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10 Expats from around the World Talk About Life As An Expat

10 Expats from around the World Talk About Life As An Expat

Many people dream of expatriating, though it takes a brave person to build up the courage and make the leap to another country. We decided to ask some of the most influential expat bloggers around the internet how being an expat has changed their lives. Here are their answers.

Natalie – German in America

How has your quality of life changed since you relocated?

I have a lot more freedom – I am self-employed and travel a lot, leading trips for Infinite Adventures in Alaska, Canada and the Western USA: I love that lifestyle!

 

What has been your most memorable experience in your new country?

Going on long road trips and spotting grizzly bears! I love animals and being outside. The USA has so much to offer when it comes to the great outdoors. I live next door to the Grand Canyon and Alaska is my summer playground.

 

Did you experience any form of culture shock and if so, how did you deal with it?

I definitely had to get used to different food, huge supermarkets and different heating systems; it is the little things you can get pretty irritated about – you have to learn things all over again and sometimes you can feel a bit stupid. The best thing is to just get on with it, laugh about it and accept that there are many ways that lead to success.

 

What one piece of advice would you give to a potential expat?

Try to pick the best things out of your own culture and the new one – Life is good!

 

Emma – Adventures of a London Kiwi

How has your quality of life changed since you relocated?

Travelling abroad has given me the excitement that I craved and the chance to experience live history that I had learned in books. It has also made me challenge everything I know and develop personally into a much stronger, more settled person who isn’t afraid to embrace who I am. Wow. That got deep – it also has allowed me to get a little too entrenched in hyperbole…

 

What has been your most memorable experience in your new country?

There have really been four – getting married to an Englishman who I met whilst running his local pub (which was the last thing I had planned!), herding sheep across London Bridge (it’s an ancient right of the London Freemen and I managed to sneak in), day-tripping across the Channel for lunch in Paris and having afternoon tea with (near) the Queen at a Buckingham Palace Garden Party.

 

Did you experience any form of culture shock and if so, how did you deal with it?

Honestly, most British people say that New Zealand is akin to Ye Olde Englande 30 years ago so coming to the motherland wasn’t too much of a shock, though I have had to retune my ear thanks to the semi-American word choices many New Zealanders have somehow threaded through.

 

What one piece of advice would you give to a potential expat?

Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself both professionally and personally in order to make friends (and it is totally natural to keep a stash of home goodies in your house for when homesickness hits spasmodically.)

 

Becky – Trekking with Becky

How has your quality of life changed since you relocated?

What a great question! The quality of my life was enriched during my time in Japan. Being half Japanese, living in the land of my roots filled a space in my heart, not to mention having my lifetime dream of seeing and meeting my favourite singer. Living in another country (and being able to see 9 others while there) made me realise to the fullest extent what I had taken for granted growing up in Canada, from gender equality to a complete understanding of individualism.

 

What has been your most memorable experience in your new country?

I can’t think of just one, but they revolve around the 9 times I saw and met my lifetime idol and role model, my favourite singer. Of course, walking in my grandfather’s childhood footsteps and seeing Japan with my family are up there too.

 

Did you experience any form of culture shock and if so, how did you deal with it?

It was heart-breaking to be seen as a foreigner, which means not Japanese AT ALL. In Japan, you’re either Japanese or you’re not; they don’t understand the concept of things like being Japanese-Canadian. After a while, some people who got to know me realised that I AM Japanese. Regardless of who it was, I always tried to help them understand that I am the way I am because of my Japanese upbringing, especially when they’d be surprised about things that we had in common, such as our ways of thinking.

 

What one piece of advice would you give to a potential expat?

I’d tell a potential expat that Japan is the most humid place I’ve ever been. Summer is a nightmare, and every person I’ve met from other hot places, including Kenya, Bahamas, Florida, Nigeria, and more, all say that Japan’s summer is the worst. 100% humidity is not unusual. Hokkaido is cooler and tolerable. There’s no point wearing sunblock since you’ll just sweat it off, so use an umbrella!

 

Elizabeth – Miss E Calwell

How has your quality of life changed since you relocated?

