Chat Time: Fatigue as an Immigrant - November 20, 21, & 22, 2023 - MeetTheWengers Daily Vlog

[@johnmcnaught7453]

Great insight. Stay Well.

[@JADufault21]

Nothing wrong with doing the holidays with your nuclear family. The last year that my husband was active duty Army, 1997, we were in upstate New York. Being a four day weekend, we could have easily packed up and made the 7-1/2 hour drive to have Thanksgiving with our families in New Hampshire. We decided to stay home as it was going to be the last time we would be able to have a Thanksgiving dinner in an Army Mess Hall/Dining Facility. Army Medical Units have some of the best chefs/cooks! The boys also had ready access to soft serve ice cream machines that they got to operate themselves. When are oldest was 3 years old, 1983, we were at West Point, New York. Small hospital with the dining facility in the hospital. It was a big room with one very heavy door that a 3 year old couldn't open. We went with our best friends, family by choice. Everyone in the room knew the 3 year old belonged to us but so many of the twenty something year olds that were there were missing out on seeing younger siblings, nieces and nephews, it wasn't a hardship to share him. He was an outgoing kid and loved the attention! After eating his dinner, it didn't take him to long to realize if he wanted more soft serve ice cream, he just had to stand at the machine and smile at the next adult that came up for ice cream themselves. 🍦 He made a lot of new friends that day. Again being in the lower part of New York, we were a 6 hour drive from family but decided our military family was more important that year. Just got to pick your battles and do what makes you happy!!!

[@meetthewengers]

I love this so so much. I can totally imagine a sweet 3-year old happily getting his 20th serving of soft serve ice cream! Thank you so much for sharing all of this with me.

[@mrc5941]

Don't ever feel as though you are not good enough. Learning about you & the family has shown your commitment to do the right thing for your family & to adapt to ways you would otherwise naturally react, by now, being in a different country. That adaptation has now passed & you are strongest when you are being yourself. You do know that you do have "distant" friends from your viewers & commenters on here & so try to remember that you are not alone. I hope this current year you get to engage with fellow expats from the US & can feel that bond from all being an American & understanding each others feelings. Your culture is as big as any other in your family & must always be a part of your children too. Keep smiling & be proud of yourself.

[@meetthewengers]

I really appreciate this comment. I definitely feel the support from the kind souls on this platform. Thank you so much.

[@knotheadusc]

I've been living in Germany this time since 2014, and I haven't been home since then. I can understand that feeling of losing yourself and missing your culture... On the other hand, it's been good to be here, for so many reasons. I'm grateful I've had this experience, even though sometimes I miss the US.

[@meetthewengers]

I agree. It's a mixed bag of emotions. And interestingly, whenever we go back to the US, I am desperate to find people who understand what leaving the US feels like! :)