But mostly bad days. Culture shock is real. I never truly believed it is a real thing, although I vaguely thought it would be “difficult” to adapt, in the beginning. I told people I knew “it will be difficult” with a serious tone of voice and looked gravely at them when I said that. I never actually anticipated how this “difficult” it will feel and how much mental havoc it can create.
I can actually count the days that I felt hopeful about the future after we settled down first in Holland, then in the UK. I particularly remember a good day in Holland, when I went for a run in the morning, learned some dutch, posted a funny pic on FB and chatted with a friend about how things are going “over there”.
Most days were simply foggy: tired, lonely, confused about what I could actually do in this country, missing dear people and having absurd fights with my partner.
Personal Belongings 