What It Takes to Live Abroad: Traits of a Successful Expat
Living abroad opens you up to a world full of new possibilities and challenges. Moving to Argentina has been the most freeing and exciting decision of my life.
However…
It has been the most emotionally challenging thing I’ve done and pushed me to my limits.
That being said, I’ve learned that certain kinds of people will thrive or struggle when moving abroad.
This post explores what it takes to live abroad and be a successful expat. Do you have what it takes? Keep reading to see if you can handle a big move.
You Can Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
It’s not a surprise that the first trait of someone who will be a successful expat is that they can get out of their comfort zone. Try something new. Take risks.
Being able to throw yourself out there is the first step in the moving process. After all, you’re leaving behind friends, family, and any sense of familiarity back in your home country.
You need to be willing - excited even - to ditch all of that.
What matters is how well you handle the adjustment period. There will be things you love, like, and dislike about your new country abroad.
Over time, you won’t feel “outside of your comfort zone”. Instead, you’ll start to feel a little more at home in your new place.
You Are Flexible and Can Adapt to Change
As I said, what matters is how well you can adapt to a new culture and lifestyle.
Since moving to Argentina, I’ve noticed that the social norms and expected behavior is different here than in the US. Let’s compare greeting styles as an example.
In the US it’s more normal to say hi from a distance, shake hands, and maybe hug someone if you’re close enough (with a family member or friend).
In Argentina, it’s common to say hi and kiss the other person on the cheek. It’s also considered rude if you do not greet everyone in the room this way, whether you intentionally or accidentally skipped a person. I’ve made this mistake many times at the beginning of my life here.
All of this is to say I’ve become more mindful of the different greeting styles and social norms since moving abroad. And you should too.
Wherever you move abroad to will have its own social norms and rules that you need to learn and copy as well. It will help you seem less cold, make friends, and meld into the community better.
When we move abroad we can’t expect others to live and act the same way as in our home country. It is now up to me, you, and anyone else who moves to adapt to the culture.
Your ability to adapt will affect your quality of life abroad, especially the longer you live in that country.
If you can’t be flexible and open-minded about how other people do things, then you’ll have a much harder time living abroad.
You’re Socially and Culturally Aware
There is a time and place for everything. Try to avoid being insensitive and ignorant as an expat.
Every country has its own problems, and most locals are aware of their country’s flaws and political issues. You may hear them discuss it often.
However, openly criticizing a country and its cultural differences from yours can hurt your chances of making friends. In the end, it makes you look less approachable.
In my experience, I’ve found that locals like to hear about your opinion of their country - they just don’t want to hear hate and criticism 24/7.
People may be interested in what you have to say about their country and what your impression/experience has been since moving.
The catch is not to overdo it and end up bashing your new home. It will appear more like an attack than a thoughtful consideration.
Also, avoid falling into the pitfall of culture shock and becoming overly negative.
As mentioned before, your ability to adapt to change is closely related to how well you’ll do living abroad.
The adjustment period at the beginning of your move can be difficult, but try to stay optimistic and appreciative of your chance to live abroad.
Always follow the golden rule: if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all!
You Are Appreciative
When I was living in the US, I was very critical and frustrated with our political problems, cultural norms, and skewed values.
Although I’m happier abroad, I’ve also become more appreciative of
what I had back home
where I’ve come from
why I am the way I am
Moving abroad will force you to acknowledge that you are different, yes. But it will teach you to appreciate and embrace this fact positively.
I’ve learned to appreciate my Alaskan upbringing, the positive aspects of living in the US, and the good memories I can look back on with my friends and family.
It has also taught me to appreciate what my new country has to offer.
Focusing on my appreciation for Argentina made my moving experience more enjoyable and greatly helped me adapt to change.
You should focus on the positives of wherever you are, whether at home or abroad. This will help you overcome the challenges of moving abroad, remind yourself why you wanted to move in the first place, and appreciate the progress you make.
In the end, you become more mindful of what you want out of the new life you’re creating for yourself.
Final Thoughts
Moving abroad is no easy feat. It takes a lot of courage and willingness to change.
Being able to take risks, flexibility, cultural awareness, and a grateful outlook on life are the essentials to a long and happy life abroad.
Have you moved abroad? I’d love to hear what helped you with the moving process and adjusting to a new country. Make sure to comment below!
