Living the expat life brings many emotions, whether you are new to living abroad or been living abroad for many years. Here I want to discuss the three main difficulties of being an expat.
Many people think that moving abroad means more adventure, better career, better weather etc. They picture a very glamorized view of what it might be like to live abroad. Of course, living abroad usually brings better opportunities otherwise we would not move, however it isn’t without some difficulties. These difficulties expats may face are often the reasons many quit and go back to their old lifestyle.
WHAT ARE THE COMMON DIFFICULTIES OF AN EXPAT?
1. Missing Friends and Family
This is usually the first difficulty people face when they move abroad and can start from day one. The day you say goodbye to that special friend or relative. A lot of expats won’t know when they will return home making saying goodbyes very hard. Returning home isn’t as simple as hoping on a train for a couple of hours. Many expats move to the other side of the world making it very expensive to travel home. Living abroad often means you miss your friends and relatives special occasions. as a result you may feel low and isolated.
2. Feeling isolated due to cultural and / or linguistic barriers
Usually expats have visited the country before they move, this is where they usually fall in love with the place and imagine a whole new life living in that country. However, going on holiday abroad versus living abroad will bring completely different feelings. Maybe for the first few weeks or months in the new country you will have the holiday feeling but gradually the holiday feeling will wear off. Suddenly you find yourself feeling isolated even if you have made some new friends. The culture and language can be very different to what you are used to.
3. Expat life can be emotionally draining
So its time to fly home to see your friends and family. You feel excited before you leave, you arrive home and just get used to feeling normal again, over the jet lag, enjoy seeing the people you miss, then you have to say goodbye…and it’s emotionally draining. I remember crying all the way in the taxi from my parents house in Nottinghamshire all the way to Heathrow airport. By the time you get back on the plane, you feel totally wipe out.
Why do it?
There are many answers to this question and every Expat will have a different answer depending on the reason they moved abroad. I didn’t move abroad for career but for my children and their future. Giving up for me would mean giving up on the possibility of my children having better opportunities in the future. Also the key to not giving up is to know that these feelings are temporary. Meaning you will not have these low moments all the time. I equally have more high moments than low. Sometimes you have to outweigh the bad with the good. Think about the bigger picture. Yes you miss friends and family back home but your on an adventure, your discovering a new you, your making friends with like minded people who share the same thoughts and feelings. Living abroad changes you, it opens your eyes to greater things in life. If you can cope through the struggles you will realize that you may never go back to your old life and when or if you do, you will be a changed person. You may find that you no longer have things in common with your old friends or you don’t fit back into your own culture or home town.
Get your Free printable, stick it on your fridge or pop into a frame. Every time you feel isolated or sad while living abroad remind yourself that these feelings are only temporary. Click on the download below.