My quality of life back home was pretty hard to beat – but I suppose it’s my curiosity which has increased the most since moving abroad. I’ve always had the travel bug, but it’s really been exacerbated since moving and I find myself exploring and travelling so much more. One of the best parts of London life is that there is ALWAYS something to do, new things to discover and the wonders of Europe are just a short flight away.

 

What has been your most memorable experience in your new country?

Though technically not in the UK, the most incredible (and insanely decadent!) thing I’ve done is take the Eurostar to Paris just for lunch in the Eiffel Tower.  I still find myself asking if it was all a dream!

 

Did you experience any form of culture shock and if so, how did you deal with it?

Absolutely – and still am! The cultural differences between the UK and Australia were far more pronounced than I had anticipated: the sense of humour, expressions, working styles – you name it.  The hardest thing is to try to not change too much. You need to remind yourself that you’re bringing a unique set of traits and energy to the country, and whilst you need to be mindful and empathetic to the culture you’re in, I’ve really learnt how important it is to be yourself.

 

What one piece of advice would you give to a potential expat?

Expect the unexpected. Moving abroad requires so much planning and preparation but the reality is that the experience will be everything you thought it would be and also nothing like you thought it would be. Embrace it!

 

Sarah – Mum & Mor

How has your quality of life changed since you relocated?

It has improved most definitely. I feel happier finally being with my partner (we used to have a long-distance relationship). I live in a small, quiet town as opposed to the loud, bustling town I once lived in back in Britain. It’s peaceful which I love.

 

What has been your most memorable experience in your new country?

There has been quite a few! One of note is arriving at Billund Airport in Denmark with just hand luggage and one suitcase, both full until they were heaving. I was so nervous! My partner suddenly spotted me and as soon as I walked through the gate, I was grabbed and hugged. It was the most fantastic feeling, knowing I was finally going to be living with him. No more having to Skype each other, no more missing him terribly and no more being alone.

 

Did you experience any form of culture shock and if so, how did you deal with it?

Denmark is a lot like the UK, in my opinion. The only culture shock I have experienced is seeing that a lot of parents leave their babies outside shops and cafes in their prams! It’s a normal thing to do here apparently. The Danes seem to be very trustworthy.

 

What one piece of advice would you give to a potential expat?

Do as much research as possible about your potential new country before leaving! What’s the state of the job market? Does the government offer language tuition? What are the costs involved with renting/buying a home? What is the healthcare system like? To be honest, I could have done with doing more research.

 

Chantelle – Seychelles Mamma

How has your quality of life changed since you relocated?

This question has got me thinking, I guess it depends on what you consider quality of life to be!  

In terms of income though, we have less “spare” cash available on a day to day basis, we don’t go out for dinner as much as we did (of course now we have children so we probably wouldn’t be doing that now anyway!)

When we first moved here our house was not as nice as what we had in the UK, but now we have a nicer house than we would have ever had there! I’m currently not working so can stay at home with my children, which we definitely wouldn’t have been able to do, so that’s definitely a huge positive. My husband’s ‘work-life balance’ is a lot more favourable now he has been promoted.   

We definitely get to be outside a whole lot more and enjoy what is around us. So for us personally, we consider our quality of life to be higher than before we relocated, but others may not feel the same way!

 

What has been your most memorable experience in your new country?

It has to be being pregnant and having children here.  Now both my boys are here safe and sound, people say to me how brave they thought I was to do that. At the time I didn’t have anything to compare it to so I didn’t really consider it to be too big of a deal but on reflection, it really was!

Aside from being away from family and in a hospital with far from the most modern facilities, there were lots of positives about it.  I found that Seychellois people became more accepting of us and I really liked that we didn’t go elsewhere to have our kids.

 

Did you experience any form of culture shock and if so, how did you deal with it?

Of course! For us, the initial culture shock was the slow pace of everything.  Things that you take for granted such as paying bills by direct debit all has to be done in person.  Setting up bank accounts, insurance, phone and internet took an AGE and that was really frustrating.  There can be a lot of bureaucracy here but we soon learned that knowing the right people can help you out no end!  We also learned that getting angry gets you nowhere!  

