The Expat Lifestyle: A Guide for Young Adults Wanting to Live Abroad
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Living abroad is one of the most exciting and life-changing things you can do as a young adult.
It’s filled with new adventures, cultural immersion, and personal growth.
As young adults, we often feel like we need a fresh start in life.
6 months after I graduated high school, I knew I was ready to leave home and live on my own.
I just didn’t realize I’d end up 8,000+ miles away from home!
The summer I graduated from high school, I moved from Alaska to Washington.
But that wasn’t enough for me.
I ended up spontaneously living in Argentina for 3 months and realized I loved it here.
Since then, I’ve made the jump and fully moved abroad to Argentina. I couldn’t be happier!
Moving to a foreign country as an expat not only lets us chase our dreams, but we continue to learn from the world around us too. There’s no better combo!
In this blog post, we’ll explore
what it means to be an expat
the advantages and disadvantages that come with the expat life
valuable tips that you and other young adults need to embark on your own international journey
Let’s dive in!
What is an Expat?
First things first - it’s important to understand where the word expat comes from and how its meaning has changed over time.
Expat comes from the French verb “expatrier” which means to banish or kick someone out of their native country. For my language enthusiasts out there, here is a more in-depth breakdown of this word’s etymology.
Over time, the word expat has lost its negative connotation of someone being kicked out and now refers to someone who willingly chooses to live abroad.
It paints the picture of someone who moves abroad for the enjoyment and adventure of travel. They can also go back to their home country if they feel like it.
Tourists visit for a short trip. Expats move to live abroad for a long time or permanently.
Common reasons people make the move are for work or school.
Being an expat involves immersing oneself in a new culture, adapting to a different way of living, and building a new life away from home.
Challenges of Being an Expat
I’ll always be 100% transparent with you - expat life can have its downsides.
Some common ones are homesickness and feeling out of place in your new home country.
Adjusting to a new culture, language, and social norms can be extremely overwhelming at first.
Building a support network, finding good living accommodations, and dealing with visas/paperwork are all hurdles that expats face.
Benefits of Being an Expat
That being said, being an expat comes with so many advantages!
One of the biggest is your opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery.
Living abroad has taught me
to be more independent
to understand my own values
to stop worrying so much about what people think of me.
Immersing yourself in a foreign culture will give you a new perspective on life, lead you to new opportunities, and help you adapt to any environment or unexpected problem.
Expat life also offers a chance to make lifelong connections, learn a new language, and develop a deeper understanding of global issues.
If you’re thinking of moving abroad, make sure to check this list of 16 things to consider before traveling to a foreign country.
Preparing for Your Expat Journey
Before embarking on your expat adventure, you have to prep well.
The first few steps are to start researching your destination country, its culture, customs, and visa requirements.
Some people have a few places in mind that they’d like to move to - that’s fantastic! Just make sure to do the same thorough research for all countries.
Connect with other expats or join online expat communities to learn more about the process. It’s also a great way to find support, even after you land and establish your new life abroad!
Save enough money to cover your initial expenses, including room and board, transportation, and daily living costs.
Consider getting international healthcare insurance, and make sure all of your legal/financial matters are good to go before traveling abroad.
6 Tips for Thriving as an Expat
To make the most of your expat experience, here are some tips to thrive in your new home:
Embrace cultural differences: Be open-minded and respect the local customs and traditions. Basically, be a respectful newcomer willing to learn the local ways.
Learn the language: Taking language classes or immersing yourself in the local language will make your life easier and help you make friends abroad.
Build a support network: Seek out other expats and locals who can provide guidance and support. This helps so much when navigating legal matters for visas, getting property, or just having a shoulder to lean on while you adjust.
Explore and integrate: Immerse yourself in local activities, events, and festivals to fully embrace the culture.
Stay connected with home: Keep in touch with loved ones back home to help deal with homesickness.
Document your journey: Keep a journal, start a blog, or share your experiences on social media to save memories and inspire others. You might convince someone else to move abroad too!
Final Thoughts
If the opportunity arises, young adults should live abroad at least once in their life! Becoming an expat is one of the best decisions you can make and it’s become much easier nowadays with travel hacks and technology. Not to mention, it offers so many opportunities for personal growth, learning, and adventure.
You might deal with problems abroad, but that’s normal. All expats have had their fair share of poor experiences.
However, there’s so much to gain from starting fresh abroad that it makes these problems worth it!
Preparing thoroughly, embracing new experiences abroad, and being optimistic will all help you take this transformative step in life.
Best of luck and safe travels!
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