Excellente!! What honesty, in case anyone had the rose-colored glasses on. But as we know, until you’re there, striving and flailing and upended, it doesn’t sink in. Regardless, what a beautiful education it is—and those met along the way? Pearls!
There's a good reason so many expat hopefuls bounce off the project in the first year, and still so very, very, very worth the effort IMO. My wife and I spent much of the first year in Costa Rica contemplating a move "back home"—in scare quotes because, what does that even mean at this point?—even into the second and third years. It didn't help that our first business partner grifted the larger chunk of our savings, never to be recovered.
Yup, living abroad is HARD, folks.
In more personal feedback, I love your self-effacing, quick-witted writing style. I wish I could write like this. I try, but damn you slay.
I left the US and moved to Vietnam on January 1st, 2024. I have had a very different experience. There has been nothing HARD about being here. It's actually quite the opposite. What is hard is being trapped in a vicious cycle living in the US, not being able to sell your house for 6 months while being away, because no one wants to move to California, but you've still gotta pay 5x your cost of living where you are for a house to sit vacant. I'd say that the hardest thing about being abroad, is not being fully detached from my home country. I have almost escaped the trap. I want that more than anything. Once that happens, I'll be free, and things will be a lot easier. Thanks for sharing.
I can relate. I am a 6’4” American living in Belarus. I say 6’4” because my head has been hit so many times due to the bathrooms for 5’5” people and “commie block” (their term, not mine) common door entrances made for the 5’10” variety. Yet, I love it here. The nicest people I’ve have met are here, which helps if your entire Russian vocabulary is “da” and “nyet”.
The key point is to expand your view of the world and understand things from an entirely different perspective. You’ll love it either way.
Hi Maggie! You summarize my own experiences living abroad so well. I'm Dutch and have lived in Australia too, and the past years in Brazil, Argentina and Peru. It has been the most thrilling experience, but the hardest one as well.
Especially trying to connect to people that don't speak English! I could feel so isolated. Only after three (!) years of practicing Portugese I finally speak it.
It came with dumb (but hilarious) mistakes like pronouncing: "Eu amo coco vs. cocô". (I love coconut vs. poop). Or even better: that one time I told my mother in law during breakfast: eu amo esse "pão", but actually saying "pau". Which would literally translate to: I love this "dick" instead of "bread".
I didn't dare for months to order a bread in a bakery.
Hahaha. The best thing is other people's faces trying to hold their laugh in such moments. So cool, we're kind of close: I live in the South of Brazil in the Santa Catarina state. Completely adopted the herba mate culture 🧉 and I still need to visit Uruguay to try theirs!
Oh my goodness you describe the experience of moving far from home so perfectly! I am three months into a new life in Australia and I feel like I've travelled to another planet. I absolutely love it and I have also never felt so dislocated from everything I ever knew. Everything is confusing! And everything is new and exciting. I'm so happy to be here and I also want to tell everyone I meet how hard it is to be far from home!
You're absolutely right! I moved abroad for my education 3 years ago and it was the hardest thing I have ever done. The first few months in a new country with a language barrier are now in my top 5 worst things I've experienced, but I would do it again.
The personal growth I went through would have taken me 10+ years back home and the friends I made here cannot be substituted for anything in the world.
You're right, Maggie, travelling is hard. I'm six months into my travels and find the biggest challenge is rising above the expectation that I'm 'supposed' to be having fun every minute of every day.
I’ve only moved away from home once…and it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Especially because of the difficulty of friendships/relationships. This article was awesome! It gives a really good idea of your personality. And it’s fun. The type of sarcasm I can connect with.👌🏽
Well, I agree 1000% - and I will add that I am lucky you decided not to take singing lessons - although you do have a beautiful singing voice - as I then was lucky enough to run into you and begin our never-ending friendship xxx
Great article. From my experience I can totally relate to this. If you want to know yourself, travel and you will see things that you are not that proud of yourself as well as resilience you did not know was there. My travel destination once was Belgium, it was actually my first trip to live abroad in my early twenties. Tough. However, I was a new man after it. Better. Cheers and greetings from Vilnius.☕
'...made me grow more than I ever would have, had I stayed. I got out of my little political bubble...'
I agree with your points, Maggie.
Travelling to different countries and getting exposed to different societies and cultures really deepens our way of thinking as well as understanding of the world around us and broadens our perspectives.
Such effects can only happen if we actually go and experience visiting or living in different places.
As a fellow immigrant, the annoying turtles definitely resonate. Bureaucracy likes to place 3x as many turtles down for immigrants, I have noticed. With no extra lives if you get it wrong.
The next time a local calls you out for being a black sheep, just style it out like Dr Evil.
"It's called a Belgian dip. That's how we do it in Belgium, OK?"
Excellente!! What honesty, in case anyone had the rose-colored glasses on. But as we know, until you’re there, striving and flailing and upended, it doesn’t sink in. Regardless, what a beautiful education it is—and those met along the way? Pearls!
Gracias Jeanine, leí que vivés en México? And yep, it can be tough. But so very worth it!
Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo. Between Cancun and Tulum.
Cool 😊
This was the perfect suggestion, Maggie.
There's a good reason so many expat hopefuls bounce off the project in the first year, and still so very, very, very worth the effort IMO. My wife and I spent much of the first year in Costa Rica contemplating a move "back home"—in scare quotes because, what does that even mean at this point?—even into the second and third years. It didn't help that our first business partner grifted the larger chunk of our savings, never to be recovered.
Yup, living abroad is HARD, folks.
In more personal feedback, I love your self-effacing, quick-witted writing style. I wish I could write like this. I try, but damn you slay.