 

What one piece of advice would you give to a potential expat?

To any potential expat, I would say to try and get in touch with an expat blogger in the country you are moving to, you will get real insight into what life is like for an expat there – the good, the bad, and the ugly! You’ve then got the added bonus of having a contact when you first arrive too which can be really useful, particularly if you are the ‘trailing spouse’; those first days in a new country can be long when you are by yourself and your partner is at work!

 

Claire – Blooming in Bordeaux

How has your quality of life changed since you relocated?

Moving to France has definitely been an adventure. I was already pretty settled in the United States when I married my husband, Florian, so it was hard to leave behind not only my family and my friends, but my job, my apartment, most of my belongings, and my car. Today, my apartment in France is much smaller than my apartment back in the States; I can’t drive in France so I rely heavily on walking and public transportation, and I am still trying to rebuild my wardrobe and stash of kitchen supplies. However, all these things are part of the experience and although my life in France is different than my life back in the United States, I still love every moment of it.

 

What has been your most memorable experience in your new country?

My most memorable experience since arriving in France last fall was the week that my husband and I took off on a road trip to the southeast of France. We visited the Pont du Gard, the Camargue, Nimes, Arles, and Avignon. Although I had already done some of my own travelling around France, this was an area that I had never visited and always dreamed of touring. I loved seeing all the sites, but what made it really memorable was being able to travel with my new husband.   

 

Did you experience any form of culture shock and if so, how did you deal with it?

Probably the biggest form of culture shock that I experienced when I arrived in France, and still experience today, is the food. I consider myself to be very open to trying new things, but there are certain foods that the French eat that I have a really hard time handling. Since my arrival in France last fall I have been fed things such as pigeon, cow kidney stew, stuffed pig’s foot, grilled duck heart, and blood sausage. My husband often tells me that the French pride themselves on eating every part of the animal, and from a cultural standpoint I understand, but it still doesn’t make it any easier for me. For the longest time, I was too concerned about being polite to say anything and I would suffer through the meal, but the more time I spend in France the easier it has become for me to politely say that I appreciate the gesture, but will pass. Thank goodness for baguettes at every meal!

 

What one piece of advice would you give to a potential expat?

Make every effort possible to immerse yourself in your new country—learn the language, study the culture, listen to the music, watch the TV shows, etc. The sooner you make an effort to integrate yourself fully, the easier the adjustment to life aboard will be.  

 

Vani – Just an Expat

How has your quality of life changed since you relocated?

Well, is very hard for me to compare because my whole life changed. I came to Lebanon just for an adventure and at the end of it, I found myself married. So, I don’t know how my life would have been if I were married in Argentina. What I can say is that maybe for me at the beginning of this journey it wasn’t the location, it was the experience. From being away from home for the first time to having roommates, my life changed completely. It made me learn a lot about myself. Now I have a family of my own, which has made me settle down and re-evaluate my personal goals, family, work and friendships.  

Although Beirut is a little chaotic comparing to Buenos Aires, I think that my life has become a little quieter. Of course, that doesn’t mean more peaceful, though. I’m facing different challenges now like learning a new language, trying to understand a completely different culture and searching for a job.

Each country has its perks and cons, but I guess that Lebanon allowed me to have a family and share my hopes and dreams with someone. For me, that’s the most important thing. For that reason, no matter where I’ll end up, Lebanon will always have a special place in my heart.

 

What has been your most memorable experience in your new country?

I have good ones and bad ones. At the beginning, adjusting to the life in Lebanon was hard, but I tried to see it in a kind of funny way. I guess that the one that keeps coming to mind is when you had to call for a food delivery and you had to try to explain to someone where you live just using the three words you learned in Arabic. Here in Lebanon, most of the streets don’t have names or numbers, so you have to give directions and descriptions to people and not everybody speaks English. For sure that was a challenge.

Another memory is the first time I had to take a taxi. I didn’t know that shared taxi was an option, so imagine my face when other people started to jump in.

