8 Reasons to Move Abroad—Anyone Can Do It

Moving to a foreign country is something I never thought I’d do…until I did it. I thought studying abroad for a few weeks in Italy was a long time; how was I going to last for months? I worked a job in Florence, Italy for about six months a few years ago and it was one of the best things I’ve ever done.

While I wasn’t fully immersed (my roommates/co-workers were American and our customers – students – were American), living in an Italian apartment in the heart of Florence was a whirlwind of an adventure. If you are considering taking the plunge and moving across the world, I urge you to do it. That experience led me to work other jobs around the world in Europe and Asia to help fund my travels.

Here are a few of many reasons to move to another country, be it for a few months, a year, or indefinitely!

1. EXPERIENCE LIVING LIKE SOMEONE ELSE

You buy groceries, do your laundry, and go out to eat like a local. You learn to communicate with new phrases and understand different body language. You are living your everyday life like it’s from someone else’s perspective.

Living like the locals starts to rub off on you, and you may not even realize it.

2. TRAVEL SLOW

Being on the go is exciting but exhausting. There were weeks at a time where I’d be traveling to a new country every weekend (the best part about my first travel job in Italy) and returning to Italy during the week. While getting the opportunity to see a new city even for just a few days was awesome, I didn’t get to know the culture as well as I did in Italy.

Slow travel allows you to notice the little things, to stop and smell the roses, and to appreciate everyday life. If you move abroad short-term, traveling slow will allow you to soak up as much as you can before you leave.

3. LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE

If you move somewhere where the main language is foreign to you, then that’s all the more reason to learn it. What better way to learn a new language than to be fully immersed in a country that’s constantly speaking it? Learning a new language opens you up to another world of possibilities when you are living and traveling in a foreign country.

Get a head start to learning your countries language by taking classes here!

4. CUT DOWN YOUR LIVING COSTS

Moving abroad might actually save you money, depending on where you live. Many parts of Asia, Eastern Europe, and South America are great regions that tend to have a lower cost of living than your average western country. Plus, living abroad lowers costs significantly compared to vacationing. Especially if you’re traveling slower, you’ll save on extra costs by not staying in a hotel, not eating out for every meal, and doing everyday activities.

5. HAVE A FRESH START

No one knows you there. You have an opportunity to be whoever you want to be; to fully be yourself if you’ve been holding back. There are new friends to be meeting and new things to be doing. Be the person you want to be, surround yourself with positive people, and try the things you’ve always wanted to do (perhaps, for example, getting teaching English in Peru or learning yoga in India).

6. GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

Move abroad to get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. You’d be surprised at what you can handle, and it makes everyday #firstworldproblems seem minuscule.

7. FIND WORK OPPORTUNITIES

International work experience is resume gold. Going abroad in general is a great boost for your resume, but working on top of that provides even more value. Check out this free starter guide on how to find and set up travel jobs around the world!

8. MAKE MEMORIES AND BE ADVENTUROUS

Do it because you know you want to. And that burning desire deep within you will continue to grow until you just do it.