Woah thank you so much for the compliments! And yes, it is HARD. Sorry to hear that about your business partner, that must have been rough 😓
It was a tough lesson for sure.
let me know if you liked this! I have no idea if people are really interested in my written ramblings.⬅️ Loveeeee it! 👍🫰🫶🙏😍
Now you inspired me to write more about the places I have been to n stayed for a short while! 💪✌️🙌😁
I left the US and moved to Vietnam on January 1st, 2024. I have had a very different experience. There has been nothing HARD about being here. It's actually quite the opposite. What is hard is being trapped in a vicious cycle living in the US, not being able to sell your house for 6 months while being away, because no one wants to move to California, but you've still gotta pay 5x your cost of living where you are for a house to sit vacant. I'd say that the hardest thing about being abroad, is not being fully detached from my home country. I have almost escaped the trap. I want that more than anything. Once that happens, I'll be free, and things will be a lot easier. Thanks for sharing.
Your personal experience depends on many things, in my case more money probably would have helped for example. But I'm glad you're happy there ❤️
I can relate. I am a 6’4” American living in Belarus. I say 6’4” because my head has been hit so many times due to the bathrooms for 5’5” people and “commie block” (their term, not mine) common door entrances made for the 5’10” variety. Yet, I love it here. The nicest people I’ve have met are here, which helps if your entire Russian vocabulary is “da” and “nyet”.
The key point is to expand your view of the world and understand things from an entirely different perspective. You’ll love it either way.
That is exactly right! It's tough but helps us to grow in ways we don't even know are possible.
Also sorry about the doors. That's a real bumper. I'm sorry, I couldn't resist 😂
My forehead thanks thee.
Hahahaha thanks, made me laugh 😂
Hi Maggie! You summarize my own experiences living abroad so well. I'm Dutch and have lived in Australia too, and the past years in Brazil, Argentina and Peru. It has been the most thrilling experience, but the hardest one as well.
Especially trying to connect to people that don't speak English! I could feel so isolated. Only after three (!) years of practicing Portugese I finally speak it.
It came with dumb (but hilarious) mistakes like pronouncing: "Eu amo coco vs. cocô". (I love coconut vs. poop). Or even better: that one time I told my mother in law during breakfast: eu amo esse "pão", but actually saying "pau". Which would literally translate to: I love this "dick" instead of "bread".
I didn't dare for months to order a bread in a bakery.
Ahh no way! I live in Uruguay now.
Yes to the language barrier! I'm a year and a half in and struggling.
Lol, mine was: me gusta mucho forro! = I love forró (dance), vs I love condom! 😂
Hahaha. The best thing is other people's faces trying to hold their laugh in such moments. So cool, we're kind of close: I live in the South of Brazil in the Santa Catarina state. Completely adopted the herba mate culture 🧉 and I still need to visit Uruguay to try theirs!
Ahhh no way!! We should do a little Substack event!
Oh my goodness you describe the experience of moving far from home so perfectly! I am three months into a new life in Australia and I feel like I've travelled to another planet. I absolutely love it and I have also never felt so dislocated from everything I ever knew. Everything is confusing! And everything is new and exciting. I'm so happy to be here and I also want to tell everyone I meet how hard it is to be far from home!
I lived there for 4 years... I feel ya 😊
You're absolutely right! I moved abroad for my education 3 years ago and it was the hardest thing I have ever done. The first few months in a new country with a language barrier are now in my top 5 worst things I've experienced, but I would do it again.
The personal growth I went through would have taken me 10+ years back home and the friends I made here cannot be substituted for anything in the world.
Isn't it incredible? Like a Super Mushroom, to stay in the theme haha!
Interesting metaphor.
Thanks, it took me a little while to come up with it haha
You're right, Maggie, travelling is hard. I'm six months into my travels and find the biggest challenge is rising above the expectation that I'm 'supposed' to be having fun every minute of every day.
Oh lol yes. I only started truly having fun after I got a little settled. Damn those Coca Cola ads with cool kids having parties all year round!
I’ve only moved away from home once…and it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Especially because of the difficulty of friendships/relationships. This article was awesome! It gives a really good idea of your personality. And it’s fun. The type of sarcasm I can connect with.👌🏽
Thanks 😊 I'm finding a lot of sarcasm fans with this article 😁
Well, I agree 1000% - and I will add that I am lucky you decided not to take singing lessons - although you do have a beautiful singing voice - as I then was lucky enough to run into you and begin our never-ending friendship xxx
Great article. From my experience I can totally relate to this. If you want to know yourself, travel and you will see things that you are not that proud of yourself as well as resilience you did not know was there. My travel destination once was Belgium, it was actually my first trip to live abroad in my early twenties. Tough. However, I was a new man after it. Better. Cheers and greetings from Vilnius.☕
Totally agree.
Dang, just when I’m thinking about getting a digital nomad visa for a year 😁
Do it! But be prepared 😉
'...made me grow more than I ever would have, had I stayed. I got out of my little political bubble...'
I agree with your points, Maggie.
Travelling to different countries and getting exposed to different societies and cultures really deepens our way of thinking as well as understanding of the world around us and broadens our perspectives.
Such effects can only happen if we actually go and experience visiting or living in different places.
Absolutely! And living makes it a lot more intense.
Great headline!
As a fellow immigrant, the annoying turtles definitely resonate. Bureaucracy likes to place 3x as many turtles down for immigrants, I have noticed. With no extra lives if you get it wrong.
The next time a local calls you out for being a black sheep, just style it out like Dr Evil.
"It's called a Belgian dip. That's how we do it in Belgium, OK?"
My first message apparently decided to shit itself. It said, thanks for the giggle! 😉
Oh hey, looks like we're doing similar things!