broke my heart to hear my niece was sad all of last week. I told her I'd be back very soon and her little face lit up and it made me want to cry even more. Even though I know Paris is where I am suppose to be right now.
Ofelia I am quite literally reading this on a plane as I depart from NYC back home for CA and I have never ever felt more in sync with anyone. I adore this city so much and my dear friends - who for years served as my surrogate family. It hurts to say goodbye. But then I feel the tug of needing to get back to my kids who I am missing so much right now it also hurts. There is no solution. Just lots of air travel, face time phone calls and the promise of plans made to see each other again Xoxox
I'm grateful we have ways to keep us connected in a world where so many of our loved ones or places we love are far away. I hope you get to visit again soon ❤️ sending you lots of hugs, as the weeks right after departing are always the hardest for me.
Thank you, Ofelia. It’s a thoughtful piece that resonates with me.
I've always felt out of place growing up in Southeast Asia. Although raised by progressive and very supportive parents, I still felt limited by society. Having lived in the United States for more than half my life now, I've always felt at home in this country. However, I yearn for my family in SEA.
Next week, my husband and I willl visit my parents and sister. I can imagine enjoying my time with them and at the same time, missing my cats and my small abode half way around the world.
I'll think of this piece for a very long time. Thank you again.
Thank you for sharing with me and reading, Kirsten ❤️ I am so happy to hear you found a place that feels like home. I hope you have the most amazing visit with them and get to enjoy it as much as possible.
I felt a mixture of that the entire time I was at home. Some moments yearning for the other, and other moments fully immersed in the feeling of being around my loved ones.
Thank you, Evonne. I've seen one of your articles shared a few time and I've saved it to my reading list of this week. I think it's of you moving from NY?
This piece really brought tears to my eyes; both for the way my heart ached for you and (shockingly) the way I thought of my own daughters being grown. How beautiful to be able to be so loved and in-love with two places. This was such beautiful writing my friend.
A great reminder to cherish those small, everyday moments that become fleeting so quickly. Thank you for reading and crying alongside me, because I have yet to get through reading this without tears running down my cheeks.
This was a beautiful description of what it’s like living abroad from your family and loved ones. I’ve lived abroad for a large part of my adult life and I loved that I could take part in two cultures. Yes, I was missing out on things at home and I didn’t always feel like a local abroad, but I learnt so much about different cultures and how they value different aspects of life that I wouldn’t be without. Now I’ve been back home for over two decades and life feels very safe and uncomplicated, but I still miss the excitement of learning to know a different culture.
Thank you for reading, Anett! I am so curious to know (if you're willing to share!) what made you move back? Now that I'm here, I cannot imagine leaving but I also know that we never intended to move forever. It's so hard to know how long we will be here, but part of me feels like I'll always feel the most at home in this weird state of longing.
I’ll happily share. I found it hard to get a job that I really liked and that paid decent money, as foreigners never seemed to be rated as highly as the locals. I was working my butt off for peanuts. Also, I met a man and we planned to have children, and I was hesitant to have children in the UK, having to send them to private schools or buy an insanely expensive house in the right school district. Raising children in Norway is a breeze in comparison. In the end the relationship fell apart, but I don’t regret moving back, especially as my parents grew older. For years I traveled every month, but since corona and ill health I’ve slowed down and enjoy our house in the country. Middle age, you know. 😅
Thank you for sharing ❤️ that makes sense! I think as we get older we become creatures of habit, so I don't blame you for wanting comfort or quiet in the countryside.
This was beautiful, Ofelia. As someone who chose to move away from my family because of a desire for a certain lifestyle (no car, city, etc) this resonated more than I can say. Thank you for sharing your writing with us all. It’s a gift ❤️
Thank you, friend!! ❤️❤️ That is why we are here too.
More self reflective pieces, please! This was beautiful, Ofelia. ❤️
Thank you so much, Elin ❤️❤️
This is so so beautiful. So thoughtful and so well written. I literally cried through it—you perfectly encapsulated what it feels like to live, not only far away from family and your first hime, but to live abroad as well. Love you!
❤️❤️ we're in this together
Your writing is so beautiful. I want to read it over and over again ❤️
Thank you, Angela ❤️ It is one I come back to often and I’m still surprised at how it gets me every time.
Ophelia, I rarely get chills while I read a piece. But my whole body was overwhelmed by your work. This is so beautiful. It’s so relatable for me in many ways, I live about 5 hours from family (it is not a continent away, so I can only imagine how you feel) but I do often feel that I am on an island with my children. I too can attest to witnessing the deepening of smile lines on my parents and Tony’s parents and the ache to slow down time and hold tightly the moments I do get with them.
“To always feel like something is missing, no matter where I am”
Thank you for this, I didn’t know I needed it!
Thank you for your sweet words, Megan ❤️ Describing it as an island is so accurate. What a powerful visual.
Your writing is incredible, Ofelia. So many bittersweet feelings captured in this piece. I actually teared up at the “ils me manquent” translation… the sentiment feels so much more meaningful that way!
