When you move and live abroad you face new challenges, you get to know parts of you you didn’t know existed, you’re amazed at yourself and at the world. You learn, you broaden your horizons. You unlearn, and after coming down and embracing a few lessons, you start growing in humility. You evolve. You feel homesick… and you shape memories that will stay with you forever. If you’ve ever lived away from home or embarked on a long journey, I’m sure you too have felt these 17 things that change forever when you live abroad.
1. Adrenalin becomes part of your life.
From the moment you decide to move abroad, your life turns into a powerful mix of emotions. New places, new habits, new challenges, new people are now part of your new every day life. Starting anew should terrify you, but it’s unusually addictive.
2. But when you go back… everything looks the same.
That’s why, when you get a few days off and fly back home, it strikes you how little everything has changed. Your life’s been changing at a non-stop pace, and you’re on holidays and ready to share all those anecdotes you’ve been piling up.
3. You lack the (and yet you have too many) words.
When someone asks you about your new life, you lack the right words to convey all you’re experiencing. Yet later, in the middle of a random conversation, you have to hold your tongue because you don’t want to overwhelm everyone with stories from your ‘other country’.
4. You come to understand that courage is overrated.
Lots of people will tell you how brave you are – they too would move internationally if they weren’t so scared. And you, even though you’ve been scared, too, know that courage makes up about 10% of life-changing decisions. The other 90% is purely about wanting it with all your heart.
5. And, suddenly, you’re free.
You’ve always been free, but freedom feels different now. Now that you’ve given up every comfort and made it work thousands of miles away from home… you feel like you’re capable of anything!
6. You no longer speak one particular language.
Sometimes you unintentionally let a word from another language slip or you know exactly what to say but can’t remember the right translation for a crucial word in the sentence. When you interact with a foreign language on a daily basis, you learn and unlearn at the same time. You constantly find yourself reading in your mother tongue so it won’t get rusty.
7. You learn to say goodbye… and to enjoy yourself.
You soon realize that now, most things and people in your life are just passing through.
8. You have two of everything.
Two SIM cards, two library cards, two bank accounts and two types of coins.
9. Normal? What’s normal?
Living abroad, like traveling, makes you realise that ‘normal’ only means socially or culturally accepted. When you plunge into a different culture and a different society, your notion of normality soon falls apart. You learn there are other ways of doing things and you’re fine with it.
10. You become a tourist in your own city.
That tourist trap you may not have visited in your country only adds up to the never-ending list of things to do in your new home, and you soon become quite the expert on your new city. But when someone comes over for a few days and asks for some suggestions, you find it really hard to recommend but a few things– if it were up to you, you’d recommend visiting everything!
11. You learn how to be patient… and how to ask for help.
When you live abroad, the simplest task can become a huge challenge. There’s always moments of distress, but you’re soon filled with more patience than you ever knew you had in you, and accept that asking for help is not only inevitable, but also a very healthy habit.
12. Time is measured in tiny little moments.
On the one hand, you receive news from home – birthdays you missed, people who left without you getting the chance to say goodbye one last time, celebrations you won’t be able to attend. On the other hand, in your new home life goes by at top speed. Time is so distorted now, that you learn how to measure it in tiny little moments, either a Skype call with your family and old friends or a pint with the new ones.
13. Nostalgia strikes when you least expect it.
A food, a song, a smell. The smallest trifle can overwhelm you with homesickness. You miss those little things you never thought you’d miss, and you’d give anything to go back to that place, even if it were just for an instant.
14. But you know it’s not where, but when and how.
Although deep down, you know you don’t miss a place, but a strange and magical conjunction of the right place, the right moment and the right people.. There’s a tiny bit of who you were scattered among all the places you’ve lived in, but sometimes going back to that place is not enough to stop missing it.
15. You change.
Living abroad is a trip that will profoundly change your life and who you are. It will shake up your roots, your certainties and your fears. Maybe you won’t realise it, or even believe it, before you do it but one day you’ll realize you’ve changed.
