And that is the most rewarding of all: the opportunity to learn and develop as a person, because you will discover things about yourself that you may not have known before. It has taught me so many lessons and has encouraged me to be independent, have respect, and appreciate people, cultures and the world around me. New experiences are the reason we live. A common feature of people living in a foreign country is finding them Gathered together in restaurants, discussing about their home and their experiences in the foreign country. Before moving to a different country, you first need to notify your bank that you’re moving abroad. You’ll have to figure it all out, over time. Required fields are marked *. Hey! I liked your post and you are still very young to stick yourself with just one country! Anyway, one day in April I got a phone call. You'll Adjust To The New Time Zone. Through interacting within a foreign society, your eyes will be open to aspects of life that would be difficult to learn in your native country. This is a great sharing, living abroad is an enriching experience because it forces you to adapt to things that are unfamiliar and unusual to you. Reach out and ask questions to any group that may have formed through social media or the internet. Expect to get frustrated from time to time. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window). If this exercise hasn’t scared you off yet, … College of the Ozarks offered free tuition to every student through a campus work program. After that, there was a round of essays and personal interviews – tested your ability to live in a new country. And although at times it will feel overwhelming and you will feel hopelessly lost, after a few weeks you’ll look back and be amazed at how much you have achieved, how much of a life you have already created for yourself. I grew up moving around military bases in Europe until I … This article is quite helpful (even if you are not moving from the US): Aly, Hi, I am planning to move in 2019 from Florida to Spain to start a new life by myself and emerge myself in other cultures. The competition lasted several months and had several rounds. Good luck for the future . It will be an adjustment but I am sure you will love the experience of moving abroad! By the way, I will be 50 by the time I move, so I’m not a spring chicken. There are a lot of, affordable ways for people to study or live abroad. Other than that just keep an open mind. Many people move for work or study opportunities. It has also influenced me to learn another foreign language and study abroad in Spain. Such a small amount of people got the opportunity and it was impossible to say no. You’ll get sick on the food. Thank you so much for your kind words! If you are thinking about moving, studying or working abroad, you will find some of these resources useful: Advantages and Disadvantages of Studying Abroad, What Does It Really Feel Like to Study Abroad. It allows you to be more open and accepting of how other people do things and it lets you see a different side to life. I have traveled to other countries, but have never lived abroad. (okay, maybe some people) It’s is not always snowing in Russia and it is not as dangerous as people think it is. I really like sharing my culture with other people and being able to experience to so many new things every day. It’s such a great experience and I’m glad you shared yours! Being by yourself in a new country shows you what you are really capable of doing. Reaching out before moving to a new country will ensure you are prepared for the experience that lies ahead of you. Your email address will not be published. The first time I went abroad, I had just one suitcase. Customs and places vary, but we all want to love and be loved, follow our passions, and dream big. and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. In the United States, I spent more time in nature than I ever had before. Many people I met living and working abroad eventually decided to move back. xo. There are a lot of affordable ways for people to study or live abroad and this experience will impact you in the ways you couldn’t expect. Hi Aly, I want to encourage more people to be open to the idea of exploring the world we live in and its people. However, to the outsider coming in, who brings with him a set of different, but still clearly marked, cultural “dos and don’ts”, it can cause quite the clash of viewpoints. But none of them regret moving abroad and all of them will tell you their experience living abroad was an experience that enriched their lives. This experience taught me not only about a new country, but even more about myself. The Difficulties of Moving to A Different Country and Experiencing Another Culture. Modern media has romanticized living overseas, making it seem easy, when in reality, it can be the hardest thing you ever do. However, according to my own experience, some people move to another country to find jobs, but some move to another country to … Their heating in winter isn’t great either so be prepared for a few cold months. While I was admitted to a language program in one of the universities in Moscow, I also found a university in Missouri. I’m a moroccan student who live in South Korea since August 2012, and I was suprised of some aspects of this country. It could be possible that you are intrigued by the way people interact with one another, the music, the festivals, the art, or the food in another country! Visit the About Me page for more info. Conflict, difficulties, awkward situation that you are exposed to when we travel abroad make you a stronger and a more responsible individual. I was 15, I was not ready to be away