Thanks for sharing Nat!

Yes, I am American. And you’re right, I think people tend to split up their own countries by region, because they know so much more about their home country and see it in such high detail. Again, for me there is a difference between a visit and a complete visit, but perhaps this is just semantics. If I really enjoy a country I don’t think I can ever say I’ve seen everything and don’t need to return; I’m still exploring and finding new places in my hometown!

I don’t think how or where you live makes or breaks the criteria; living with locals obviously makes it easier to have a genuine local experience, however someone living in a hotel making the effort to meet people daily will certainly experience more than someone living with locals but sitting in their room all day talking to friends on facebook. Although, I suppose some people are hermits and don’t leave the house anyways, so you could argue none of this matters.

I don’t think you have to learn to speak the language, although in my opinion you should.

People assimilate at different speeds, and different places allow for more rapid adjustment than others. For example, an American moving to the Middle East and having to learn the language, the customs, and the ins and outs of a totally different culture will assimilate much slower than if they were to move to Australia. I think you need to be comfortable in a place because you can call it home. You need to know how to get around, where to get your basic necessity shopping done, and have some favorite places to relax, eat, socialize, etc. Having friends in a location is too personal to generalize. I’d say you’d have to compare on an individual basis someones social practices and situation in their previous place of residence, if they have lots of friends where they used to live, you’d expect to have at least a few goto friends around their next home. But obviously if someone isn’t social not having any friends around may not be a sign of not having actually lived somewhere. Registering with the local government is again location specific, depending on the country it may or may not be required. Or what about living somewhere illegally, I don’t think this really changes where or where not someone may call home.

I suppose you can only live in one place at a time, but you can have multiple homes in different places.

What about if you live in a hotel for 30 days versus if you pay rent for a month in a flat you share with locals? Do you need to learn to speak the language? Do you need to fully assimilate, have intimate friendships, or register with the local governments?  I’d say that, like a visit, it is highly subjective.  Home is where the heart is.  But can you live in numerous countries at once?