When you travel outside of your country, are you always aware you are not there?

Does it ever leave the back of your mind that you are not in your country? I don’t mean the architecture or the language, I mean a sort of gnawing feeling that things are just a little different, or you have to be a little more on your toes, or if something went wrong you want to be able to get back to your country.

If you live in a big country like the US, Russia, Mexico, etc. does it feel that way even if you are just 1000 miles away from your home, but still in your counry? What if you live in a rather small country like Italy or England, but are part of the European community? Do you feel at home in any European country that belongs?

I figure a lot of it depends on an individuals personality, and how often they travel. Anyway, I was curious to hear the collectives thoughts on it. Feel free to expand on how it feels to you when you travel, what you worry about, if it feels foreign, if you feel at home and like a citizen of the world, or even if it feels odd to you just to be two hours from home even in your own country.

Let us know what country you live in.

Thanks.