For as long as I can remember, I’ve lived a life across cultures. I’ve moved for work, for love, and to support my husband’s career. Each culture and country have shaped me - each language, each unfamiliar supermarket aisle, each new set of friends. Over time, I grew used to being the one figuring things out, the outsider slowly becoming an insider. But even with all the adaptability and resilience I’d gathered, there came a point where something felt... off.

It wasn’t burnout. It wasn’t that I wasn’t coping. I was still showing up, still making things work for me and my family. But there was a quiet ache under the surface. One I couldn’t quite name. A loneliness that crept in when no one quite understood the complexity of the life I was living. I was craving conversations that didn’t require footnotes. People who got what it means to raise kids away from our home country, and living far away from family and childhood friends. Who understood the odd blend of privilege and grief that comes with global mobility. Who didn’t roll their eyes when I mentioned our latest relocation, or the emotional weight of repatriation.

That’s when I discovered FIGT (Families in Global Transition). I came across the organization shortly after repatriating, having returned “home” after nine years abroad. Except that home didn’t feel like home anymore. I was disoriented in ways I hadn’t expected. Reverse culture shock, the disconnection from old networks, the constant sense that I had changed but the world I returned to hadn’t. It was all incredibly disorienting.

FIGT became a lifeline. Not just a resource, but a global community that offered the language, insight, and connection I didn’t know I needed. It helped me realize I wasn’t alone in this journey, and most importantly, it showed me I wasn’t just someone in transition, but someone who could help others navigate it.

Getting involved as a Board member felt like a natural next step. It gave me a sense of purpose when I most needed it. I realized I had something to contribute. Not just lived experience, but skills that could truly help others navigating global transitions. That insight was the springboard for my second act: stepping into a new career as an intercultural trainer and coach. What started as a personal search for belonging grew into a professional calling.

Along the way, the connections I made within FIGT weren’t just meaningful; they were practical and powerful. One of the members helped me scope out a house when our family was making the move to a new country - an act of trust and generosity that reminded me how much we look out for each other in this community. Another one referred me for contract work that aligned perfectly with my skillset. A third one connected me with an acquaintance in our new host country who became a dear friend and a window into the local culture and community. Through FIGT I have connected with highly skilled professionals that helped me learn and grow in more ways than I could think. These weren’t just networking moments - they were reminders of how valuable it is to belong to a genuinely global, generous, and values-driven community.

Being part of FIGT helped me reframe my story. It reminded me that the challenges of this globally mobile life - the constant change, the farewells, the need to start over again and again - are not signs of instability, but of adaptability, growth, and deep empathy. It reminded me that community is not always where you are geographically, but who you’re with. And it reminded me that we don’t have to do this alone.

If you’re navigating global transitions, whether you're a seasoned expat, a new arrival, or someone trying to make sense of coming “home”, know that there’s a place where your story is understood. FIGT is that place for me. 

Daniela Draugelis is a certified Cultural Intelligence (CQ) facilitator, certified Energy Leadership coach (CPC, ELI-MP), and founder of Cultural Pathways LLC. Drawing on over 20 years of international experience, she supports globally mobile professionals, families, and teams as they navigate cross-cultural transitions, build resilience, and lead with awareness. She offers coaching, training, and workshops around the world - online and in person.