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Moving abroad is can be an exciting experience, giving you the
opportunity to live in a different culture, and learn more about yourself as a
person. Apart from the adventure of being in a new place, living in a foreign
country gives you an opportunity to immerse yourself and gain in-depth
knowledge about the people, culture, food, and lifestyle that you won’t get
while traveling on vacation.
Having lived in South Korea for over three years, and taking the
opportunity to explore the country during my time away from work was fabulous.
The weekends were set aside for visiting temples, strategically getting lost
and finding my way around the city, meeting other expatriates, and traveling to
nearby countries. It also gave me an opportunity to expand and grow by learning
more about myself. Everything was new and thrilling when first arriving in
South Korea. The smells, scenery, people, and the way things were done, were
all part of my new journey, which I will always cherish and remember.
Although living in a foreign country gives you a front row seat to
a new culture, which can be very exhilarating, it can also present challenges.
The biggest challenge in living abroad is often communication. It is very
frustrating if you do not speak the language and you aren’t able to connect on
simple things. Simplicity can easily be loss in translation resulting in
misunderstandings, potentially making life extremely difficult. This is something
to really think about when moving to a foreign country. As a traveler, you most
likely will be in a country for a short amount of time. Therefore, your
challenges will be brief and adjustable. However, when you live in a country, the
excitement and shininess can often fade quickly as you create routines and begin
to call that place home.
I honestly enjoyed living abroad, but if there is any bit of
advice to offer, before you move abroad you may want to think about your personal
ability to adapt to new things and situations. Remember, you are not going on
an extended vacation. You are moving to a foreign country and things are going
to have its challenges, even if you speak the language and have done all the
research in the world. You can almost assure there will be some challenges, but
most things worth experiencing or having, come with its own set of challenges.
That does not mean moving is not for you, it just means that you need to be
clear that you are really ready to move instead of taking an extended vacation.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Cha is the founder and
director of Expat
Women of Color, which is a 501C3 organization that helps connect who desire live,
work, study and/or travel abroad with other women with similar interest. She is
also a life and expat coach where she focuses on helping people create the life
they want abroad. You can contact and learn more about Cha through her personal
website www.chajones.com or through her blog www.thenomadicchick.com.
Global Bound Cnsulting
©2015
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