Are you considering moving abroad or starting anew at a different country or city? Is your work or personal journey taking you somewhere far? If you're changing homes, whether it is for the first time or the fifth, you will find helpful answers here. 

For the past six years I've been officially living as an expat in South Asia and  the Middle East. Before then, I was living in Latin America, where I was born and raised. I've also lived in Scandinavia and South Europe as a student. And even though living away from home was not unfamiliar, becoming an expat was.

Often times (not all the times) when I complain about the way people drive in Amman, Jordan  my current home, I think of how I would  undoubtedly complain about the same thing in my country or how I would criticize something else if I were living in a different place. The truth is that everywhere I go I will find something that I don't like, and I guess that is normal, especially in the adjustment phase. 

The important thing is to accept the things I cannot change and to appreciate the good and the extraordinary every place has to offer. This is why I want to share with you the challenges and opportunities I have found in living as an expat so far.

Challenges

1.  Cultural differences -  Not enjoying the place you move into (at least temporarily) and questioning local customs and idiosyncrasies that feel contrary to your beliefs. Dealing with different gender dynamics, traffic conducts, people's manners, contrasting views and perception on freedom, animals and women. Tip: Read real people's stories and connecting with other expats before moving somewhere new is beneficial as it will give you a clearer and more realistic view on what to expect. 

2.  Natural environment - Whether it is the location, the temperature (too hot, too humid, too cold), the pollution, or natural disasters that could occur in your new destination, these are potential challenges that can be difficult to adapt to. Tip: Make sure you pack appropriate clothes, shoes and medicines for all possibilities before relocating. Research the options to make it more pleasant for you, like outdoor or indoor activities, seasonal excursions, gear required.

3.  Finances - Certain countries allow you to save money, travel and even hire an extra hand to help you at home. Others do not. Asking in local forums before you move into a new destination will help you have a better understanding on what to expect. Tip: There's a great resource we have used in the past called Tales from a Small Planet. Most, if not all of its contributors are expats living all over the world who share what their experience and give genuine feedback with examples on what the cost of living is in each place. 

4.  Security - Depending on where you live, the crime rate can be higher or lower. In some places for instance, violence and crime are low, but terrorism is a potential threat.  While in other countries you are presented with both challenges or none. Having grown up in Latin America, I am used to reading news about crime or hearing stories of loved ones and how they've been directly or indirectly affected. As an expat woman, before moving somewhere I look for places where I can be and feel safe as much as possible. Being able to choose a city or country where one can walk on the streets without constantly worrying about getting robbed is a freedom that is worth prioritizing. However, it is also true that it is not always a possibility. Tip: Contact your local embassy and local expat organizations or Facebook groups in order to ask what is the best way to stay safe without having to spend your weekends at home. 

5.  Transience:  Every year and especially during the summer, there is a high number of friends moving away. The "turnover" is high every year.   One crucial thing to understand about this lifestyle is impermanence. Saying good bye is, unfortunately, constantly something you'll need to practice.  There are people that take this as part of “business”, but for me it is still difficult. Tip: I have found that keeping in touch with friends on WhatsApp has been a game changer. To me, it is easier and more personal to connect with those faraway than using other social media platforms, plus we are able to have "conversations" in real time.

Opportunities

1.  Connections - Cultivating friendships and relationships with people you wouldn't have met otherwise. This is one of the most rewarding experiences of living the nomadic life. Some friends will stay for long, others not, but many of them will undeniably make your experience grander and more fulfilling than if you had not met them.  If you are given the opportunity to live overseas, take it! People and places can really shape you and enrich your life in countless ways: spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, creatively, etc.

2.  Travel -  The opportunities to explore and travel throughout the region where you live are plenty. Depending on where you're located, being able to travel in country and to neighboring places and exploring their uniqueness without having to travel far is an added benefit.  Traveling not only expands our horizons geographically but also mentally. Go out and explore!

3.  Personal Growth - Facing unfamiliar situations is undoubtedly challenging. Being out of your comfort zone while finding yourself without a job in an unfamiliar place is not easy to say the least.  However,  it is also a possibility for personal growth, to gain deeper understanding of yourself and to let go off the ego and the labels that have shaped you in the past.  By approaching this lifestyle with open mindedness, you will gain life skills that will help you cope with an array of situations in other aspects of your life. 

4.  Food - Discovering and incorporating exotic and foreign flavors into your diet is a fascinating experience. Buying local produce, spices and herbs and experimenting with them at home is to me, a must-have experience to truly savor the culture of your host country. As a vegan, vegetables are my BFFs and so I am grateful for the opportunity to diversify and enhance the flavors in my salads and stews. By adding new ingredients or combinations, I am making my food a whole lot more enjoyable. 

5.  Creativity & inspiration - Whether it is home décor, a business idea, a new hobby or an education technique, you will have plenty of opportunities to get inspired when you live overseas. For example, you can find that your creative skills can help you start a home-based business, or that learning the local language will allow you to join the work force in the near future. Your hobbies could be used to benefit others as well. If you have the free-time you can volunteer at local organizations. The nomadic living is full of opportunities! 

There are definitely challenges and opportunities when you live overseas or faraway from your hometown.  In my personal journey I had to learn to choose a positive pair of glasses to really look beyond the things I didn't like. And to be honest, it is a constant practice, one that I forget often times.

It took me two long years to finally embrace the beauty of Nepal and to leave aside the issues I couldn't change like the chaotic traffic, the pollution and seeing the goats alive outside the butcher’s waiting to be slaughtered. Thankfully, by the time I left I had mostly adapted to the country and its daily challenges and I was appreciative of most of the experiences that came my way. 

After being in Jordan for a year, I am still to find the connection I felt to my previous post. However, I am very appreciative of the infrastructure, the availability of vegan products, the amazing people I am privileged to know, the space I have to explore creativity, the weather and the safe I feel most days. 

And one thing is for sure, I would rather be living this life with all its challenges and difficulties than missing out on the opportunities the nomad life has to offer.

If you're unsure whether living away from home is right for you, I would say go for it! You can read and hear different experiences, but you'll just have to live it for yourself. It will be worth it!

Thank you so much for being here! What about you? What are the advantages you’ve found in living as an expat? Would love to hear and learn from your experience.

Namaste.

Diana

Resources

If you’ve moved to your new destination and need an uplifting life-changing autobiography "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl is the book for you

If you’re a single woman planning to move overseas and are concerned about the safety in certain posts, check this article 10 Most Dangerous Places For Women Travelers (And How To Stay Safe)  by Forbes

If you’d like to connect to other expats and attend social events and activities for networking connecting visit InterNations

Other organizations you could consider joining are Alliance Française, Instituto Cervantes and the British council. I have personally noticed that the Alliance Alliance Française or Institut Alliance Français (depending on where you are) are actively hosting cultural activities that are opened to the public like concerts, dance, food and film festivals, etc.