from my parents for longer than a week. Jet lag is real, and something you'll have to face if you're living … I am glad to hear that you like the US Russia is definitely on my bucket list! It is also beneficial for the development of the world. I love connecting with people! Moving abroad was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Through a variety of core courses that focused on societies, history, and philosophy of East and West, the Donaghey program introduced me to, and increased my understanding of different cultures and perspectives around the world. When I can to the US my first time, I thought it was soo unusual! That year I studied like I never did before and was looking for all of the opportunities I had. One of the greatest perks of moving to a foreign country is the abundance of new cities and areas just waiting to be explored (in fact, here are 5 jobs that will PAY you to travel !). The American culture is so new and people here are so different. Moving to a new country People move to an other country for many reasons: to escape from their exausting routine, a career change, health purpose, but for me it was as part of an University exchange. Culture shock is a very real experience for many people who move to another country.Anyone who has lived or studied or even traveled extensively in another country has tasted and lived through some level of culture shock. The first thing to focus on is what to pack. This differs slightly depending on the country you’re moving to, but there are a few basics that are applicable to everyone. I’ll be the first to admit that that was, at least for the first few times I moved abroad, the thing that worried me most: how will I meet people? You become independent and open to new, exciting, or terrifying challenges. It is very valuable to me. The first time I came to United States, I didn’t have a driver’s license, so I was completely dependent on other people. But food is also culture, and one of the best ways to learn about your new country. It signifies a fresh start, a departure from the old and the beginning of something new: a challenge, an adventure, the unknown. If you have the opportunity, move abroad for a few months! The water is different, the fruits and meat are different, street food is … The winner travels to the United States for a full academic year for free and lives in an American host family and attends an American high school. I don’t know what lies ahead, but I know that my first, study abroad experience changed my life forever, . Moving abroad and starting over in a new country is one of the most terrifying yet exhilarating adventures ever. Starting a new life abroad shows you what you are really capable of doing. There are many different reasons why people have their country to go to another country. When you are moving to a new country for sometime, the less stuff you bring with you, the better. Since I liked studying languages so much, I found English tests online just for fun to see what scores I can get (nerd, right?). Living in a foreign place feels much different than going there as a tourist. Thank you for this amazing post. Living in another country is a difficult experience for many people. I don’t know what lies ahead, but I know that my first study abroad experience changed my life forever. Thus, from that period until de end of the time there, I learned the language with the … Once you know the country you want to move to, the next step is to understand all you can from a far about what you need to know to live there. I was 15, I have never been outside of my country. I cherish pictures and little gifts from friends but I’ve learned that owning an expensive TV or a fancy coat won’t make me as happy as experiencing a new country, tasting its food and talking to its people. When I returned I still had one year of high school left and a lot of exams to prepare for. No one is immune to it. Challenges look different. You Don’t Need That Many Things to Survive, Sometimes Bad Things Happen When You are Living Abroad, Living Abroad Is Good for the Society as a Whole. I am in the process of becoming a minimalist to purge my possessions before my move. It’s not until you live in a new country that your ideas, ways of doing things and perspectives really change. Would you like to collaborate or just want to say hi? Just go! I will be forever grateful to them for giving their only little daughter a chance to travel, to see the world and explore herself. They are a great way to meet people and get help with any questions you might have about moving to and living in Spain. It shows you how strong you are and how you can overcome pretty much anything. You will go from feeling excited, to feeling frustrated, to doubting why you ever made the decision to move abroad, to loving it again… It’s all part of the experience and it’s what makes it so valuable! Plus, differences can lead to making things better, conflict is not always a bad thing and it should lead to compromise, we need to learn from it and move on. Studying abroad changed my life. And for me, and most people I know who have moved abroad, the experience comes with ups and downs. If you were able to live in a different country all by yourself for several months or years, you feel like you can overcome pretty much anything. That year passed so fast and it was time to go home. My experience with culture shock in America as an American raised abroad. After using a dictionary for a couple weeks, I quickly learned American expressions and the accent and some people couldn’t tell I wasn’t from Arkansas. But, there is something about moving abroad with one suitcase and starting a new life that