Embarking on a journey to a new country is a thrilling yet daunting endeavor. Uncover the raw truths of living abroad, from the exhilarating highs to the challenging lows, and everything in between. Prepare to delve into the realities of international relocation.
When you move abroad, you’re learning to work, live, and make friends in a strange new world, while desperately missing your friends and family back home.
Thankfully, today’s technology can make you feel close to your global connections even when you’re oceans apart
- Keeping in touch with family and friends is crucial, and texting and Skype are the best ways to do so
Susan left her home in South Africa to work as an au pair in the USA for a couple of years before moving to London to travel and get her British passport.
Both times she was nervous to leave, but once she got to know the areas, she loved them. Her best advice for would-be expats?
Put yourself out there and try new things
Eniko moved from Romania to England
- it was the first time she’d lived anywhere else or been apart from her family.
- Only started feeling homesick after four months
- Finding friends in London that felt like family played a big role in making London feel like home
- Not trying to compare everything to what it would be like back in Romania
Ian left Blighty for Hong Kong
Skype and Facebook were lifesavers for keeping in touch with family back home
- Hong Kong’s strong British legacy made the transition feel more comfortable
- The sharp contrast with the UK is in the dynamism
- Give it time and don’t hang out exclusively with other expats
It is normal to feel scared or alone when you move somewhere new.
Tamara, a Lebanese woman, has made three big moves abroad in her life
- First to Jeddah, Saudia Arabia, as a child
- Then to New York to get an MFA from Parsons School of Design
- Finally, to London to be with her British husband
- WhatsApp, Skype, and social media have been essential for keeping up contact with friends and family in different time zones