16. You fit your home into a suitcase.
From the moment you squeeze your life into a suitcase (or, if you’re lucky with your airline, two), whatever you thought ‘home’ was doesn’t exist anymore. Almost anything you can touch can be replaced. One day you’ll realize home is the person traveling with you, the people you leave behind, the streets where your life takes place.
17. And… there’s no turning back.
Now you know what it means to give up comfort, what starting from scratch and marveling at the world every day feels like. And it being such a huge, endless world… How could you choose not to keep traveling and discovering it?
Source: Más Edimburgo
I am a seasoned traveler and cultural enthusiast, having lived abroad and immersed myself in various international experiences. My extensive firsthand knowledge in navigating the challenges and joys of living in different countries allows me to provide insightful perspectives on the concepts presented in the provided article.
The article beautifully captures the transformative journey of living abroad, highlighting 17 profound changes one undergoes during this experience. Let's delve into each concept:
-
Adrenalin becomes part of your life:
- Moving abroad is a rollercoaster of emotions, blending excitement and fear as you adapt to new places, habits, challenges, and people.
-
But when you go back… everything looks the same:
- Returning home after living abroad, you may find that despite the personal growth and changes in your life, your hometown appears unchanged.
-
You lack the (and yet you have too many) words:
- Describing your new life becomes challenging; there's a paradox of having too much to say but struggling to find the right words, leading to a dilemma in sharing your experiences.
-
You come to understand that courage is overrated:
- The perception of bravery in moving abroad diminishes as the speaker emphasizes that the decision is more about a heartfelt desire than sheer courage.
-
And, suddenly, you’re free:
- The freedom gained from leaving behind comforts and thriving in a foreign environment fosters a sense of limitless capability.
-
You no longer speak one particular language:
- Daily interaction with a foreign language results in a unique linguistic experience, where you may unintentionally mix languages and constantly work to maintain proficiency in your native tongue.
-
You learn to say goodbye… and to enjoy yourself:
- Recognizing the transient nature of relationships and experiences abroad, one learns to appreciate the present and savor fleeting moments.
-
You have two of everything:
- A practical consequence of living abroad involves managing dual sets of essentials, from SIM cards to bank accounts, symbolizing the duality of your life.
-
Normal? What’s normal?:
- Immersion in a different culture challenges preconceptions of normality, broadening perspectives on socially and culturally accepted behaviors.
-
You become a tourist in your own city:
- Living in a new place turns the familiar into attractions, making you an expert on your adopted city while struggling to recommend just a few places to visitors.
-
You learn how to be patient… and how to ask for help:
- The challenges of living abroad cultivate patience, and the necessity of seeking help becomes not just acceptable but a healthy practice.
-
Time is measured in tiny little moments:
- Distorted perceptions of time arise, with a heightened awareness of missed events back home and a newfound appreciation for small, meaningful moments in your current life.
-
Nostalgia strikes when you least expect it:
- Triggers like food, songs, or smells evoke unexpected waves of homesickness, emphasizing the importance of seemingly insignificant aspects of your past.
-
But you know it’s not where, but when and how:
- Realizing that missing a place is more about the specific moment and the people than the location itself, creating a unique and magical connection.
-
You change:
- Living abroad becomes a transformative journey that reshapes your identity, challenging your beliefs, fears, and roots.
-
You fit your home into a suitcase:
- The realization that home transcends physical possessions, as you redefine it in terms of relationships, memories, and the people who accompany you on your journey.
-
And… there’s no turning back:
- Having experienced the challenges and wonders of living abroad, the idea of settling back into comfort becomes inconceivable, sparking a perpetual desire for exploration and discovery.
This article resonates with the universal truths of the expatriate experience, beautifully capturing the multifaceted nature of personal growth, cultural adaptation, and the indelible impact of living abroad.
