Nothing speaks more to the new generation than to travel and explore the world ; the prospect of being paid to move around itself couldn’t be more appealing. But what does it really mean to grow up in the ever-shifting landscape of expatriate life?

Taking up a mere 3.7% of the world’s population, the term “expatriate” encompasses a big umbrella. Unlike migrants, expats reside outside their countries temporarily in order to obtain a certain goal, whether that be education, money or quality of life. Picture a more international Ginny Miller or a modern Phileas Fogg. 

Let me set up a scenario ; you’re a child to an expatriate couple, who’s job requires them to move countries every 2-3 years, meaning you are uprooted and placed in a total new environment along with them. This atypical life would be exactly how one would characterize Eleonore Foucque’s life. At the age of seventeen, she has lived in six different places. That’s six diverse environments, cultures, lifestyles, habits, social groups and school systems. 

Identity is a polemical topic for expat child : you cannot say you’re from the place you’re currently residing, yet you might seem misplaced to be only from your country of origin. Though expats aren’t usually fully integrated, the habits of the people of the nation start to shape them. Some have even never lived in their home country. So where does their home truly lie? 

“I’m probably going to say something corny,” said Paul Smith, a 17-year-old expat child currently residing in Dublin. “but to me a home is something psychological, rather than physical. Every place I’ve been to so far could be a place I think of as “home” to varying degrees.” Plato, for one, would agree with Paul on his immaterial opinion. 

Clash of cultures can be nothing less of shocking. While there isn’t a written guide to the different norms in each country, the ability to adapt becomes a survival instinct. Phenomenons, such as tipping (rarely outside of American continents), concepts of politeness (slurping food isn’t improper in some Asian countries) and family dynamics (always respect elders in Asian cultures), aren’t the same in every country.

In Paul’s perspective, moving around has sobered a sense of maturity in him. “[My lifestyle] has brought me a lot of different perspectives and visions of the world that you cannot really get from living in a fixed place.” Though that might seem intimidating at first, you meet people from different cultures and background, who all place values on different standards. “I have seen and experienced many different people with many ideas and lives, and it gave me a spectrum of beliefs that I can add to my own thoughts and mindset. I’d also say my lifestyle made me become more accepting, flexible, or dynamic in certain areas.”

For Eleonore, the first days, months and even year in a new school is brutal, despite her routine of starting over every several years. “Its easy in the way that I’m used to how it goes but it’s hard emotionally to let everyone go and to be alone again.” she explains “Everyone’s doing what they used to do but without you, and it’s not your fault nor theirs. Especially with expats, you want to be everywhere at the same time. Not only in every friend group but in every single continent. You really want to be there, but you simply can’t.” 

Moving around allows expatriates to cultivate a diverse web of acquaintances. However, as the expression goes, friends come and go. Staying in contact is challenging, and distance can place a barrier between friendships, though that could easily be resolved. For some, like Nina Lievore, who has lived in Hong Kong for over 7 years, staying in contact with her friends is “not that really that much of a problem.”

When it comes to recommending expat life, Eleonore, Paul, and Nina are all in agreement. Though it comes at the price of having to restart every so often, this lifestyle brings new knowledge not only of the world but of who you are as a person. “You get to see different aspects of yourself, and in a way you get to choose your favourite ones and to let go of the ones you don’t.” Eleonore said. “I don’t know who I am, but I think I’m the best version of who I can be.”

This article was written for the Yale Daily News’ 2025 Summer Journalism Program for high school students.