Photo by Artem Beliaikin from Pexels.
The world is amazing, and filled with tasty foods to try and adventures to be had. So why settle with one country? Travel the world, get out of the comfort zone and see what’s out there! It might be scary, but dinosaurs are extinct and nobody heard about any White Walker having survived the last season of GOT. So go ahead, pack your bags and off you go! We’re here to help with some suggestions to make the moving process smoother.
Dream big
Anything is possible, right? So why not dreaming big? Setting great goals? Experts say that the best part of setting great goals is that you’re creating a positive mindset, focused on achieving those great things. Dreaming big is the main reason why the world changes for the better, so why wouldn’t your world change for the better by setting challenging targets? You need to look at life with the perspective that you can achieve anything that’s possible. And keep this in mind: “The only real purpose of a goal is to inspire you to fall more deeply in love with life.” – Michael Neill
Make multicultural friends
Trying to make friends with expats who chose the same path you did is really important for keeping the traditions and behaviours that shaped you into who you are today. But you should also make friends with locals, as, besides being great people, will also help you adapt more easily.
Having friends who are culturally different from you allows you to develop an insight into their lives. It shows you how their practices or beliefs are different from yours, and yet, how it leads to their growth. It teaches one to accept differences and to build an understanding that no religion or culture is better than the other but that each has its unique features.
Stay in touch with people back home
You might work a lot, spend a lot of time engaged in this new expat adventure, but your loved ones back home are constantly on your mind. That’s the greatest challenge of any expat. But we have a tip on how to deal with it: call them as frequently as you want. It feels amazing hearing their voice, when miles apart, right? Or just let them know you’re thinking about them by sending them small gifts, such as mobile credit. Yes, you can top up your friends’ or family members’ cell phones from abroad using apps such as MobileRecharge app, available both for iOS and Android. The process is easy and the credit is sent instantly to the destination number.
Eat and drink like a local
You don’t have to order the fried flies in Bangkok or the snake stew in Hanoi, but give the mainstream offerings a chance while living abroad. You may be delightfully surprised. Also, bartenders are usually happy to describe their specials and suggest what other people around you are ordering. This will also give you a chance to practice your linguistic skills and pick up useful vocabulary while living abroad. Besides, many people find that talking in a foreign language becomes much easier after a few drinks.
Learn things about the culture of the newly adopted country
Each country is amazing in its own unique way. Even if nostalgia might sometimes make you feel that your home country is your favorite place in the world, you may discover interesting things about the newly adopted country that will make you fall in love with it. Yes, we know, no one ever forgets their first love, but give it a chance! Let yourself be seduced by the traditions and peculiarities of this new home.
More than anything, get excited – this is a big step in your life, a potentially life-changing experience and something you’ll share with people, whether you move away forever or only for a few years.