Seven Reasons You Should Live Abroad At Least Once In Your Life

When I moved to New York City after college, I truly believed I would live there until I died. I imagined my (much) older self strolling down the sidewalk to the local bodega or my favorite restaurant with the assistance of a cane, wearing granny glasses and sneakers I bought because they were comfortable, not stylish. 

The city was fun and exciting and nothing like my hometown — why would I ever leave? But then I realized the world is full of places that are fun and exciting and not like my hometown and thought, “why limit myself to just New York City?” Fortunately, my boyfriend was also ready for a change of scenery, so we quit our jobs and moved to Belize. Some people thought we were crazy, some said they were jealous (and also probably thought we were crazy). Whatever category you fall into, read on to learn the seven reasons I think everyone should live abroad at some point in their life.

You’ll challenge yourself and realize what you’re made of. 

Remember when your parents dropped you off at college for the first time or you started your first “grown-up” job and thought, “How the hell am I going to do this?” Moving to a new country feels a lot like that. Finding an apartment, applying for a visa, opening a bank account, etc. in a foreign land can be challenging to say the least. But the only way to grow as a person is to put yourself outside your comfort zone and try things that scare or challenge you. Once you make the move and start settling into your new life, you’ll realize how strong and capable you are. 

My boyfriend built the liquor store we run in Belize with his bare hands, only for our liquor license to be denied shortly after it was completed. I ran out of that meeting and cried like a baby. But then I pulled myself together and we spent the next several months working with lawyers and government officials and anyone else who would help and we got our license. I smile every time I see the store because it’s a physical reminder of all the obstacles we overcame. 

It’ll reset you.

If you stay in one place for too long, surrounded by people who are just like you, speak the same language and share the same culture, you’ll start to think that the way you do things is the right way and the people around you are normal while everyone else is strange and backward. But when you’re thrown into a situation where you no longer know the default way to do things and you don’t understand the language or culture, you realize there are countless different ways to do things, to live life, and maybe you’ll ditch some of your old ways and adopt new ones. 

Here in Belize, instead of starting a conversation with a stranger with “What do you do for a living?” I ask how they are or where they’re from. Rather than obsessing over climbing the corporate ladder and working hard at a job I hate, I strive for work-life balance and know I’m not defined by my job title.   

It’s humbling.

When you’re in a new place, simple things like ordering food at a restaurant or buying toiletries at the supermarket can be challenging. I once set off the alarm system at a grocery store in Colombia because I misread the sign on what I thought was a trash receptacle. The bartender at one of my favorite bars in Caye Caulker still teases my boyfriend for that time he pointed to an orange and asked what kind of fruit it was (oranges aren’t orange here like they are in the U.S.). You’ll make mistakes and feel vulnerable, but realizing that we’re all human and learning not to take yourself too seriously are freeing experiences. 

You’ll learn about a new country and culture.

There’s only so much you can learn about a place and its people from books and TV. Before moving to Belize, I read every article I could find, researched the capital and government leaders and watched countless HGTV episodes that were shot in the country. 

But it wasn’t until I spent an extended period of time living here that I truly learned anything about the country, its people and its culture. First-hand experience will teach you more than any amount of research or Googling ever will.  

You’ll meet people from all over the world.

Not only will you meet people who are local to where you’re living, but you’ll come across expats from all over the world. In Belize, I’ve met individuals from Canada, Britain, Australia, Nicaragua, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Israel and so many other countries. While I had a similar experience living in New York City, I definitely didn’t encounter this kind of diversity while growing up in Michigan. 

You’ll learn who your true friends are.

It’s easy to maintain friendships when you can meet regularly for happy hour or catch up at brunch on the weekend. But when you put a large body of water or land between you and your loved ones, staying in touch becomes harder. Some people will go out of their way to schedule calls or use their vacation days to come visit (thanks, mom!). Others will seemingly fall off the face of the Earth (you know who you are). Hold on to those who make the effort and kiss the others goodbye. 

You’ll be more employable.

Not everyone can handle living or working abroad. Doing so shows you’re an adaptable, critical thinker who loves to learn new skills and tackle new challenges. An experience abroad will set you apart from other top candidates.

When I’m talking to potential new clients, I always try to mention my experience living abroad. If nothing else, it’ll make my interview more memorable and hopefully help me land the gig! 

Want to learn more about what it takes to move abroad? Check out my interview on The Expater here.