It was a beautiful sunny early September day. I was in Amsterdam, at the airport to be more specific. Surrounded by people going on vacation or business trips, being reunited with loved ones, and all the usual hustle and bustle of an airport.
And I stood before the mirror in a public restroom, trying to redo my makeup after crying pretty much for the last 2 hours.
I was going to the US for 4 months for an internship. All by myself. I’ve done a lot of traveling before, but never alone and never for this long. It was scary. I already missed my family. I was going halfway across the world. No going home for a weekend if I’m homesick. I would have to do everything by myself.
Cut to almost exactly 4 years later. Pretty much the same scenario, only in Paris. This time, it’s not 4 months, but 15. At this point I knew what to expect from the US, I was familiar with it, I knew people, I loved it with all my heart – but that didn’t make it any easier.
Despite the difficult starts, my time in the US turned out to be one of the most exciting and transformative experiences in my life. It may sound like a cliché, but living abroad teaches you a lot about the world and about yourself and it can really change your life.
If you have the opportunity to move abroad for some time, do it. Do it without thinking. Do it however scary that sounds. It’s one of the most important thing you can do to yourself.
So, if you decide to make the plunge, here’s what you can expect
You’ll learn a lot about yourself
You learn how you react to new situations and circumstances. What your strength and weaknesses are. What you’re really afraid of. How you can get over it. You’ll be proud every time you step out of your comfort zone and do something you never even thought of.
You get better at connecting with people
Unless you wanna spend months alone, you’re actually forced to make new connections. And if you’re an introvert like me, this is the best thing that can happen. I had to be a lot more open towards new people, and even make the first move. And you know what? It’s actually only half terrifying, once you start doing it.
You adopt new habits
If you’re lucky, they are good habits. Compared to the US, I come from a much more reserved society. The first time the bus driver greeted me with a nice hello, or a random stranger came up to me to compliment my outfit, I was frankly perplexed. We don’t do that a lot at home. And it’s a shame. Yes, small acts of kindness might seem superficial for the cynical ones. And yes, they are not about forging a strong bond on the spot and discussing the meaning of life. But do they make your day a little better? Hell yeah. Networking and less complaining are also skills and habits I brought to home with myself. Living abroad makes you more aware of what can be done better at home.
It’s not always easy
Sometimes you’re homesick. Sometimes you’re alone. Sometimes you cannot share your problems because you’re in different time zones, and everyone’s asleep. It’s OK and it’s normal. Feel sorry for yourself for an hour, and then gather your strength by reminding yourself that it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.
You can reinvent yourself
Great news: when you’re in a brand new place, you can be whoever you want to be. We are all confined to a set of roles in our usual environment and it’s quite difficult to break out of those. Now you can explore different parts of your personality, try different things without anyone saying “but it’s so not YOU”.
You’ll be forced out of your comfort zone – and it’s a great thing
You will face challenges and be forced to adapt, be creative, and discover new skills. It’s also such a confidence booster. When you can face and conquer another challenge – it is incredibly inspiring. And it’s also a great memory to look back upon in a moment of doubt.
It can bring about unexpected career opportunities
First of all, international experience looks great on CV, I’m fairly sure it’s a bonus point with every employer. I got my first job simply because I had done a similar internship in the US. It also strengthens a lot of valuable work skills: independent decision-making, cooperation, creativity. And you can also realize a lot of things about your work and career values and plans as well. I, for example, realized that I value independent projects a lot more than a classic rise on the career ladder in a corporate environment.
Living is a lot more intense
At least that was my experience. Because I knew my time abroad was limited, I really tried to make the most of it. Saying yes to programs and opportunities, constantly scouting new events and experiences, less time spent in front of Netflix. This is also one thing I tried to bring back with me – after all, life itself is limited as well.
It can change your whole mindset and lifestyle
A quite far-reaching claim, but nevertheless true. One of my very first posts was about how my time abroad changed the way I live my life. It was during that time that I became much more focused and deliberate about my life – my career, my passions, what I would like to spend money and time on. My priorities and life values became a lot more clear and my smart living/minimalist, value-centered approach became a lot more defined.
Once the travel bug bites, there’s probably no turning back
Travel fever is serious, and living somewhere else for an extended period of time is just as addictive. While I love traveling, living abroad is a different experience. I’m actually sure this was not the last time we spent more time in a different country. I wouldn’t wanna move somewhere else forever, but a couple of months here and there are definitely in our long-term plans.
And my best tips for living abroad?
+ Share the experience
The best things should definitely be shared with your loved ones. I wasn’t alone for the whole time I was in the US. My boyfriend came out and lived with me for 8 months. My family visited me and we did some traveling around the country. I’ve met up with friends from home. It’s amazing when you can share all that you love about that new country with others and gain new experiences together.
+ Spend your money on traveling
I would suggest prioritizing traveling if you live abroad. You never know whether there’d be another opportunity to visit. Whether it’s a day trip to the countryside or a nearby city or an extended road trip, try to cram as much traveling into your time there as you can.
+ Make it a home
With that said, it’s still important to look at the place you’re staying at as a quasi home. Take some bits and pieces that mean a lot to you and make the place as homey as possible. Learn to live like a local, try the same places, try new routines.
+ If you want to make new habits, this is the time
Whether it’s a healthier lifestyle or a new hobby, now you have your fresh start. It’s always easier to make new habits in a brand new environment.
+ Never forget that it ends
Time is limited and I’m not sure whether I’ll ever come back. That was my mantra when I was living abroad, the one saying that made me always get up and get out of my home to make the most of my time there.
Have you ever moved abroad? Or is it on your bucket list?
Moving abroad is soooo on my bucket list. Every new place (and even some places I’ve seen before) is now viewed through the lens of what I think living there might be like. On some days I feel like pulling the trigger immediately and other days I know that I need to stick to my plan of stabilising for 2 years before I do it. 2019 will see me move somewhere new for sure. My shortlist ranges from the easy transition (Glasgow, Amsterdam) to the wilder, more emotive options (Bologna, Madrid, Vienna). I shall bookmark this article to revisit so don’t delete it :p
Yes, moving abroad is not an easy decision, but is so worth it. In a way, I was lucky – both times it was a scholarship that took me abroad. So it was a no decision kind of decision, I knew refusing them was not an option. What I would like to do later in life is to have the opportunity to move abroad for 1 or 2 month – like going to the sea in the summer or spending a month here, another there. Both my partner and I are kind of freelancing, so I hope it will be doable. London and Paris are on my list, and of course, New York, I love that city. Btw, Amsterdam is an awesome choice – I can actually imagine living there as well.I promise I won’t delete it, if you promise to let me know when you make the big move:)
Deal. You will get all the goss of my big move.