My #1 goal on this blog is to share about becoming an expat. I feel that living abroad makes some significant, positive changes in a person. so I guess I feel living abroad is something pretty awesome. Unfortunately, it’s also something pretty scary for those interested. But scary is just an alternative to exciting, given the right mindset.
To date, I’ve helped a handful of people with their move abroad. The most popular help needed is deciding to “go for it.” In my experience, there are 5 big reasons why people don’t follow their dream of living in another country. After each, I tell you why each reason doesn’t really matter.
#1. Work
Number one reason is “I have a job.” People actually ask “How could I leave my career?”
To people who offer this excuse, I say you aren’t hurting your career, you’re helping it.
For nearly all employers, any international experience is a major plus. Upon your return, you will command a more senior position, higher salary and more respect. You can also expect more independence since, to move abroad obviously took the fortitude to have done what they likely haven’t. If you can’t believe me, read this article on the Harvard Business Review how living abroad can make you a better manager.
And you know what? For many of us in corporate life, the job itself may be the mealticket to a new adventure overseas. Does your company operate in other countries, in any capacity? Look for transfer opportunities. For people who step forward, the company may throw in relocation funding, language tutoring, and visa assistance. Wow!
Let’s say you’re an information security manager in Boston. Your boss’s boss knows of an planned data centre in San Jose, Costa Rica and he’s in dire need of a senior manager with native English skills. You, of all people would be the ideal candidate for the role, but he only learns you’re interested because you’re now resigning to move abroad. (That’s from my own experience, by the way. I turned down his offer, but my lesson was Speak Up Earlier!)
Bottom Line: Raise your hand up for transfers/relocation- even if the question isn’t asked. Regardless, taking a new position abroad is destined to be a major stepping stone for your career.
#2. Children
If you have children, they are the most important thing in your life. (I speak from experience here, too).
That’s why I think parents should consider living abroad even more – for the sake of broadening their kids’ horizons.
Our daughter attended preschool in Prague for her first 2 years of school age. Now we’re in Canada, but she still speaks fondly of her Czech friends and loves to dance to Czech kids tunes.
Does she remember our travels? She can personally remember her and daddy’s trip up the Eiffel Tower, walking around the Acropolis and visiting friends in Germany. — This all before she turned 5 years old a few months ago!
Kids with such experiences become more social, learn a foreign language more easily and will be more resourceful at problem solving. I truly believe that. Time abroad for children is the best gift a parent can offer.
For young adult children, the transition is tougher and appreciation will come later. The key to success is with communication and respect. Get young adults involved early on in the decision making.
Bottom Line: Do it for you and do it for your children.
#3. Family / Relationships
Having family nearby can make the decision to move abroad more difficult. Then again, for some, family is just the reason some want to leave. (ha ha!)
Seriously, unless your beloved grandmother has only a few months left, feel free to leave for a few years. But decide – for you. Everyone will be around when you get back. Decide and decide now.
As for that certain relationship with a significant other. Maybe you’re waiting for someone to pop the question. Maybe you’re waiting for something…but it’s been a while already, right?
In both cases, I’m telling you that the initial shock and pain of saying “I’m leaving for…” will go away be responded by “We’ll miss you, but we’re proud of you. Bon voyage!”
Bottom Line: You can’t live your life in “wait-mode.” Otherwise, there will always be a reason to wait.
#4. Personal Concerns & Fears
Maybe you’re worried about your health, your safety, or some basic fear of strange languages and customs? Maybe you don’t know what to do when bored.
This is the first reason of this list that I can personally understand. Believe it or not, I get butterflies every time I am moving to a new place, visiting a new country or starting a new job. But you know, I think that’s normal. It’s normal to be nervous. These new adventures interest us just because there is a lot of “unknown.” And isn’t that what it’s all about?
Bottom Line: Sure, all that “unknown” may scare most people away, but maybe that adventure is what sets you apart from others.
#5. Finances
Okay, this is a genuine reason like all the above. But it’s special because it’s also a valid reason not to just take off to live for another country.
UNLESS, that chance to live abroad means making considerable more money than you’re making in your current position. Right? Did you know in Russia, over a third of the expats earn more than a quarter million dollars? Yes, over $250,000. That because Russian employers find it “fashionable” to hire expatriates and pay them crazy salaries.
And don’t forget that your worldwide income is tax-free, to a limit.
If you’re in heavy debt, than a move abroad can be more than difficult to pull off. What’s abnormal debt? Statistics say that half of Americans with credit cards have over $3,000 in rotating balance debt. I personally would not call that a serious debt, but it’s a good start. However, a move abroad could turn it into serious debt.
Bottom line: It’s important to carefully consider the cash-in versus the cash-out for every move. Odds are good overseas will win.
Related posts:
- Countdown: 11 Weeks to Move Abroad In case you don’t visit often or haven’t before now – I’m moving. Well, we’re...
- Countdown: 9 Weeks to Move Abroad Today, we’re expats in Prague, Czech Republic, but we plan to move back to North...
- Countdown: 5 Weeks to Move Abroad Today, we’re expats in Prague, Czech Republic, but we are planning our move to Canada....
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
So True! Expat life isn’t for everyone, that’s a fact. But most people don’t get beyond these concerns to even try it. If you don’t go for it, you’ll never know if it’s for you or not. If, after a couple of years, it isn’t what you hoped, you can always move back home. There really is nothing to fear!
Thanks Alison! You bring up a great point – nothing is forever.
Sure, if someone did try and was miserable, they can move again. Either return to the same or find a new sweet spot. While nothing is forever, that trial experience will last as their “I Did It.”
Thanks for the post–a much needed reminder that it IS possible! Just found your blog and now will be a regular reader–thanks!
Great to have you, Maggie. And thank you.
