How did your body change after moving to another country?

Posted by emaefr@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 25 comments

Hi everyone

I’m working on a personal art project about how the body changes when you live in another country. I’d love to include real experiences from others, so if you’re open to sharing, your response might be used in the project (anonymously, unless you’d like your name included).

A few things I’m particularly curious about:

– if someone met you only in this country, what would they get wrong about you?
– are there parts of your body you hide more? or show more? (clothes, tattoos, posture, anything)
– have you ever felt suddenly “too much” or “not enough” just by how you look? what exactly felt off?
– is there a version of you that only exists in your native language? how do they sound/move/react?
– does your voice feel different in your body when you switch languages?
– do you find it easier to say emotionally charged things in a different language than your own? for example, I can’t say “I love you” in my mother tongue.

Feel free to answer any of these, even just one. If there’s something that doesn’t fit the questions but feels relevant, I’d really love to hear that too. Thank you :)

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keurigokrieger@reddit

Retired military in South Korea, I was stationed/ working here, so lived on base ate US food mostly, some Korean (home food for me now) food once in a while.

Starting measurements Height- 6'4ft /195 cm Weight - 308lbs / 138 kilo

American food and life choices while in, led to obesity , high blood pressure and my body ached all over.

After 7 months of truly living in Korea, only home food with my husband's "family", living "off base."

Same height, 🤷 Weight 228lbs / 103 kilos and still losing weight, along with the weight loss, my body odor has almost gone away, my skin looks more fresh and overall I look younger than before. No more high blood pressure either. Some of this comes with the retirement, more with fresh, healthy food.

-----someone met you only in this country, what would they get wrong about you?---- that I don't love Korean food, OMFG I absolutely love it!

----are there parts of your body you hide more? or show more? (clothes, tattoos, posture, anything)--- My height, sticks out like a skyscraper 😝🤷. I'm also usually the only one at the beach without my shirt, Koreans prefer the white skin look, while also tanning very easily! I'm pasty white German/ Irish, I don't tan at all.

----have you ever felt suddenly "too much" or "not enough" just by how you look? what exactly felt off?---no, never felt overwhelmed, but I do try to "shrink" so I'm not sticking out so much.

----- is there a version of you that only exists in your native language? how do they sound/move/react?--- A bit louder, but I've toned myself down.

----does your voice feel different in your body when you switch languages?--- I'm still trying to learn Hangel, my mind does take longer.

-----do you find it easier to say emotionally charged things in a different language than your own? for example, can't say "I love you" in my mother tongue.----Hangel uses a lot more semi-nonverbal communication, so makes conservations shorter and to the point.

rdolishny@reddit

I just moved to Thailand from Canada and I’m definitely lost some weight. Walking in the heat has really burned off any excess fat. Professionally I wear long sleeve shirts now to hide my tattoos, which is a bit difficult because it’s so hot. I also had a nicely curated beard that again wouldn’t have gone over well during interviews. I might grow it back. And of course, I can speak a little bit of Thai and my confidence is higher, and my accent seems to be less offensive.

Aggressive_Wait1733@reddit

Ha! Walking and diet is why you burned off fat, nothing to do with the heat.

FinestTreesInDa7Seas@reddit

I'm originally from Canada (currently living in France), and I'm planning on making Thailand my retirement location, but I'm only 40 so I'm starting to spend more time there. I'm in the process of looking for a condo in Phuket.

I agree with most of what you said.

Something that has been a huge positive change for me is my digestive system.

I just got back from spending 1 month there, and my digestive health has never been better. I firmly believe its due to the rarity of dairy products in Thai cooking.

In western cultures, you can't escape dairy. Dairy or dairy byproducts are in everything. Going dairy free in Thailand is easy, it pretty much only exists in coffee shops, bakeries, and western food options like crepes, etc.

That and I’ll add bread. I’ve never seen grocery store so such a small bread section in my life. However… That Japanese bakery with the butter buns is the shit. So yeah fresh food, no dairy other than in my coffee, very little bread except for that Japanese delicacy. And my digestive system hasn’t been better. Which is ironic and then Bangkok and everyone warned me about Bangkok belly.

LizP1959@reddit

France: while I worked in France (2 yrs) I lost every ounce of excess weight (there wasn’t that much to begin with) and felt great BUT all the walking wrecked my feet pretty badly. (pSthe body also was easy to clothe In a simple and stylish way, inexpensively, but without any cheapness.)

Scotland: when I worked there (1 yr and a bit) got pneumonia several times, became thin and haggard and was cold all the time.

UK: 3 yrs, very poor health and couldn’t get specialist treatment without long waits and/or going private. Developed a serious cardiac condition that went untreated until I decided to fly home to Baltimore to see my old doc at Hopkins, where they immediately hospitalized and treated me.

So there’s that.

Top-Half7224@reddit

When I moved to the UK from the US I was more comfortable wearing flattering clothing. In the US I would wear loose fitting clothing that hid my figure unless out with a BF because of the amount of unwanted attention and comments I would get from men.

Extension_Canary3717@reddit

Europes shitty water fucked my skin

KartFacedThaoDien@reddit

I gained weight when I moved from America to Asia then maybe two months later I lost it and my weight has been the same as when I left America since then.

I changed mentally because now I have the urge to dress up as the punisher and do what the punisher does to trashy people.

