A Decade Abroad: The Search for Belonging

Andre Neveling has spent a decade navigating life across the Middle East and Asia, experiencing both the allure and the cost of living as an expatriate. The journey, beginning in 2015, has been a series of unparalleled adventures but has led to feelings of disconnection and a diluted sense of belonging.

A Dream Turned Sacrifice

Leaving behind a career in South African media, Andre sought the bright Highrises of Dubai. From there, his path wove through roles in Abu Dhabi and a brief stop in Singapore, culminating in five challenging years in bustling Hong Kong before reaching the serene shores of Thailand. Despite the myriad opportunities and memories, he discovered over time that the true difficulty of expatriate life lies not in the initial cultural adjustments or the uncertainty of new starts but in the subtle, long-term sacrifices of familiarity and identity.

The Question That Hits Hard

Once, 'Where are you from?' was an easy query for Andre, full of pride. Now it's a question that stirs an internal conflict. Is 'home' South Africa, a place now felt only through the past? His soul seems scattered across the world—from the charm of Dubai to Hong Kong's energetic skyline, and the lush hills of Thailand. His restless heart echoes a theme of 'global homelessness,' even estranged from his origins.

Amid life's transitions, Andre struggles with episodes of identity turmoil. Each move has compounded the question of belonging and punctuated his desire to find a place that resonates as 'home.'

A Stranger to His Own Kin

As time at home diminished, so did Andre's connection with the next generation. Transformations occurred within his family back in South Africa: siblings raising their own children, including twins and a niece he's met only recently. His return at the age of 40 was marked by alienation—a poignant reminder of his absence, his nephews more engaged with screens than with unfamiliar relatives.

Friends who once stood by him have lives now consumed by their own children's routines. During a phone call, realizing his friend's son barely recognized him, Andre faced the void of experiences and relationships unwitnessed, chronicled only in pictures and stories.

The Vanishing Safety Net

Every expatriate hopes for a refuge—a familiar space to return if needed. For Andre, that fallback plan—feeling like he could always return home—slowly became impractical. As life progressed for people he left behind, changes erased the old comforts. Parents aged, friends evolved, businesses transformed. Even trusted allies became distant memories or, in startling turns of fate, unreachable.

Eventually, Andre recognized that the foundations he assumed would always support him were gone. The realization unfolded that his expatriate experiences might define his entire life, rather than just an adventurous chapter.