In 2012, I quit my job and moved to Australia. It was a heady time. I did so many things I thought I never would. I experienced a new culture, made new friends. Achieved many of my dreams.

Then, in 2015, in a move so sudden I didn't even have time to tell everyone in Oz, I moved home to Malaysia.

For many Malaysians, having the chance to live in Australia is the ultimate dream. Therefore, when I returned after three years as an experimental Aussie, they wanted to know why I'd ditch such a 'good thing'.

I did expect to be asked questions about my return, but I was taken aback by how negative some Malaysians were about my decision.

"What a waste", "You should've stayed there!", "You're so stupid-lah."

Because the reasons for my return were very personal, I stubbornly refused to share, just giving a pat, "I came back for my family" reason (it wasn't a lie).

Also, back then, I wasn't even sure how to articulate the storm of feelings in me beyond "I had to do it".

After two years thinking about, I now have more clarity about why I did what I did, and I believe my move back home was the right one.

So, why am I finally writing this?

A) Because people kept asking me why I returned. I'd like to direct them to this post instead of explaining it again and again! (Hey, get some hits in return, why not)

B) Because many people had their own ideas about why I moved back, and a lot of them were wrong.

I would also like to encourage expats chose to return home home, and are questioning why they didn't "stay". I want to tell them that it's not the end of the world if they decided to move from some "heavenly" Western nation back to Malaysia. In fact, the move could be the best thing you could do for yourself.