Living Abroad

Every year thousands of people leave their home country and move abroad.  Some go for professional reasons, and some go for personal reasons.  But if you had the choice would you leave your home country? What factors would impact your decision to go or to stay?

Moving to another country is not an easy decision and one that should not be taken lightly.  If family members are going, then situation becomes even more complex.  How will the children adjust? What schools will they attend?  What will my spouse do?  How will my spouse adjust? 

Living abroad is not for everyone, but for those who are willing to try it then it can be a remarkable  and life changing event.  Of course, there are negatives and positives about one's home country and one's new country.  Each person has to decide which is more advantageous for him or her.  One important point to note is that traveling abroad and living abroad are definitely not the same thing.  Think of traveling abroad as the summer internship, where companies roll out the red carpet.  Think of living abroad as being employed by the company. 

For the first five years one still feels more acquainted to one's home country, but once one passes the 5-year mark, one belongs more to one's new country and the international community than one's home country even if one moves from one country to another during these five years. 

In the beginning everything will be new from understanding the postal system, the transportation system, the social culture, etc.  After 5 years it will all be rather routine, but when you return to your home country the challenges begin again, you might not even know how much it cost to mail a letter or to use the local transportation. 

With all the challenges of living abroad, there are many wonderful experiences from meeting new people to seeing new places.  If you are considering living abroad embrace it and the experience will be life changing.