Bettinatizzy@reddit

Huh?

Yes

Flabbaghosted@reddit

Lost 40 pounds, improved my posture and I feel I am objectionably more attractive, especially in my face.

Strange_Explorer_780@reddit

Which country?

Busy-Country-9009@reddit

I moved from Sydney to London - I was constantly sick, pretty much every month and caught new virus/germs that I haven’t caught before. I also got Covid just after two weeks of arriving in London and that was my first time getting it. The symptoms finally calmed down after two years - that’s when my body finally adjusted.

MaxInIrving@reddit

I dropped 35 pounds when I moved to El Salvador despite eating like 5 times a day (3 meals and two snacks.) It had to be all the walking and recreational physical activities plus the low cost of fresh vegetables and fruit. I ate more, but I ate healthier and I did something active everyday. Not just sitting at a desk like I did in the US.

No-Jackfruit3211@reddit

I'm a woman in my 40s but look younger ( still get carded in the US). I think that biking + walking everywhere in Japan kept my weight and figure almost the same as when I was in my 20s. When I see college friends many have gained a lot of weight (30lbs or more?) and I wonder if I stayed would i be the same ?

Mr_Lumbergh@reddit

I lost nearly 10 kilos while making no other changes. The food quality here is way better.

gregd303@reddit

My stress levels have gone up feeling like an alien, and I am less smiley- as is the way here in Slavic countries. Brit "stuck" in Poland.

Global-Positive-1041@reddit

I’ve become more comfortable showing myself, but on the other hand, my hair has gotten pretty damaged from the hard water 🥲

Maleficent-Fun-1022@reddit

I moved from a car centric area where I rarely walked to a country with walkable neighborhoods and good public transportation. I lost 10 lbs in two months, just living here (walking). I was in pain the first few weeks from existing arthritis and sore muscles not used to walking and climbing stairs. However, by the 3rd week my arthritis pain was almost gone - just from walking!

mmoonbelly@reddit

Facial muscles change because of language.

German is more forceful and explosive than English.

Living in France needs different facial shrugs.

– if someone met you only in this country, what would they get wrong about you? France? They’d assume I can’t understand them.

– are there parts of your body you hide more? or show more? (clothes, tattoos, posture, anything) No. European countries are very similar in fashions and body culture. I avoid the sauna in Germany.

– have you ever felt suddenly “too much” or “not enough” just by how you look? what exactly felt off? Came back from the US to London after 18 months. My wardrobe was completely wrong for London fashion. Had to rebuy quickly.

– is there a version of you that only exists in your native language? how do they sound/move/react?

I can be far more expressive in English than German and French. It’s more to do with English being an inflected language and a far larger vocab. My other languages are usually just the major use, and I keep complexity broken into different sentences.

– does your voice feel different in your body when you switch languages? Yes. Raises pitch by about a 4th. (Result of female dominance in language teaching).

– do you find it easier to say emotionally charged things in a different language than your own? for example, I can’t say “I love you” in my mother tongue. No. Just feels weird. (Though that might be because even after 18 years together my French is still weaker than my German, studied in Germany at Uni, lived in France) My other half (who’s French) only speaks English to me, but when she does use French it has a different resonance level.

lledit@reddit

This is a really fascinating topic.

I moved to Brazil and within two months my face completely changed. It was puffy, red, circles under my eyes. It changed to radiant, slim, overall vibrant. My husband commented on it frequently.

I always felt uncomfortable in bathing suits my entire life; no matter how fit/skinny I’ve been. When I got to Brazil I wore a one piece to the beach and immediately felt weird for doing it. ALL bodies: young/old/skinny/fat/saggy wear bikinis. It feels weird not to! So I’m a bikini girl again (after 10 years of not wearing one)!

I got pregnant shortly after moving here (I attribute it to my newly relaxed 😎 attitude & change in lifestyle) and bought the tiniest bikini I’ve probably ever bought! 😅 I rocked my pregnant body the entire time whereas in the US I was always trying to hide.

Now I’m 2 months postpartum and while my body hasn’t gone back to “normal” I feel I have a LOT less inflammation in my body. My face remained slim throughout pregnancy (it was always puffy in the US). I think it has everything to do with just having a healthier lifestyle; more nature, I cook everything from scratch & rarely eat out, I walk instead of drive. I just know I’m about to get in the best shape of my life!

BlockLocal6433@reddit

I’ve softened. Moving countries is challenging and you go through a metamorphosis. I realised I was holding a lot, still am, but I’m actively working on feeling more via somatic practices. Also, I started exploring my feelings the exercise I gravitate towards has changed. I was a wrestler and used to lift in my teens. Then, solely lifting in until my mid 20s. Since this change, I’m focused on other things like spin class and yoga. I don’t need to be “strong” by pushing weights. I could expand on some of your other questions but I’ll spare you. But, the whole language thing is something I’ve explored a lot. I’m far more able to communicate emotionally in English than I am in French and I know that’s because French was the language in which I experienced most of my trauma. And so, when processing it in English, it feels a bit easier.

emaefr@reddit (OP)

Don’t spare me, I’m really interested 🙂 and if you’d rather not share it publicly, you can DM me.

spot_removal@reddit

Lost weight living in Bangkok because the locals are generally pretty lean and appearances matter a lot.