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Lifestyle

How Living Abroad Changed Me

As some of you know, I am currently living in a different country from the one I grew up. I didn’t move to the other side of the world, but the difference in lifestyle and mindset that I experienced was enough for me to realise that there had been some important changes in my personality.

Because of that, living abroad is something I will always recommend to everyone. I am confident that changing countries for a few years can be one of the fastest ways to grow up and mature. I have listed a few of the most important changes that I have witnessed in myself and a few friends.

 

The vision of the world

I have always loved travelling, but nothing made me understand the world better than subsisting in a different land. Living in a new place comes with meeting extremely different people, all of them with their unique personality traits, communication dynamics and lifestyles, some of which I had never interacted with before. And I can now understand most of them.

My knowledge of the world, particularly the way countries function and market themselves is much richer after living full-time far from my own town. I got a wider perspective because I wasn’t personally immersed, which allowed me to have a more neutral and distant perspective.

 

 

I Don’t Idealize Anymore

Travelling for leisure gives you the mental space and lack of proper living experience that may lead you to idealize certain countries. We romanticize their culture, traditions, and sometimes even their citizens, creating a perfect image in our minds.

After you move permanently to the perfect area, you don’t need too much time before you find out that the impeccable land that you made up in your imagination is actually a society with its own flaws and social disadvantages. Just like any other place.

By listening to people, reading the news and settling in the new region, you will realise that a lot of the issues that you considered unique in your home country are present in other territories too.

Before moving abroad, I used to place specific countries on large wooden pedestals. I would idealise them to ridiculous standards. Later on, whenever I visited said place and had some weird encounter, as silly and forgettable as it was, it would disappoint me deeply.

Now that I have stopped idealising countries, I enjoy travelling even more. I accept every place I visit as it is, with its clean or dirty streets, and their nice or rude people.

 

 

Confidence

After you have been able to settle in a new country, your confidence levels go up dramatically.
I believe that the reason for this is because the first time you make the jump to another country, you doubt yourself a lot. There are many skills that you need to learn in a short period of time, like memorizing street names, getting used to the weather, learning the new transportation options, etc.

When you become flexible enough to survive, your mind trusts that you will be able to survive in other places. You acquire the confidence that you can start all over again almost anywhere.

Living abroad gave me the last drop of confidence that I needed to do a solo trip. And despite being nerve-racking at the beginning, I would have never felt confident enough to do it before I left my homeland.

 

 

 

I Know Myself Better

When I left my town, I knew I was stepping out of my comfort zone. I knew that I would live experiences that could make me uncomfortable at times. Facing those incidents gave me some unique insights about myself. I realised that there were parts of my personality that needed some work.

The big city allowed me to look deeper into my self-perception. For example, I used to be more negative. I wanted fast results and would often feel like a failure after not getting my desired outcomes. Living abroad made me a more positive and patient person. I learned to “trust the process” and be at peace with the advantages of the present.

And whilst there were parts of me that I decided to change, I noticed too that there were also some extremely valuable qualities in my character that I hadn’t appreciated before. I love that I can see them better now.

 

There is no such a thing as “NORMAL”

We often use the term “normal” to describe a tradition, activity or character we feel familiar with. Sadly, we are often fast to judge the ones that don’t feel so domestic.

Once you understand where those “uncommon” behaviours are coming from, they don’t feel less normal. They may continue to be different, perhaps even a bit strange, but we are less likely to judge a behavioural pattern once we live with people who practice it.

Remember that some of the traditions or behaviours that we are used to are extremely rare for other people. And they would probably feel the same weirdness by witnessing them for the first time.

 

International Friends Are the Best

Living abroad made me realise how many things I had in common with people from other cultures. I made international friends, each of them with different values and hobbies. Yet, all of them with the same adventurous feeling and mind-openness to live abroad and explore the world.

I will be the first one to admit how comfortable it feels to find someone with the same background and mother language as you. I love talking with the few friends I am still in touch with from my hometown, it truly feels like home. But meeting someone from the other side of the planet, to then go and find out that we have similar personalities and interests, is magic.

 

 

Staying in touch with people after they return to their hometown or stay away for a long period of time is difficult. You live a different lifestyle in a territory with a different time zone. But it is rewarding, and you can also see them when you visit their country!