Thank you so much, Bethany ❤️ and I agree. Those words help encapsulate a feeling.
god - I feel this so bad and I'm a student who visits family fortnightly, can't imagine how it is fot you. Beautifully written.
❤️ thank you, Farh!!
This was so beautifully-written and made my heart ache. The part about envisioning your children visiting you in the future hit especially hard because that's something my husband and I talk about all the time (how we'll only get pieces of them when they're grown up). Thank you for sharing your reflections with us. Sending you lots of hugs. x
Thank you, Maria ❤️ Such a bittersweet reality that awaits us. I hope you get more moments together than you envision and get to travel often to wherever their heart takes them in the future.
You are a beautiful writer, and I know that I'll come back to this piece time and time again because you've captured the feeling so sharply. Thank you for writing this. <3
Thank you for kind words and indulging me with this piece ❤️❤️
This was beautiful, Ofelia. I lived in Sydney for a few years, and coming "home" to the UK to visit family and friends wasn't something I could do easily - plus, the time difference made communicating difficult.
I always felt a pang when I spoke to them, and when my young nephew looked sad whenever he asked why I didn't live in England. It was hard, but it was also one of the best experiences I've been lucky enough to have.
I am currently living that and it is so bittersweet. It broke my heart to hear my niece was sad all of last week. I told her I'd be back very soon and her little face lit up and it made me want to cry even more. Even though I know Paris is where I am suppose to be right now.
Beautiful
Thank you for reading ❤️
Ofelia I am quite literally reading this on a plane as I depart from NYC back home for CA and I have never ever felt more in sync with anyone. I adore this city so much and my dear friends - who for years served as my surrogate family. It hurts to say goodbye. But then I feel the tug of needing to get back to my kids who I am missing so much right now it also hurts. There is no solution. Just lots of air travel, face time phone calls and the promise of plans made to see each other again Xoxox
I'm grateful we have ways to keep us connected in a world where so many of our loved ones or places we love are far away. I hope you get to visit again soon ❤️ sending you lots of hugs, as the weeks right after departing are always the hardest for me.
Thank you, Ofelia. It’s a thoughtful piece that resonates with me.
I've always felt out of place growing up in Southeast Asia. Although raised by progressive and very supportive parents, I still felt limited by society. Having lived in the United States for more than half my life now, I've always felt at home in this country. However, I yearn for my family in SEA.
Next week, my husband and I willl visit my parents and sister. I can imagine enjoying my time with them and at the same time, missing my cats and my small abode half way around the world.
I'll think of this piece for a very long time. Thank you again.
Thank you for sharing with me and reading, Kirsten ❤️ I am so happy to hear you found a place that feels like home. I hope you have the most amazing visit with them and get to enjoy it as much as possible.
I felt a mixture of that the entire time I was at home. Some moments yearning for the other, and other moments fully immersed in the feeling of being around my loved ones.
This spoke to me so deeply. Loved this one, Ofelia.
Thank you, Evonne. I've seen one of your articles shared a few time and I've saved it to my reading list of this week. I think it's of you moving from NY?
Yes! Just moved to California after being in NYC for almost 20 years. We made the move to be closer to family 💕
This piece really brought tears to my eyes; both for the way my heart ached for you and (shockingly) the way I thought of my own daughters being grown. How beautiful to be able to be so loved and in-love with two places. This was such beautiful writing my friend.
A great reminder to cherish those small, everyday moments that become fleeting so quickly. Thank you for reading and crying alongside me, because I have yet to get through reading this without tears running down my cheeks.
This was a beautiful description of what it’s like living abroad from your family and loved ones. I’ve lived abroad for a large part of my adult life and I loved that I could take part in two cultures. Yes, I was missing out on things at home and I didn’t always feel like a local abroad, but I learnt so much about different cultures and how they value different aspects of life that I wouldn’t be without. Now I’ve been back home for over two decades and life feels very safe and uncomplicated, but I still miss the excitement of learning to know a different culture.
Thank you for reading, Anett! I am so curious to know (if you're willing to share!) what made you move back? Now that I'm here, I cannot imagine leaving but I also know that we never intended to move forever. It's so hard to know how long we will be here, but part of me feels like I'll always feel the most at home in this weird state of longing.
I’ll happily share. I found it hard to get a job that I really liked and that paid decent money, as foreigners never seemed to be rated as highly as the locals. I was working my butt off for peanuts. Also, I met a man and we planned to have children, and I was hesitant to have children in the UK, having to send them to private schools or buy an insanely expensive house in the right school district. Raising children in Norway is a breeze in comparison. In the end the relationship fell apart, but I don’t regret moving back, especially as my parents grew older. For years I traveled every month, but since corona and ill health I’ve slowed down and enjoy our house in the country. Middle age, you know. 😅
Thank you for sharing ❤️ that makes sense! I think as we get older we become creatures of habit, so I don't blame you for wanting comfort or quiet in the countryside.