What makes you a feel like a local or a real citizen of your town, village or suburb? For me I felt like a tourist in our second home in France, rather than a real homeowner and local, for nearly five years and it was the smallest event that suddenly made me feel like I belonged. 

The Day I Became A True French Villager

Being an expat can fill your daily life with wonder and amazement and also consternation as you try and figure out how everything works around you in your foreign environment or new country.

For some people fitting in seamlessly and appearing to have always belonged to their new life looks easy and for others it takes time and the inevitable faux pas and awkward moments before a sense of belonging is enjoyed.  The aha moment of belonging caught me unaware and it was the simplest of things that caused it.