I'm an American who moved to Germany 19 years ago, in my 40s. I have always thought of myself as American until recently. I moved here when I married into a large extended family that is solidly in the German culture.

Recently, I have been seeing myself as more German. I don't have a pass, just permanent residency. I vote in American elections, etc, so the sense of being German is mixed with American identity. I think if I went back home the culture shock would be worse than when I initially moved here.

I guess I feel sort of stateless too. I speak good German and even look like the typical German and so in pretty well. I'll never feel like I've become completely German though. I know the dutzen thing now. At first doing Du and Sie was a real headache, but I absorbed enough culture that it is second nature now.