So you are considering to live abroad, travel the world, have new experiences? Are you in college interesting in studying abroad and wondering what is like? Are you working in an office and have an interest in the digital nomad life? You’ve come to the right place. And yes it definitely is worth it!
I’ve spent lots of time traveling:
Now I currently live and work abroad remotely in Buenos Aires and I’d like to share some insight from my experiences.
Knowing why you want to live abroad whether for a school semester or work permanently will be helpful in knowing where you want to live abroad. It is impossible to truly know a place without actually going there, but it can be helpful to have a general idea of what is driving you to travel.
If you are only living abroad for a few months lets say for study abroad I recommend planning ahead. When I studied abroad in London I figured I would just figure it out when I got there. Instead I think it is more beneficial to figure out what is drawing you to live in a certain country, what do you want to see and do while you are there, and what you hope to get out of the experience.
I think living abroad can be very hyped up for the very fact that you are going somewhere completely different and likely having a lifestyle in many ways different from what you are use to. In reality once you get to a place and stay for a few weeks, you’ll realize that living abroad is just living in another location. I don’t want to burst your bubble of excitement but to realize that while you will have new experiences, you will also find many similarities to your lifestyle back home especially the longer you are away. Setting realistic expectations can be helpful when you think you have to do it all or feel you are not doing enough.
One of your top priorities should be to socialize as soon as possible. This can come easier for most but for others it may be more difficult. I find it better to jump on something as soon as possible and when you are out of your element, don’t know anyone, in a new place, it is extremely important to make it a priority to do an activity with other people as soon as possible.
When I studied abroad in London I recall spending a lot of time in my dorm room and while I did socialize I definitely could have made a better effort. Conversely on my first day living abroad in Buenos Aires I immediately went down to the Spanish school where I would be taking Spanish classes to introduce myself and found that they were preparing for a group excursion to the Museo del Agua y de la Historia Sanitaria and that I was welcome to join. I put myself out there, met other students at the school, and it turned out to be a great experience. So moral of the story, be sure to prioritize socializing.
The excitement of leaving your home country and going somewhere new is exciting, but it can also be stressful particularly at the start. When I was returning home from London I was stuck in a huge check in line for over two hours and almost missed my flight and had to leave the line to check my carry on bag because it was too heavy and full of gifts I wanted to give to friends and family. When I visited Berlin I got confused by the train system and almost missed my flight without the help of a train platform attendant. When I traveled to Buenos Aires I forgot to pack the headphones I needed for work and was tired from carrying an extremely heavy backpack because I was determined to do one-bag travel. Stress is inevitable traveling even when you think you have prepared for everything. So accepting it as part of the experience can be a great way to not have it ruin your day.
Don’t just be a tourist. If you want an experience you’ll never forget make sure to put yourself out there and do activities as if you were a local. The best experiences I have had abroad have been these unique experiences - sharing mate with locals after horseback riding in Argentina, taking latin fusion & urban-style dance classes, having breakfast at my friend’s house in Potsdam, Germany, and many more. Although if you do go to Rio De Janeiro definitely take the cable car up to the Sugarloaf at sunset and stay for dinner. Sometimes I have to admit tourist activities can be pretty great.
Living abroad is definitely worth it. It also demystifies the world a little bit and gives a new perspective. You aren’t living in a bubble anymore and now can see how other people live their lives. I wish you the best experience living abroad!
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