I left the U.S. for Japan for eight months—and came back changed. In “The Return Home,” I reflect on returning to the U.S. after living and working in Japan, and the emotional complexity of coming home to a life that no longer feels the same. This episode explores reverse culture shock, shifting identity, and the quiet disorientation of reintegrating after long-term solo living abroad. From unpacking suitcases to unpacking who I became overseas, this is an honest look at how the journey doesn’t end when you return home—and how learning to come back can be its own kind of travel.