will really show you it’s not about what you own in life but what you do with your life. You are free to start over again, free to stay or free to go home with an amazing story to tell. These activities are based on a story written by Hoa, one of the runners-up of our learners’ competition, where people wrote about their new home in the UK. I really enjoyed studying languages, even in my free time. Through a variety of core courses that focused on societies, history, and philosophy of East and West, introduced me to, and increased my understanding of different cultures and perspectives around the world. Thanks for following me on my life and travel adventures! From getting used to eating with my hands in India to trying to understand and respect why many men in the Maldives want their wives and daughters to wear a headscarf… Living surrounded by so many different cultures and making friends in all those countries has truly broadened my horizon and has made me question my beliefs. It was an opportunity of a lifetime and I am so glad I did it! It shows you how strong you are. When I was in Spain, my phone was stolen, together with my debit cards and even keys. Sure, living by the ocean is amazing. With all of this being said, my idea of my future was staying in my hometown and becoming an English and German teacher. You have to be able to deal with some bureaucracy (which I still struggle with at times), a slower pace of life and, if you don’t speak the language, the language barrier, but overall most people who move abroad and choose Spain are pretty happy here. People usually say that traveling or living abroad was the best time of their life and you should go too. Moving abroad was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Hi, I'm Marina, passionate traveler and blogger, based in the United States and travelling the world. A variety of different cultures and ideas together is what makes this country unique. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. And Spain is definitely a great country to move to! Your email address will not be published. Enjoyed reading your post. My experience of learning English in a regular course was limited to this little experience and a short period taking English as a Second Language at the local College. https://traveleatblog.com/travel/living-abroad/living-abroad-experience Sometimes nothing happens for a long time and you are really happy, and then suddenly it all sneaks up on you at once. I think it has a good quality of life and the growing international community in most parts of the country makes the move easier. I couldn’t be an English teacher in my hometown anymore – I had to explore what is out there for me. Immigrant Experience Essay. Also, join some of the “expats in Spain” groups on Facebook. Author: Sanne WesselmanA traveler, wanderer, digital nomad, and entrepreneur. But I also miss walking everywhere. These two words have been part of my vocabulary from an early age. However, movies also can’t show how amazing this experience really is, it is a lot more enriching and wonderful than movies can ever show. Thank you, Thank you for posting. It is wonderful to go and live abroad to be immersed in a culture that is extraordinary to you, where you can experience things that you wouldn’t be able to at home. My parents are my heroes for letting me do this. I feel like you hit it on the head when you said, “people are more similar than we think.” Sure, living abroad helped me see differences between places and experience cultures unlike my own, but I also saw how, at our core, most people are very similar in terms of their kindness and openness. Are You Studying Abroad in the United States? I also travel to many countries for work – in fact right now I am in Central Asia which has a lot of Russian influence too and enjoying! People leave their home countries for various reasons, to escape as a refugee, or immigrate for a change in life. ), which offered a better education and more opportunities. It was a beautiful, sunny day in South Florida. This post may contain affiliate links. It is also beneficial for the development of the world. I was six years old, playing by the pool with my new puppy. I can’t tell what my life would be now if I didn’t go, but I wouldn’t have the experiences and opportunities I have now. https://www.spendlifetraveling.com/category/ask-an-expat/. A lot of my friends tried it and it was a new challenge for me. The Most Expensive Cities in the World to Buy Drinks. When you move abroad, you become nobody. Or check out my Ask an Expat Series in which I interview expats living all over the world. Culture Shock. Then came an opportunity to move to the USA – a small town in Northwest Arkansas, called Jasper. You will have to start everything again: new relationships, new house, new job, etc. We all worry about money all the time. That was the most reasonable and logical thing to do and I didn’t know any different. I am exploring the best places in the world for life. In part 1, we will consider the pros and cons of moving country and develop a personal answer to the question, “should I move to another country?” with confidence. The Experience of Living in Another Country. I also took interest in communications, media and cultures around the world. It was an experience of a lifetime! scholarship program for high school students from Europe and Eurasia sponsored by the US Department of State. And while it may be temporary, it is going to change you forever. It may be hard at times, but you will never be the same. People are more similar than we think. By: Bonnie Rose. Actually, I'm not an immigrant. 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