Sharing is caring!

Sometimes a few days or weeks isn’t enough time in a country. Maybe you fell in love with a city and want to spend more time there. The idea of being able to live abroad may have crossed your mind, but are you willing to actually make it work?

Yes, it’s scary moving your whole life to another country. Even more so when you don’t know anyone there or what you’re going to do. There may be a language barrier that can be a real pain in the ass sometimes. It’s not like moving to a different part of your home country. It has its own completely separate rules.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using these links, I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Choosing a Country

First things first, you’ll have to choose a country. Now before you throw a dart on a map, you have to consider a few things:

1. Visa requirements – Does your passport allow you to go to this country? What visa will you need for entry and long term stay? What is the cost of the visa?
2. Language – Can you communicate in the country? If you cannot speak the local language what steps are you going to take to cope with this?
3. Currency – Is the exchange rate in your favor? Can you support yourself?
4. Dress Code – Some countries in the Middle East require women to be fully covered. Asian countries dress more conservatively.
5. Politics – How is the economic and political situation in the country? Is the currency stable? Is there political unrest?
6. Weather – Are you close to the ocean? Will there be earthquakes? What is the weather like most of the year? Is it different from what you’re used to?

Now that you’ve narrowed down your search, you can begin to think of what part of the country you’ll want to live abroad and for how long. I recommend starting off with a city, especially if you’ve never been to the country before. Cities will have more job opportunities, less of a language barrier, and lots of food options if you miss your favorite meal from back home.

Choosing a Job

Unless you have an endless supply of money, you’ll need to be able to support yourself while you live abroad. Some may be fortunate enough to have a job that allows them to work remotely and earn USD or EUR. This is ideally the golden ticket as you will pick a country where the exchange rate is in your favor, and you can live on a fraction of your income.

But some of us aren’t that lucky. A popular option is to teach English abroad. That is if you are a native English speaker or can prove you’re close to native English language abilities. Another option is to work for a global company that will relocate you to a different country. This means you won’t have to worry about visas and you’ll even get a relocation allowance. Downside is you probably won’t have much say in where you get relocated.

These aren’t the only options for jobs. If may even be possible to start your own business in another country. Or if you are a dual citizen, you can work just about any job. The possibilities are endless!

Teaching English

Since I myself am an English teacher in Thailand, I’m going to provide some tips for getting a job teaching in Thailand. Keep in mind that every country’s requirements are different and can change at any time.

Do you need a TEFL certificate? I suggest taking Premiertefl courses to get an accredited certificate online.

Requirements

1. Native or non-native English speaker
2. Bachelor’s Degree in any subject
3. TEFL or TESOL or CELTA certificate
4. Experience (comes in handy but everyone has to start somewhere so don’t worry if you’ve never taught before)

Where to Look

Obviously it’s going to be very easy to get a job if you’re already in the country. You can begin to apply before you arrive by using the ESL Teacher database of jobs. If you’re looking for a specific kind of school, Google the school and apply directly on their website. You can search for things like ‘bilingual schools in Bangkok,’ ‘international schools in Bangkok,’ or ‘universities in Bangkok.’ Use the Wikipedia page and go through all the school links and apply on their website.

If working in a school isn’t for you, there are plenty of language centers in Bangkok. The hours will vary and are usually after school, on the weekends and into the evening.

Curious to know what it’s really like teaching in Thailand? Check out this post.

When to Apply

The school year in Thailand starts in May and goes until February/March with a semester break in October. These are for schools that follow the Thai curriculum. The best time to apply is starting in February. Of course, open positions come up throughout the year, so just keep your eye out.

International schools follow the Western school calendar and start in August/September and end in May/June. Requirements for an international school are much stricter and require a teaching license from your home country.

Settling In

Once you’ve figured out all the major details of being able to live abroad, you can start settling into your new home. By now you have rented an apartment and spent a few weeks in the country. It may still feel like a vacation but at some point, it will start to feel like home.

If you’ve chosen to teach, you’ll be able to meet other teachers at your school. Within major cities, you’ll pick up on where other ex-pats like to hangout. I like using the app Meetup which allows me to meet other people with similar interests, and it’s nice to interact with people who don’t work at the school.

“WHAT MAKES EXPAT LIFE SO ADDICTIVE IS THAT EVERY BORING OR MUNDANE ACTIVITY YOU EXPERIENCE AT HOME (LIKE GROCERY SHOPPING, COMMUTING TO WORK OR PICKING UP THE DRY CLEANING) IS, WHEN YOU MOVE TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY, SUDDENLY TRANSFORMED INTO AN EXCITING ADVENTURE. WHEN ABROAD, BORDEM, ROUTINE, AND ‘NORMAL’ CEASE TO EXIST. AND ALL THAT’S LEFT IS THE THRILL AND CHALLENGE OF UNCERTAINTY.“

Reannon Muth