Celebrating New Year 2022 as an Expat: Reflections and Resolutions from Around the World

As midnight struck on New Year’s Eve 2022, I found myself thousands of miles from where I grew up, watching fireworks burst over an unfamiliar skyline. There’s something bittersweet about marking these milestones abroad—you’re creating new traditions while missing the old ones, feeling both incredibly connected to your adopted home and achingly aware of the distance from your roots. That night, scrolling through messages from fellow expats scattered across the globe, I realized we were all navigating this beautiful, complicated dance together.

The Spirit of Connection Across Borders

What really got me was how despite celebrating in different time zones—from friends bundled up in Iran’s winter to others enjoying balmy nights by Mexico’s lakes—we all seemed to share the same cocktail of emotions. My phone lit up with messages from Colombia, Mauritius, Sweden, Vietnam… each ping a reminder that this crazy expat family we’ve built transcends geography. Sure, we might be far from our childhood homes, but we’ve discovered something equally precious: a network of kindred spirits who just get it.

New Beginnings and Fresh Starts

January always brings stories that make my heart swell, but 2022 felt especially poignant. Take this couple I connected with who’d just moved from Cavite to Batangas in the Philippines—still sleeping on mattresses on the floor while their dream home took shape around them, already planning which truck to buy next. Their excitement reminded me of my first weeks abroad, when even figuring out the grocery store felt like conquering Everest.

Then there was the retiree who’d been living at Lake Chapala for just three months and couldn’t stop gushing about the ‘magic’ of the place. You know that feeling when someone finds their spot? That place where everything just clicks? Their joy was infectious, and I couldn’t help but remember my own “aha” moment when I realized I’d found home in the most unexpected place.

Hopes and Resolutions for the Year Ahead

Reading through everyone’s hopes for 2022, I noticed we’re all chasing variations of the same dreams:

• Family reunions that COVID had put on hold—like my friend desperate to introduce their new partner to their daughters back in Sweden (and fix that leaky roof while they’re at it!)
• Career pivots and business expansions—shoutout to the real estate agent ready to take their hustle to the next level with some savvy marketing
• Fresh adventures—including one brave soul planning a move to Vietnam, pandemic be damned
• The classics that never get old—good health, genuine happiness, and more time with the people who matter most

The Power of Community Support

If 2022 taught me anything, it’s that expat communities aren’t just nice to have—they’re essential. The gratitude pouring in for these digital gathering spaces hit different this year. We’ve all had those 3 AM moments of doubt, wondering if we made the right choice, missing familiar faces and places. Having a tribe that understands those feelings without explanation? Priceless.

I loved seeing messages flow in every language under the sun. One French message about a harmonious family dinner where everyone actually showed up (miracle!) reminded me that whether we’re saying “Happy New Year,” “Bonne Année,” or “Feliz Año Nuevo,” we’re all wishing for the same things: connection, prosperity, and maybe just a little less bureaucratic paperwork in our adopted countries.

Navigating Challenges with Hope

Look, we’d be lying if we said the pandemic hadn’t left its mark on our 2022 celebrations. But something had shifted. Instead of the shell-shocked survival mode of previous years, I sensed a collective exhale, a cautious optimism creeping back in. As one expat perfectly put it: “pandemic’s been a wild one but we will get through it.” That’s us in a nutshell, isn’t it? Adaptable, stubborn in the best way, finding reasons to celebrate even when the world feels upside down.

Looking Forward with Determination

Sitting here now, reflecting on all these shared stories and dreams, I’m struck by our collective determination. Whether you’re waiting on that visa decision (the eternal expat anxiety), plotting business expansion, hammering away at your dream home, or simply trying to keep your international friendships alive despite time zones that never quite align—every goal is a testament to the courage it takes to build a life far from where you started.

What hits hardest is realizing we’re not just random individuals scattered across the map. We’re this incredible, messy, supportive network of people who looked at the conventional path and said, “Nah, I’ll make my own, thanks.” We’re the ones video-calling family at weird hours, explaining foreign customs that now feel normal to us, and creating homes in places we once couldn’t pronounce.

So here’s my toast to 2022 and beyond—may it bring you closer to whatever you’re chasing, whether that’s a promotion, a family reunion, or just the perfect apartment with good wifi and understanding neighbors. May your roots grow deep in your chosen soil while your branches still reach toward home. Happy New Year, fellow wanderers—we’ve got this!