Moving abroad? (2024)

FAQs

How do you feel about moving abroad? ›

Moving to another country may trigger the following feelings or emotional stages: excitement, frustration, adjustment and confidence. Let's explore some of the emotional highs and lows in your first year of being abroad to help you learn how to cope with moving to a new country.

Once you move to a new country, you have no choice but to change and grow. You'll learn a lot about yourself and the people around you—and, really, about life in general. You'll cherish the knowledge you gain and the memories you make in a place that moves at a slower pace and allows you to enjoy life.

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.

It can be exhausting both mentally and emotionally to deal first with all the things that need to be done before moving abroad, some of which you might never have had to deal with before (health checks, paperwork, life insurance, the list goes on).

Whether you are from a small town or big city, moving abroad will give you an invaluable new perspective on life. Seeing other cultures' mentality and approach to life can help you expand and enrich your own worldview and establish your personal values.

You might find yourself feeling isolated, struggling to communicate, or misinterpreting social cues. This initial discomfort can take a toll on your mental and emotional well-being. Being away from your familiar surroundings, friends, and family can lead to feelings of loneliness and homesickness.

The average age of expats living abroad is 46.2 years old. The highest percentage age group of people living abroad is 61 and above, with 18% of expats aged within this bracket. The second highest age group was those aged between 36-40, at 14%.

Moving abroad is a great way to discover new things about yourself and challenge yourself. But that's not to say that moving abroad on its own will solve your problems or make you happy, you'll just be taking on the same problems in a new city.

The most popular destination for people looking to move overseas was Canada, which topped the wish-lists of 29 other countries.

What is the best country to move to right now? ›

You don't have to be brave to move abroad. (Okay, maybe a little.) There are other traits that you need much more than courage if you're going to make the leap to living overseas. As it turns out, the better you are at these, the less courage you need because you'll feel like you know what you are doing.

Thankfully this phase will come to an end as you begin to move into the adjustment phase, usually at around six to twelve months. This is the stage where life gradually starts to get better and routine sets in. You begin to get your bearings and become more familiar with the local way of life, food and customs.

The stress of the move and adjustment to the new country, can lead to anxiety and depression and other psychological problems amongst migrants. Often the hardest thing for new migrants is coping with the loss of family and friends and the realisation that their loved ones are devastated by their move.

Culture shock can make some people feel overwhelmed and homesick. Emotions such as sadness, loneliness, fear, tiredness and confusion can be normal, though at other times you may feel hopeful, pleased, excited, independent and confident.

Traveling abroad for the first time is an incredibly exciting experience. It's a chance to explore new cultures, try different foods, and meet people from all over the world. The feeling of being in a completely unfamiliar place can be both exhilarating and intimidating at the same time.

Moving abroad is a great way to discover new things about yourself and challenge yourself. But that's not to say that moving abroad on its own will solve your problems or make you happy, you'll just be taking on the same problems in a new city.

Better career prospects

The biggest reason people move overseas is because they've found a job abroad. Maybe you want to leave overworking behind or the lack of paid leave and work in countries like The Netherlands or Germany where these things are given more importance.