Expat Life: 5 unexpected benefits of living as an expat 

What are your motivations for considering a move right now? You may be in a role where you no longer feel challenged, or you want to experience working abroad so you can move into a more senior role on your return. Perhaps your motivations are personal, sometimes the end of a relationship or a desire to see the world may have you wondering if expat life is for you. 

 

When you are considering such a significant move, there are obvious benefits to expat life that spring to mind like having new experiences, developing a new network or having the opportunity to learn a new language. However, there are also less obvious benefits of expat living to be aware of in advance of making a move.

While a contradiction in terms, many expats find they become used to getting out of their comfort zone and begin to see it as a thrill rather than a threat. The experience of setting up a bank account without speaking the local language or finding your way around a bustling city, when you are used to the quiet life in the suburbs, helps new expats realise their true potential, away from the routine of everyday life. 

If you are moving from a multicultural city like Toronto, London or Paris, you are likely to have a lot in common with others in your city. You are familiar with societal norms and ‘how things are done’ in your home country. 

When you move overseas, your eyes will be opened to how differently countries operate. You will need to be aware of and possibly adapt to these cultural differences in order to get things done, professionally and personally. This will improve how you work with colleagues when you repatriate.

We are all used to an element of routine in our day to day lives. When we make a move to another country we must start again from scratch. This could involve organising utilities for your new accommodation, enrolling your children in school or working out your new commute. Things are bound to go wrong, there may be miscommunication, misunderstandings or time spent lost in an unfamiliar city. Although this may prove frustrating initially, you will learn to be more patient and allow more time for many things you would consider routine in your home country.

Depending on your assignment, you might be moving from the suburbs to live in a busy city or from a busy city to a very remote location. No matter what the change is for you, it may feel intimidating initially but once you settle in, you may develop a love for a fast city life or the relaxed pace of rural living. 

There is no doubt, living away from the support of friends and family is challenging. But during your time overseas you may develop ways of maintaining those relationships that make your relationships stronger. It could be a weekly Skype or morning calls where you spend quality time really talking and listening to each other. While maintaining these connections you can also be creating new, expat relationships with others who are in a similar situation to yourself in your new location. 

If you are seriously considering expat life, don’t forget to look after your health and wellbeing with international health insurance which will allow you to access quality healthcare while working overseas.