Do you want to live and work abroad? If the answer is yes, there’s no better time to go overseas than the present.
When I landed in Italy 20 years ago, I was both excited and scared. I experienced mixed emotions. My thoughts ranged from this being a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to what had I gotten myself into and everything in between. Was this the right move in my mid-30s? What if I fail or can’t hack it? Could I make it overseas without a safety net? These are just a few thoughts that raced through my mind until I got on the plane. Having doubts is normal. That’s when you must tell yourself that nothing significant happens in your comfort zone. I reminded myself that I wanted to live and work abroad. I had studied for it and made the preparations to go, so why not now?
A year from now, you will wish you had started today. — Karen Lamb
Spending time abroad can be a life-changing experience. Here’s how you can benefit and what you can expect from your time away from home.
Take a timeout from the political chaos in the States.
Has the outcome of the election got you down? Even though the future appears bleak, this is a perfect time to escape the stress and uncertainty of the Trump Administration. Depending on your chosen place, you could be looking at everything from a more welcoming and stable government to a lower cost of living, universal healthcare, and, of course, cheaper eggs! If you still believe in it, science has proven that extended exposure to political divisiveness negatively affects your well-being. Psychology Today explains how prolonged divisiveness fuels burnout.
I’m not one for running away from my problems. However, putting some distance between you and the 24-hour news cycle will do wonders for your mental well-being, even if it’s only temporary.
Lastly, you can still participate in the resistance from abroad by joining online movements like BuildTheResistance.org, donating money, participating in virtual protests and phone campaigns, and sharing news and information on social media.
When you go abroad, leave your comfort zone behind.
Every day, you will be put to the test. You’ll have many new experiences to conquer, from minor everyday nuisances to far more complex issues. This can include everything from ordering food, understanding the metro system, meeting new people, asking for help to read the 15-line items on your pay stub, going on vacation by yourself, renting an apartment, filing local taxes, to buying a home – all in a foreign language. A dose of vulnerability can help, along with resilience and the attitude to get up and try again.
Do one thing every day that scares you. — Eleanor Roosevelt
Access learning you won’t get in the classroom.
When you go abroad, you will likely take a language class or two where you will get the basics. There are language apps to support your learning along the way as well. I encourage you to take classes and try the available tech, but the real test will come when you wake up and step outside. I call it street learning. Start the morning at a café or coffee bar. Ordering and having coffee at the corner bar will be helpful in assimilating into your new home. Not only to observe how the locals do it but also to get a sense of what people are talking about and what’s on their minds. You can extend street learning to food and clothing shopping, dining out, and the office.
Experience a new culture firsthand when you live and work abroad.
In Italy, for example, there are more than 230 festivals and events every year related to historical events, food & wine, and local traditions.
Here are just a handful of events that I have experienced: the Epiphany, Jan 6, where the Befana (witch) leaves candy and sweets in the stockings of children; Venice’s Carnevale, the farewell party leading up to Lent, Feb 14-Mar 4; Vinitaly wine festival in Verona, Apr 6-9; The Infiorata di Noto, the Baroque Flower Festival, in Noto, Sicily, May 16-20; the Sagra del Limone, a festival dedicated to lemons, in Monterosso, Cinque Terre, May 17; The Festa della Repubblica, the birthday of the Italian Republic, Jun 2; and The Festa del Redentore which takes place in Venice and celebrates the end of the plague, Jul 19-20. When you live and work abroad, events and holidays can be great fun and provide an opportunity to learn more about a new culture.
Great people do things before they’re ready. They do things before they know they can do it. Doing what you’re afraid of, getting out of your comfort zone, taking risk like that – that is what life is. You might be really good. You might find out something about yourself that’s really special and if you’re not good, who cares? You tried something. Now you know something about yourself. — Amy Poehler
While overseas, open yourself up to new career opportunities.
After a few years of work experience abroad, I built up a resume that opened doors. I was exposed to opportunities that would never have been available to me in the States. A combination of experience and an extended network helped me advance my career and establish myself as an international marketing professional at home and overseas. Thanks to my success in Italy, I have been recruited and interviewed for jobs throughout EMEA.
Alternatively, being abroad can spark entrepreneurial pursuits. Many people I know have leveraged their experiences to start their own businesses in consulting, travel services, food and wine, and other opportunities related to their home overseas.
While a move of any type can be stressful, if you’ve done your research, then why not now? Today, there are more ways to go abroad than ever before. You can study, teach, volunteer, go with your current employer, get recruited internationally, or go on a digital nomad visa. You can do it yourself, or there are companies to help you find the right place and support you on your move.
An experience overseas will expand your horizons and open doors to a new you.
Photo by Lina Kivaka from Pexels
