MULTIPLE LOSS

Migration involves a series of simultaneous losses: family, friends, language, landscapes, customs, identity. This process of migratory grief is normal and necessary, although often unrecognized. Understanding it is the first step to moving through it in a healthy way.

THE DIFFERENT FACES OF NOSTALGIA

Migration nostalgia has many manifestations: longing for the flavors of familiar food, yearning for spontaneous conversations in one’s mother tongue, missing traditional celebrations, or simply missing the familiarity of one’s everyday surroundings.

ALLOWING YOURSELF TO FEEL

It is important to recognize and validate these feelings of loss. Many migrants feel pressure to “be grateful” or “adapt quickly,” which can lead to repressing legitimate emotions of sadness and longing.

BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN WORLDS

Maintaining connections with your country of origin while building a life in your new country is a delicate balance. Technologies such as video calls, social media, and sending packages help maintain ties, but they can also intensify feelings of distance.

RECONNECTION RITUALS

Creating small rituals that connect you to your culture of origin can help you process your grief: cooking traditional dishes, celebrating holidays even from a distance, listening to music from your country of origin, or participating in local cultural communities.

TRANSFORMING LOSS INTO GROWTH

Over time, migratory grief can become a source of personal growth. The experience of living between two cultures can develop a more complex and rich identity, integrating the best of both worlds.