The first couple of years I lived overseas, I used to get offended that my family and friends*—even those closest to me—wouldn’t ask me much about my life in my new country (or at least not much more than, ‘How’s Vienna?’)   I thought it was kind of rude to only ask these surface-level questions, like they just didn’t care.  It actually really shocked me that no one seemed to be concerned with my day-to-day life.  I’m over that now, because I came to the conclusion that people just don’t know what to ask.  Most Americans don’t have tons of experience living abroad, and even the ones who have lived elsewhere don’t tend to ask too much. I guess it’s human nature to just be focused on your immediate surroundings, or at least your own country.  I know when I am ‘home’ in the US, I don’t spend a ton of time thinking about Vienna or Austria. (Although one could argue that that’s different, because I am usually on vacation, visiting my home country).  But it doesn’t bother me (as much) anymore when very few people ask me much about my expat life here.  I realize people are busy, they can’t really picture what life is like here, and therefore assume I will tell them if there’s something I want to talk about.  But hey, it still wouldn’t hurt to be asked occasionally! 

Other expats, do you find this too?  Or do I need all new friends?  (ha ha)

*There are some wonderful exceptions to this rule, people who ask a lot because they really want to know.  They are priceless.