LESSONS FOR EXPATS

… Thinking about living abroad? …

Living abroad is an invaluable educational experience that teaches us about the World, about cultures, about our relationships with others, and about our attitude and priorities in Life!

Having lived in 6 countries, from Asia, to North America and now Europe, the lessons I’ve learned from living abroad have transformed my perspective about life and living!

Though there are countless lessons, these are the top lessons I would share with anyone who is currently living abroad or thinking about living overseas …

BE REALISTIC

The grass is not always greener on the other side. It’s just different. Living abroad simply means starting over, living differently, and seeing everything with a fresh set of eyes … The bonus is the excitement of a new setting and new local adventures!

NEVER STOP LEARNING

Life as an expat is refreshing … it’s scary … it’s exciting, but most importantly, it’s educational. Always think in terms of “What did I learn about this country today?”. When I take the time to understand local practices, I find other cultural differences fascinating rather than strange.

GET AROUND

The best way to learn about a country is to explore it … visit one new place every week and a new country every couple of months! … Plus, the cheapest travel is local travel! So take advantage of that! Get on that plane!

HERE & NOW

Relish every moment. The novelty will eventually fade. Make the most of your time right here, right now. Begin your new life living like a tourist. Live like you have to leave in a week! Make every moment count.

LOCAL FLAVOUR

Make friends with the locals, not just expats. Eat like the locals, think like the locals, play like the locals. Don’t be an expat living in a foreign country. Be one of the locals.

CHOOSE WISELY

Every day comes with both positive & negative experiences … How you deal with it is a matter of perspective and attitude! So focus on the positive, and a positive attitude will automatically follow! At the end of the day I like to ask myself “What was the best part of my day today?”. This way, I always go to sleep with a smile!

LAUGH, OFTEN

There will be culture clashes for sure! Find the amusement in them, and carry on! You will laugh hard about these moments later in life! I guarantee these will be your favourite stories to tell!

UNWRITTEN STORIES

It’s interesting how your life can transform instantly by just one single decision! This is a brand new Chapter in your life! And the unwritten stories are about to unfold! Stories of exciting new friendships and endless adventures and fascinating daily discoveries are yet to come! Go out there and find your unwritten stories!