Suggestions? I’m a specialty cardiovascular pharmaceutical rep who sells in both the hospital and physician office settings. My company doesn’t offer the international option for sales, so I attempted to relocate using my marketing skills/experience and was offered a place on the global brand team. Bad news, our company is downsizing and the global marketing team is based out of the US now. Plan foiled. Anyone out there have thoughts on countries, companies or industries that I could look into for overseas opportunities? Language skills–conversational Spanish, but not enough to really conduct business with–sadly I’m only fluent in English. Thanks for any thoughts–I appreciate it!
Maggie,
You ask for thoughts on other companies and industries, but I’m assuming you want to stick with the pharma industry, at least in general. That’s not impossible, but your language skills may limit you to a handful of countries.
Speaking only English isn’t a limiter in the office – many jobs exist where the country’s language isn’t English, but the workplace’s official language is. (Case in point – I held a global managerial position in IT risk in Czech Republic with nary a word spoken in Czech to get the job).
But for sales, going “door to door” to hospitals and doctors’ offices, that’s where you’d be expected to speak their language. So for such sales positions, consider native English countries, e.g. Aus, the UK, Canada.
There, that said, you have tons of options – the sky’s the limit, if you just search for a job that interests you. Besides the option of teaching English as a 2nd language (~TESL), your sales & marketing experience is desired in any industry outside pharma. Isn’t “ABC” applicable anywhere? (Glengarry Glen Ross, right?)
I say you should first decide where you’d like to go. Then search for jobs there. For me, the location comes first, then the means to sustain living there.
And here, I’ll point to Miss Footloose’s comment – don’t limit yourself. Let whatever you discover limit you. Which won’t be much of a limit at all.
Two ‘next steps’ are clear.
Make a decision where to live.
Take action to look for work (if necessary), either online job boards, recruiter, directly applying, etc.
ABC,
-Jeff
The excuses we use for not trying new things we’d really like to do are often self-imposed limitations. I think it was Deepak Chopra who said that we all live in a prison of our own making. We have set ourself up in a comfortable cell, our comfort zone. What we see through the bars may be tempting, but we are afraid to break down the bars. Only we’ve put them up ourselves, and can take them down ourselves.
Well, maybe not always
Yes, not everyone can tear down those bars by themselves.
But that’s what we have this blog for …for that extra bit of motivation, persuasion and accountability that some may need.
Thanks Miss Footloose,
-jeff
Thanks for the comments, Jeff. As for Miss Footloose, appreciated her intention but interested in more concrete suggestions.
First of all, great articles! I find them really useful!
I need your advice though.
I have been living abroad for 6 years by now: have a great job and lot of acquaintances (mostly locals), rent a nice flat, have favorite spots in the city. People treat me as local here because I don’t act as a foreigner and hardly have an accent when I speak. Knowing the local language fluently allows me to arrange everything on my own (immigration office, tax authority, doctor and so on) so I am very independent which is important to me. The main reason why I have moved here was my boyfriend but we have split up since then. I felt good here therefore I have decided to stay despite this fact (It was 4 years ago). I love this country and its people but at the same time I feel I need some changes. One of the possibilities I see is that once I get my MA diploma this summer I could move somewhere else: either back home or more likely, to another country (Poland).
Somehow I have been always interested in Poland, always found it easy to make friends with Polish people therefore often wondered what would be the life there. I have visited this country many times; know the culture and history quite well so wouldn’t have a cultural shock. I am single now and it would be possible to find a similar job I have now in Poland as well, so no obstacles in these areas. My family is also quite supportive about me living abroad (we usually meet once per 2 months so no reason for them to complain) and I have enough savings to finance the move and first few months in a new country. So It is all about my fairs and personal concerns that doesn’t allow me to make the final decision.
I am trying to decide now whether I should move to Poland. Generally I like stability and I am conservative a little bit, so moving to another country, to nowhere, wouldn’t be the cleverest thing from me. It would mean I have to change the job, the flat, pack my stuff (i have a LOT, none of my stuff is left at home), would no longer be treated as local which means a lot to me now (I do speak some polish but not good and with quite strong accent). So my life would change a lot and I have mixed feelings about it: from one side It would be a new adventure, I would fulfill one of my old dreams (to live in Poland), would have possibility to learn polish but from other side I would no longer stay independent, would have to leave people that I currently have around me and probably would miss the country I live now a lot.
Should I really listen to my heart and move to Poland or do I simply have to accept the fact that after a while expat life gets a little bit boring especially if you become “too local” (which I think is my case)? Maybe I am simply willing for some more excitement and for that it would be enough to change some habits, try some new things? Or maybe I am I only looking for excuses not to decide?
How do you see the situation?
thanks
Zuvedra,
I thought your comment was incredible. That was a heartfelt and detailed outpour of your thoughts. Thank you.
I won’t answer before I ask you one, simple question:
Fast forward your life 20 years. Will you regret not having lived in Poland, if only for say, 6 months?
My opinion? My guess for your answer to the above question is ‘yes.’
BUT….
You talk about appreciating stability, being conservative, and how being independent is important to you.
You obviously like and fit in where you are (people, language, etc), but you say you crave some changes & excitement. —Or maybe, better to say you crave a *distraction*.
If “distraction” is more honest, then I can’t recommend going, if truly just for that reason.
Tough call, Zuvedra. If I sound confused, I am.
Bottom line advice: answer my first question with all your honesty.
Best,
-Jeff
Zuvedra,
If you would go to Poland, would you have to move lock, stock, and barrel? Is it possible to go for a year and see how you like it and if you can make a go of the language and your independence? And if it does not work out could you move back to where you are now? I don’t know if this is possible because of your work, but that might be the way to approach it. Put your stuff in storage for now, or just get rid of a lot of it – even that is very liberating!
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