Since as far as I can remember, I have had the impression I didn’t belong. I felt out of place, different, foreign. Born and raised in France by loving French parents, it made no sense. But I couldn’t shake it off.
Constantly looking for an escape, I started travelling. That’s when I realised that I felt the same way away from home as I felt back home. But at least there I knew why and felt less pressure to fit in. So, from 2011 onwards, I just stayed abroad and travelled more and more and more.
Through my travels, I began to meet likeminded people. They too had chosen to live away from home. Some because of work, some for personal reasons. Some who moved all over the place as kids, some who only started later in life. Some who dreamt of settling down someday and some who couldn’t even begin to consider it.
That’s when I realised I wasn’t alone. A whole community was emerging right before my eyes. Nothing organised or structured, simply a growing bunch of people who felt as though they didn’t belong to one country or one place, but, as cheesy as it sounds, belong to themselves and to the world!
What I loved above all was listening to all the fascinating stories these people had to tell. It made me want to create a place where they could share their own, read others’ and inspire more people to take the plunge.
Every month I’ll be posting new stories of these ordinary yet extraordinary individuals who’ve chosen to be beyond borders. If you are one of them and want to share your experience – the amazing, the good, the bad and the ugly – get in touch. I can’t wait to hear from you!