What it's really like to live in a country that isn't your own? This American mom in India shares her story

What happens when you trade your familiar comforts for a completely new world? For Kristen Fischer, an American mother now living in India with her family, the answer lies somewhere between joy and culture shock, sarees and homesickness, Holi colours and quiet longing. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Kristen opened up about her journey of living abroad, and her words struck a chord with thousands around the world who’ve walked the same path of cross-cultural life.

What is it like to live in a country that is not your own? She wrote, “It is everything… happy, hard, fun, lonely, exciting, confusing, tiring, amazing, frustrating — and so worth it.” Her post was accompanied by a video montage that captured beautiful, everyday moments: her daughter riding a cycle down an Indian lane, a vibrant Holi celebration, Diwali happiness, and a clip of herself gracefully draping a saree.

Kristen reflected on the emotional duality of expat life — the strange tug of belonging to two places at once, yet not fully to either. She confessed her deep love for India, while also admitting that it hasn’t always been easy. And that’s exactly what resonated with many on the internet.


Internet reacts
In the comments, people from around the globe chimed in. One user shared how living abroad takes time to adjust, but once you adapt, it becomes home. Another remarked that around the 15-year mark, you start to feel more at peace in the new country — “at least that’s been my experience.” Others expressed empathy, pointing out how that feeling of being “in-between” is a shared emotional landscape for expats everywhere.

Someone wrote about the bittersweet trade-off that comes with leaving behind your homeland: “As much as one may try to adapt, that longing to be at ‘home’ will always be there. Just hope your family doesn’t have to go through too much annoyance here.”