Posted by Maria Dimitrova
Why you should read this: It will provide you with ideas how to improve the quality of your life, start over and “open the door” to numerous opportunities
What you can gain: You will get another chance to build your life from scratch, use your skills and knowledge to the fullest and fulfill your potential
The cost: some time for preparation of necessary documents ( visas and passports), transport and accommodation costs for the relocation (the amount varies a lot depending on the country you’ve chosen)
___________________________________
Do you feel that there must be something more to life than doing the same tasks and chores over and over again? Maybe you are feeling the urge to “wake up” and embark on a mind-broadening adventure which will be a source of both excitement and learning experiences. One of the best ways is moving to a another country.
The health and psychological benefits:
Moving to another country can have numerous health benefits because you get a whole new perspective on life which fills you with energy. It’s a great way to keep young. Most expats seem much more carefree than their biological age, but also more worldly wise.
Dr. David Lipschitz, a geriatrician from The University of Arkansas strongly recommends traveling: “Taking trips is part of a healthy lifestyle – especially for seniors.Travel gives you something to anticipate and plan for. Staying occupied and involved has a lot to do with being independent. You have to have something to do each and every day”.
Many famous artists and authors such as Pablo Picasso, Rudyard Kipling and Ernest Hemingway spent years abroad, prompting researchers to investigate the connection between creativity and living abroad. A May 14, 2009 article in “The Economist” cited a study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology that supported this link through two tests of creativity. The study concluded that those who had lived abroad were more likely to come up with creative solutions. No matter if the motive is educational, financial or personal, living abroad can provide a wider perception of the world.
See the interview with William Maddux, INSEAD Professor, on the connection between creativity and living abroad:
The financial benefits:
Moving abroad might be done for practical reasons like raising your standard of living and improving your family’s lifestyle. The main factors to consider in this case are the the economy of the country you are willing to move to and the opportunities it can offer you to find a well-paid job there with your qualifications or start a new business if you spot a niche in the market. If you make your living as a remote worker, relocating will be much easier. Depending on the country you’ve chosen, even on what might be considered a modest income in your home country, you might be able to afford high-quality housing, eating out, luxurious vacations and all kinds of entertainment. If this is what you are looking for, Latin America, south east Asia and eastern Europe are all candidates. Joseph Herbert, a successful expat in Costa Rica who managed to greatly raise the standard of his living says: “Everyday I wake up and say, why didn’t I do this before?”
An expat’s view on living in Costa Rica:
The social benefits:
This may sound surprising but moving to a new country can boost your social skills. With nothing to lose you can only gain from widening your circle of contacts. When a person is in a completely new environment, they realize the usefulness of networking, be it to find work, for fun or just for a more active social life. Even if you decide to return home, you will benefit from the new-found self-confidence in social interaction. Be warned however, that many travelers return home only to find that it feels like Smallsville.
The educational benefits:
The most efficient way to learn a language is when you have no choice but speak it on a daily basis. You may find out that the local university fees are surprisingly low. Consider studying a specialty you are interested in after checking if the diploma you are going to get is internationally acknowledged. Often there will also be cheap courses at universities for people wanting to study the local language.
Traveling in itself is education through experience. Travel teaches you to feel things books can only describe. A traveler learns that there are different ways of thinking and more than one solution to a problem.
Preparation.
Moving to another country requires a lot of knowledge and planning unless you are looking for the thrill of immersing in the unknown. Many young people do it for fun taking with them only a rucksack and pocket money. If you aren’t so adventurous and you need to ensure that the experience will be pleasurable you should research and prepare for your new destination so that it will be easier to adapt to the new circumstances.
Bear in mind is what kind of person you are ( your aspirations, ambitions, temperament and level of being adventurous and independent) and what kind of lifestyle you would like to have. This will help you determine the region of the world in which you can picture yourself living and whether you’ll take just the essentials with you or much larger things like furniture.
Check also specific details like housing, employment, weather, health, travel and accessibility to social programs in the countries in the selected region. You can find plenty of useful information at this website www.expatexchange.com.
You can also find books on the topic of living as an expat in different countries. Amazon.com offers useful books like “Getting Out: Your Guide to Leaving America” by Mark Ehram Getting Out: Your Guide to Leaving America (Updated and Expanded Edition) (Process Self-reliance Series)
“The Expert Expat: Your Guide to Successful Relocation Abroad” by Melissa Hess The Expert Expat: Your Guide to Successful Relocation Abroad
“GenXpat: The Young Professional’s Guide to Making a Successful Life Abroad” by Margaret Malewski GenXpat: The Young Professional’s Guide to Making a Successful Life Abroad
and many others.
As much as reading books and websites is important it might turn out to be insufficient. Talking with friends or acquaintances or even contacts on an expat forum who live in your chosen location will give you various points of view. Consider an advance visit also.
After the whole preparation process, you may still feel insecure or scared. Don’t worry, this is perfectly natural not to want to move out of our comfort zone. Dan Flynn, an expat from USA says : “Being flexible and knowing that you can go back to your home country whenever you want is the comforting thought that will give you the courage to explore the new territories.”
Further reading:
Backpack in Asia and Australia
Where to Travel in Different Times of the Year
The Best Time to Have Children
Basic Skills not Taught at School
Setting up Your Own Company – Hard but not Impossible
Be More Efficient When Working from Home
Life is a Constant Negotiation – Do it Successfully
Turn a Stressful Work Schedule into Cash
Sources:
Books:
GenXpat: The Young Professional’s Guide to Making a Successful Life Abroad
The Expert Expat: Your Guide to Successful Relocation Abroad
Getting Out: Your Guide to Leaving America (Updated and Expanded Edition) (Process Self-reliance Series)
Related Articles
Share
About Author
- May 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