 

 

Sensitivity About Global Issues

Living in different countries made me aware of global issues that I didn’t think about before.

Every nation has a different sensitivity level to different global issues. Some are more worried about climate change, others are concerned about the increase in poverty, and some others about human exploitation and consumerism.

A few people will criticise a new place when they notice that their native “awareness issue” (let’s say global warming) doesn’t match the new city’s concerns. Of course, some countries will always be more sensitive than others. Yet, most of the time is a matter of understanding that the issues people worry about are different depending on the area. Different global problems hit different countries stronger than others, like plastic in the ocean or higher temperatures.

On top of that, the media plays a very important role when it comes to appealing to people’s sensitivity. You will notice this if you watch the news or dare to read the newspaper. Some countries publish an abundance of columns about plastic in the sea and turtles with straws in their nostrils. Meanwhile, other countries will focus more on news with plenty of images of kids starving.

As a result, people feel more empathy and sensitivity to the issues they are more exposed to.


 

 

Are you currently living abroad? Have you ever thought about doing it? I would love to read your experiences and opinions on this matter. As always, thank you for reading and have a wonderful day!

16 Comments

  • Sarah

    Great post – it definitely sounds like you know what you are talking about here!
    I’m gathering strength at the moment to decide to live abroad and this really helps me 🙂

  • Patricia

    Great post about living abroad.

    I moved to Japan about 15 years ago.

    Never once considered moving back despite the earthquakes, tsunamis, nuclear meltdowns, North Korean missiles, Yakuza attacks, knife wankers, mental cases, economic stagnation, spitting, fucked up legal system, racism, sexism, perverts, awful drivers, and crazy religious cults.

    I guess home is where you make it. Live anywhere long enough and you’re going to see the faults. It’s then up to you on an individual basis if on balance one country weighs up better than another. It really is a personal preference.

    Only things I miss about the UK are the crumpets, the houses, my friends and family.

    • Kiira Smith

      Thank you for sharing your experience Patricia!
      Moving to Japan sounds like a dream, I am glad you like it and you are completely right: home is where you make it ❤️

      PS: Warm crumpets with Nutella are my favourites 😋

  • Jamie

    Living abroad can be great, but at the same time it can be quite tough (specially at the beginning) – so I don’t think it’s for everyone. Don’t you agree?

    • Kiira Smith

      I do, I believe that the begging can be extremely difficult, specially if you still don’t know the city well or you don’t feel confident speaking the language.

      It requires a lot of patience too!

  • Karen

    If you can try it, just do it, see if you like it, come back if you don’t. When you’re older, with a mortgage, kids and half the time left to save for retirement, this kind of adventure becomes very much more difficult.

  • Louis

    I really enjoyed reading your article.

    I strongly disagree with the quote that’s along the lines of: “your problems follow you wherever you are”. While living in my hometown I was always anxious, stressed out and generally depressed about everything. It wasn’t until I travelled for the first time that I found what I was missing. I don’t know if it’s the feeling of being a perpetual tourist or the curiosity I have that can never be satisfied but I recently left home and I don’t plan on ever returning. The grass definitely is greener, at least to me.

    My overall well-being has improved in more ways than I can count. I’m healthier, happier, and I’m able to spend time pursuing my interests. At home I could never find the motivation to do anything but being abroad has always been so exciting that I don’t think I’ll ever lose that spark. The only thing I dread is having to return home for some unforeseen circumstance but I plan on putting that off as long as possible.

    • Kiira Smith

      I love this. Thank you so much for sharing your experience Louis!

      I also have the feeling that you mention of being a perpetual tourist. I visit markets and shows that I would have never visited in my hometown. Being abroad made me a more active and curious person and I enjoy that side of me the same way you seem to be enjoying yours.

      I believe that every country matches a different person, I am glad you found yours and are happier now. Well done! 👏👏

  • Shayana

    Great read. Really agree with you on moving abroad making you more confident. You start to learn that you can make it in different circumstances, environments… Very important!

  • James

    If you are in the fence about moving abroad, and you think you are maybe scared about it, just try it! Worst case scenario you can always go back home 🙂

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