Repatriation is not a sprint. It is a marathon.

Like every marathon, almost everyone hits a crisis at some point of repatriation. After years of observing hundreds of repatriation journeys as a co-founder and director of Repat Armenia – and going through one myself in 2010 from Moscow – I increasingly feel that most repatriates pass through at least three major crises. Not only emotional or professional ones, but also crises of adaptation, belonging, expectations, and relationships with local society.

The first crisis usually comes within the first 5–6 months: the “romantic crisis”

The honeymoon with Armenia ends. Daily life begins, and bureaucracy, work culture differences, communication gaps, unpredictability, and unrealistic expectations slowly start getting on your nerves.

Many repatriates still see themselves as external observers – sometimes even saviors – constantly comparing Armenia to the countries they came from and wondering why things do not work the same way here or cannot be fixed faster. Meanwhile, locals often see them as temporary outsiders trying to teach them how to live without fully understanding the realities on the ground. Everyone mostly stays inside their own comfort zones and bubbles.

The second crisis often comes around years 2–3: the “identity crisis”

This is where things become psychologically harder. You realize you no longer fully belong to your previous country – but are still not fully perceived as local here either. You begin questioning not only the country around you, but also yourself, your expectations, your reactions, and sometimes even the ideas that originally brought you to Armenia.

Invisible cultural gaps become impossible to ignore: communication style, professional ethics, attitudes toward responsibility, institutions, hierarchy, initiative, and human relationships.

This is usually where idealism fades. You understand that meaningful change takes far more time, empathy, and humility than you initially imagined. And you slowly realize that adaptation is not only about Armenia adapting to you – but also about you adapting to Armenia.

Some repatriates become frustrated and isolate themselves even more deeply into “repat bubbles,” trying to preserve the comfort zones and legends in their heads. Others over-adapt and slowly lose parts of themselves trying too hard to fit in.

Affiliation gradually shifts from emotional attachment to conscious choice.

And then comes the third crisis deepest stage – often around years 7–8: the “belonging crisis”

By then, Armenia is no longer an adventure. It is simply life. You stop constantly judging and start understanding why things are different. You begin seeing the country through the eyes of locals as well. You start appreciating things you once underestimated and learning from realities you previously saw only as disadvantages or dysfunctions.

But this stage also brings difficult questions: “Am I truly building my future here?” “Do I fully belong here long-term?” “Am I changing the country – or has the country changed me more?”

Ironically, this is often the stage where repatriates finally stop being guests and start feeling real ownership of the country – both of what they love and what deeply frustrates them.

Maybe one of the biggest mistakes we make is presenting repatriation mainly as a patriotic or logistical process. In reality, it is a long-term psychological, cultural, social, and identity transformation.

And what if the repatriation marathon ends after one of these crises? Should it necessarily be considered a defeat? How do you understand whether you are adapting realistically — or simply becoming hostage to the ideas and expectations that once brought you to Armenia? Can repatriation happen in several stages rather than once and forever?

These and many other questions still remain open.

*** this is a reprint of the original article published on May 13, 2026 on LinkedIn that can be found here.