Sharing is caring!

If you’ve ever thought about moving to a foreign country to start a new life abroad, I applaud your decision!

I fully support moving abroad if it’s for the right reasons and you are mentally strong enough to handle the hardships of starting a new life.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase using a link, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

For me, I moved abroad because the life I had in the US was not fulfilling. I was stuck in a dead-end job working as a server at a restaurant with my university degree. At one point I had 3 part-time jobs because I couldn’t find a full-time job.

How I managed to work 3 jobs, is still a mystery to me. I do not recommend doing that.

Anyway, I knew that I did not want this to continue into my 30s. I was tired from working long days and trying to network to actually find a relevant job to use my degree.

What Change Did I Make?

I started by deciding what I wanted to achieve and how I was going to do that. I decided to go back to school to learn about web development. You know, JavaScript and HTML. But after a semester in, I realized a lot of this information was on the internet already. I was just paying for a piece of paper. Even if I graduated, I still needed to make my own website to advertise my skills.

So, that’s what I did. I created a website and didn’t return to school. (That website doesn’t exist anymore because it was pretty terrible.)

Then, a close friend told me she was going to move to China. And my first thought was, “Why would you want to move to China?”

She then me about how she got an opportunity to go to China to teach English in a school near Beijing. They were going to help her pay for housing, meals, and moving costs. That sounded like a pretty good deal, so I looked into it myself. Turns out it’s a pretty popular thing to do.

But, before you hop onto a place you need to ask yourself…

Why Do You Want to Start a Life Abroad?

• Are you looking for a new enriching experience?
• Do you think that moving abroad is going to make your life easier?
• Are you trying to run away from problems in your home country because you’re going through a hard time?
• Can you really see yourself immersed in the culture?

You need to ask yourself why exactly you want to start a life abroad.

If you’re trying to escape going through a hard time in your life, this is not the time to uplift yourself to another country. If you’re going to be worried about missing out on things while you’re away, don’t move abroad. You will constantly be on your phone trying to check in back home and you won’t be enjoying yourself.

And this isn’t to say that you absolutely should not do this if you feel this way. It’s just my opinion based on people that I have worked with and the main reason why they were so unhappy and returned home.

Nevertheless, it can be a very exciting experience. It will open your eyes to different cultures and traditions. You will grow as a person in ways that you never expected.

It may sound glamorous and you might look at it as a full-time vacation, but it is far from that.

Family and friends can have a big influence on your decision. They’ll tell you “It’s just a phase,” “Why would you want to do that?” “So many people want to come to America, but you want to leave.” You need to be ready to back up your decision. And I’ll tell you right now, there’s probably going to be some arguments. Not everyone will see what you see in moving abroad.

Research

Your research will depend on your passport and visa requirements of the country that you want to move to.

Here are some things that you should look for:

• Long-term or working visa options
• Exchange rates and currency
• Banking options in your chosen country as well as wire transferring fees
• Moving costs and downsizing your belongings
• Start-up costs for moving including a deposit on an apartment, groceries, transportation, etc.
• Safety
• Language
• Weather

The Side of Life Abroad that No One Tells You

Now for the unglamorous side of living in a foreign country.

You will most likely have a language barrier. Language is a main form of communication, and if you are unable to communicate with people around you, life can be pretty tough.

Your support group is on the other side of the world. It can be hard to make new friends in a new country. Loneliness will start to sink in. You have to put yourself out there. Research ex-pat communities or join local meetups to meet new people.

No matter how long you live somewhere else that isn’t your home country, you will always be a foreigner. Which means you might get ripped off or overcharged. There’s not much you can do about it.

If you have debt in your home country, you’re going to need to figure out a way to deal with money from overseas. If you’re being paid in foreign currency, you might need to wire transfer that money back home so you can pay your bills. You’ll need to research bank fees and get information from your home bank about international transfers. And if you’re American, you still need to file your tax return.

There is going to be an adjustment period of your body adjusting to new foods and a new diet. In Thailand, for example, a lot of food is cooked in insane amounts of oil that I would never use myself. I could never eat the street food that contained pork because it gave me bad stomach problems.

Don’t forget about your privacy online. Usually, bank or credit card websites can’t be accessed from another country. This is why by using a VPN you can still access your home country’s webpages. It is incredibly useful and easy to use on your phone and computer.

Still Convinced You Want to Move Abroad?

Here are some job ideas

• Freelancer
• Teaching English
• Working for an international company, and asking for a transfer
• Moving and then finding a job in person (I don’t recommend doing this unless you have 6 months of savings. However, if this is your situation these are some great ideas on how to find a job as an expat.)
• Do a work exchange program
• Apply for a working holiday visa

Ex-pat Friendly Countries

• Thailand
• Czech Republic
• Estonia
• Vietnam
• Germany
• Spain
• Australia
• New Zealand

All in all, I think that moving to another country for at least a year can have a lasting impact on your life. It can be challenging to get started, but it’s worth it in the end.