I can’t tell you how much I’ve beaten myself up about this. We just can’t cut ourselves a break!
First you go through the incredibly challenging process of deciding whether or not you want to up-root yourself and live abroad. Then you actually go and do it, which is also hard work. Once you’re there, however, you hit a whole new type of dilemma. Are you living abroad in the RIGHT WAY?
There will be plenty of people to tell you if they think you are or not (amazingly quite a lot from those still living in your home country…)
Depending on what it is you are hoping to achieve, some of this advice might ring true for you. None of it is bad advice, but it is not designed to be a set of rules against which to measure your success. First you go through the incredibly challenging process of deciding whether or not you want to up-root yourself and live abroad. Then you actually go and do it, which is also hard work. Once you’re there, however, you hit a whole new type of dilemma. Are you living abroad in the RIGHT WAY?
There will be plenty of people to tell you if they think you are or not (amazingly quite a lot from those still living in your home country…)
- Go to every possible social event – a night in is a night wasted!
- Don’t go back to your home country for at least 6 months
- Live with locals
- Don’t even THINK about making friends with other expats
- Speak nothing but the new language to anyone for 4 months
There is no right or wrong way to live abroad. It is a very personal thing and only you will know if your actions are taking you closer to, or further from, what you want to achieve.
For me, the best piece of advice was simple: Enjoy it! This is supposed to be a positive experience, something you will learn a great deal from and look back on fondly. So cut yourself some slack and have fun with it all.
A great source of inspiration is Leo Babauta’s blog: Zen Habits, which covers many topics regarding lifestyle and business. This particular quote is entrepreneurial advice for start-ups but I think can be applied here:
“Lots of times people kill themselves trying to reach a goal... The joy doesn’t come when you hit the goal…. The joy comes right now. This is the moment of greatness, of satisfaction with yourself and what you’re doing. Not later.”
Written by: Rosie
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