 

Did you experience any form of culture shock and if so, how did you deal with it?

Yes of course. I guess most of the cultural differences are because, in Lebanon, religion is a big part of everybody’s identity and even in Lebanese politics; so that brings different traditions and cultural backgrounds. For example, in Argentina whenever we meet someone we kiss them on the cheek or, if it is a very formal event, you shake hands.  Here, you have to be aware if people shake hands or not. Some of them they don’t even make personal contact because of religious beliefs. However, on the other hand, you have people that greet you with 3 kisses and hug you like a distant relative, no matter which religion they are.

 

What one piece of advice would you give to a potential expat?

You have to come to Lebanon with an open mind. Some things that you don’t understand are the result of years of war and violence. Lebanese people try, in their own way, to coexist with all the religions that are present here. I’m not saying everything is perfect – on the contrary. A lot of things could be done a lot better if the Lebanese government would put in the effort. But, an expat has to understand that this is what works for them, and has to respect that.

 

Lindsey – The Wandering Rose

How has your quality of life changed since you relocated?

Since moving to Canada, I’d like to think that my quality of life has increased overall. The population are laid back and inviting which opens doors to friendships and opportunities that otherwise would have escaped me in my former, rural residence. I’ve also learnt a lot more about the world and my place within it from Canada’s large and diverse immigrant population – and I’ve found there to be nothing more enriching than that.

 

What has been your most memorable experience in your new country?

Doing as the locals do and taking a short holiday up ‘north’ into the remote and rugged Canadian wilderness has been the most memorable experience for me so far. Sitting on a rocky outcrop in the depths of Algonquin Provincial Park with nothing but trees and lakes to the horizon’s edge was something I’ll never forget. It felt very personal and it felt very liberating and it was an amazing way of getting to know the raw natural beauty of the country I now call home.

 

Did you experience any form of culture shock and if so, how did you deal with it?

Being a student in both university and high school settings was where I found the differences between both cultures to be the most pronounced. It wasn’t easy making friends during this time and I found myself disassociated and unable to let go of the past. I overcame these troubles with patience, time and exploring new options for forging friendships from employment or networking.

 

What one piece of advice would you give to a potential expat?

It’s not always going to be rainbows and butterflies – great things don’t happen overnight. There’s no shame in being homesick. What’s important is to acknowledge and listen to your feelings and remind yourself why you chose to become an expat in the first place.

 

Kristine – kristinewanders.com

How has your quality of life changed since you relocated?

My quality of life has changed immensely since I relocated to Saudi Arabia. My current work contract gives me 56 calendar days of vacation time which has allowed me to jet off to explore parts of the world I otherwise wouldn’t have had the means or the time to see. It was made me appreciate cultural diversity as I have immersed myself into the culture of Saudi Arabia and the cultures of the fellow expats with whom I work.

 

What has been your most memorable experience in your new country?

As you can imagine- being a blond woman in Saudi provides an array of memorable and funny experiences. Some of my most favourite memories involve me attempting to speak Arabic to one of my patients and having them or their family members applaud my efforts as you would a toddler trying to walk. 

 

Did you experience any form of culture shock and if so, how did you deal with it?

I think culture shock is unavoidable, especially when one moves from a Western culture to a culture like Saudi Arabia. For me, the best way to deal with culture shock has been to have a good sense of humour and patience. And to always remember that oftentimes, there is more than one way to do things and that sometimes the way we’re used to isn’t, in fact, the best way. Confiding in other expats and discussing frustrations has also proved to be immensely helpful.

 

What one piece of advice would you give to a potential expat?

I think the most important piece of advice I could give to potential expats would be to be open and patient. Open to new ways of seeing the world, doing things, and especially being open to new relationships and experiencing different cultures. Be patient with yourself as you adjust to your new home country, and patient with the locals as they often have different ways of doing things.

 

Conclusion

A big thanks goes out to our 10 expats who have graciously agreed to share their experiences overseas. For more of their expat stories and inspiration why not check out their blogs, or if you’re thinking of moving or buying property overseas, contact us at Currency UK to see how we can help!

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