Home is here expat blog UK

Home is here – a blog about expat life in the UK

What is home for you? A house, a town, a country? Does the smell of coffee or apple crumble make you feel at home? Or is home where all your loved ones are?

I called this blog ‘home is here’ because I wanted to have a versatile name that would fit all sorts of topics, no matter where I was living or what I was doing at a certain time. Also, it was the only domain name with ‘home’ that was still available. Sounds like two very pragmatic reasons!

Reflecting on my current home

And even though my choice was pragmatic then, my ‘personal brand’ has become so much more than just a domain name over the last couple of years. It’s become a space where I can reflect on living in my current home England. It has helped me become more familiar with the English language and with my new hobby photography. It has also challenged me in many ways, to the point where I simply wanted to quit this whole blogging thing.

But looking back at old posts, I’m glad I didn’t. Do you ever scroll through your Facebook photos or Instagram feed and feel kind of content, melancholic and happy at the same time? That’s how I feel about my blog posts, even though barely anyone read them, let alone engaged with them. It’s ok to do something for the sole purpose of creating and I will treasure those memories that I collected on my website forever!

Appreciating my current home

So this blog is some sort of home for me. It’s a steady escape from my everyday life where I can do whatever I like without anyone interfering. It has also helped me appreciate life in another country. People often ask me if I feel ‘at home’ in Cambridge and if I’m homesick at all. Luckily, I’ve never been a particularly homesick person and I feel really lucky to be able to live in a different country. All the experiences I would have missed out on if I had stayed in Germany! And I don’t only mean the positive ones. Living abroad can be tough but it’s often the difficult and painful experiences that let you grow into a better version of yourself.

Enjoying the here and now

The part ‘is here’ of ‘home is here’ has also become quite important to me. It’s all too easy to set your eyes on the future and think about all the improvements it might bring, rather than living in the moment. I often find myself moaning about the current situation and how everything will be better in the future – whether it’s work, relationships or the goals I set myself. But aren’t we missing out on the present if we always think about the future? Ambitions are great but I often have to remind myself to live in the here and now and to make the most of it. That definitely includes living in the UK with all its benefits and downsides.

Where and what is home for you at the moment? Post it in the comments, I’d love to know!


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One Comment

  • Angie

    Hi Lena 🙂
    I just came back from beautiful ,but poor Nicaragua. I have seen so many homeless people there and am very thankful for my cosy house and garden. So my home is my castle fits exactly how I feel right now at this moment.
    Take care, Angie

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