Laura

Have you ever gone to a country for the first time and felt like you've been there before? Like it was so familiar that you could almost describe what was around the corner, even tho you haven't seen what's there yet? Had the feeling like if reincarnation were true then you know you must have lived here in another life? <BR> <BR>I felt like that the first time I went to England....not only that, but I felt like I had been in some of the castles before and that I had even worked in a couple of them (nope, I sure wasn't royalty!) And I felt like the Bloody Tower was the most familiar and I could almost describe how some of the rooms had once been furnished. Very strong feelings.

nancy

Laura, <BR>Interesting question. <BR>have not been to Scotland yet, but whenever I have seen pictures, or heard the music, I feel as if I "know" it. <BR> <BR>But, with that in mind, I think that is why I loved Italy sooo much! <BR>My Scottish soul has been yearning for so long for the colors, the sounds, the smells and the tastes of an culture so very different from what I knew. <BR> <BR>And I felt *very* comfortable there. <BR> <BR>Does this make any sense? <BR>

mimi taylor

Yes Nancy, it does. This will blow your mind! I have never had the desire to go to Italy, WHY? Both my parents were born there. Relatives think I am abnormal. From the time I was a little girl, I loved french literature and art. And later as an adult the food and clothes. I feel most at home in Provence. I can't afford to have two trips a year and only after I have explored all the departments would I go to Italy. French films have always been my favorites. I have been lucky to meet both Truffeau and Goddard and recently the man who produces Chabrol's films. I think it is Karma.

Brenda

When I stepped foot on British soil for the first time, I felt this electric-like sensation (like a chill) go through my body and the only thought in my mind was, "I've come home." The feeling grew stronger when I arrived in Ireland. I feel like I belong when I am in Ireland. It's more home to me than my hometown where I've lived for over forty years.

shell

I felt that way about Sweden. I went there for the first time in October 97, and my three week trip ended up being a three month stay. (ok, so I was with a guy at the time!) <BR> <BR>I felt so at home there, as I've not felt in any other place in the world

Mel

YES! The first time I went to London it was as part of a larger trip with my sister (I wanted to see Paris, she wanted to see London--we compromised). I had no expectations. I, too, felt immediately drawn "home" when I walked out of Heathrow. There is no place overseas I am more comfortable, more drawn to, more anxious to go back to again and again. I've used the phrase with friends that "I feel like I'm supposed to be there." Now I know that there are others out there who would nod and agree with me! Thanks for the confirmation! <BR> <BR>

Linda

Interesting thread! Never felt like I've been there before, but have felt like I was coming home when I went to England. Extremely comfortable there. But why do I feel like I'm missing something. Oh well, maybe Spain is my country!

Howard

I'm Jewish and never wanted to visit Germany because of what happened in WW2. <BR>My parents had filled my ears with hatred of all that is German for as long as I can recall. On my first 3 trips to Europe I avoided Germany totally and even refused to take a train through that country. <BR> <BR>When I was about 40 I met some Germans at a place I worked at and they seemed very nice. They were helpful and kind to me and I ended up becoming friends with a few of them. So on my next trip to Europe one of them asked me to visit her in Freiburg. Thus I went for my first visit to Germany. And I loved it and felt so at home right away, it was amazing. The way the homes looked and the food and the language and the people...I just felt at home everywhere. Even in the big cities like Hamburg. And in Berlin I felt the most strongly like "I belong here". I have never felt that way anywhere else in the world. My parents were very angry when I told them I enjoyed Germany BTW so I never told them the rest of how I felt. But since then I have thought that if there is such a thing as past lives, I lived and loved in Germany

nancy

Enjoyable and reassuring to read these postings. <BR>Interesting to read that others , too, feel instant connections to newly known places! <BR> <BR>Feeling like an italian, trapped in a scottish soul, which is trapped in my germany-dutch-swiss-latvian body , could be confusing. <BR>but, I'm going to just go with this flow, and get back to italy ASAP. <BR> <BR>Howard, <BR> I grew up with many friends whose parents had such a dislike of Germany, and for good reasons, I may add, that they would never purchase items made there. <BR>Even 20-30-50 yrs. post war. <BR>this was good news for the Cadillac business back in the 1960's <BR> <BR>Did your family originate from Germany? <BR>'I am glad you went, I hope you can return soon.

Laura

Nancy, yes, I do understand, and I hope you do go to Scotland. Please, if you do, you have to let us know if you really did 'feel' as if you knew it. <BR> <BR>Howard, I never had any desire to go to Germany, either....I am not Jewish, but I am part German and not proud of what happened during the WW2....but, I did finally go, and I felt almost as you did...it was very familiar and did not feel 'foreign' to me at all. What was funny, tho, was that while the land felt so familiar, the people absolutely did not. <BR> <BR>Mimi....France feels SO foreign to me...I like looking at it, but I do not feel at home, nor do I feel very welcome. <BR> <BR> <BR>But in England, both the land AND the people feel very, very familiar. <BR> <BR>I mentioned in my original post that I felt as tho I had actually worked in some of the castles. The work I have the strongest 'memory' doing is waxing the bannisters of the main stairway, and making biscuits and pies in the kitchen of some castle (or more than one castle). Do any of you have any feelings that you can almost know what job you might have done (if there really were reincarnation)? <BR> <BR>By the way, I am Irish and German...don't know if there is any English there or not. <BR>

nnm

Yes, like other posters above I feel like I've been in England and Ireland before. When riding on tour busses I find myself thinking "I'm home, I'm home". I am the happiest when I am in England. Just can't explain it. The spookiest was when I was doing a tour of Ireland. We came across a stream along railroad tracks and I had been startled as I realized this is a place that I saw in my dreams. I am of an Italian heritage and have been to Italy but nothing makes me feel like I do when I'm in England.

NoNamePlease

I do feel the same. I love Europe in general, but there is something about France that feels incredibly familiar, and I always feel so at home there. <BR> <BR>Another freaky thing: Just before my first trip to Europe, I had a vivid dream about going to Verona, and wandering about a marketplace. The wierd thing was, at that time, I had never heard of Verona! When I looked it up I was really surprised to see that it is a fairly popular destination. Anyway, I haven't been able to go there yet, but that's on my "to do" list.

zzzzz

top

robin

Maybe this is why I'm often mistaken for an Italian when in Italy (I'm not). From my first trip in 1997, I immediately felt comfortable and as though I'm at home. And after several more visits, with most recent in May of this year, I eagerly looking forward to hearing the language again & that wonderful sense of belonging.

kimbuys

I had wanted to visit Paris since I was around 11 years old when I started studying French language in school. I was 34 when I finally made it over there. I felt "at home" as soon as I arrived, and didn't want to leave. Once home, I researched and redecorated my home with all things French. Then, a very good friend told me she had a dream about me living in Paris. In the dream they cam to visit me and we sat on my balcony drinking coffee with our croissants. Please note: this is not the type of friend that normally even tells me about their dreams. She still says to this day that she thinks the dream was so realistic, she views it as a premonition. I hope that she is right. PS - I'm leaving in 2 weeks for my 4th trip - the first trip alone. I joke with my friends and tell them I may move there someday.