Top Pros and Cons of Living Overseas as an Expat

by David Tompkins

Pros and Cons of Living Overseas as an Expatriate or Global Nomad

The waiting time is finally over. You have eventually summoned up the courage to move abroad and start your expatriate life. Breaking the news to your relatives and friends is easy; however, the nerves to venture into unknown soil can be quite overwhelming for first-time expats.

Before you board a flight to go overseas, there are some things that you should seriously consider. Here is a list of the pros and cons of living overseas to a foreign country as an expat. Review them for sure before finalizing your travel date or even deciding to move to your dream destination.

The Pros of Living Overseas

Pros and cons of living overseasList most expats, you may have done general research on an expat hub. Here are the important pros that include the top benefits of being a digital nomad, a global citizen, or an expat.

1. Opportunities to Travel Far and Wide

Travel for many people is the concept of exploring places within a country or venturing into tourism hotspots of a neighboring nation. However, expats have endless opportunities to explore numerous cities and places across the globe. You can surely opt for the jobs that let you travel far and wide while getting paid well.

Depending on the destination you choose to move to, you will love to grab the opportunities to travel to places of your dreams. Isn’t it lovely to spend quality time with a loved one in those less frequented exotic hotspots? The biggest advantage of being an expatriate is that you will never get time to be bored. Your busy routine will also keep you in good spirits.

2. Knowledge Expansion

Traveling can be a great knowledge booster. As you travel around the world, you will constantly learn about various cultures, customs, histories, and dialects. Real-world experience can be the best teacher, and the knowledge gained in the process is priceless. For new expats or travelers, books, guides, and museums are teachers.

Just going to a nearby grocery store and interacting with fellow customers can help you learn a lot about a particular place. You can also learn by doing things or practically handling situations that you may face as an expat. These experiences will make you intellectually strong and mature in the long run.

3. Personal Growth

Pros and cons of living overseas

Moving to a new country would also mean that you encounter unique situations that can be overwhelming at times. You will grow as a mature individual as you overcome various hurdles. You will get enough opportunities to grow stronger mentally and physically as you settle into a new life abroad. You will also learn to live without depending much on others emotionally.

4. Building New Relationships

Expats and many global nomads have enough options to expand their social life. Building friendships and relationships shouldn’t be a hassle at all. As you settle in a new city, you will meet people who can later turn out to be the best of friends. You may even find your soulmate or the love of your life. However, being an extrovert helps when unknown faces surround you. Making friends with your neighbors can be a great way to build your social circle.

The Cons of Living Overseas

Moving abroad may be a dream come true for many expats; however, you can’t ignore the disadvantages associated with it. Hopefully, the cons listed below will help you assess what is right for you before deciding to make a move.

1. The Culture Shock

Pros and cons of living overseasCulture shock is a common issue faced by expats; however, they can be easily handled if you are mentally prepared. Culture shock is usually triggered by differences in food habits, lifestyle, and social traditions. You may feel homesick when you experience a culture shock. But it is just the initial days of frustration, and gradually the culture shock will fade away. The best way to deal with it is by trying to adjust to everything that your new destination offers. As days and months go by, you won’t find everything so “bizarre” in your host country.

2. Language Barriers

The language barrier is a culture shock that can be very intimidating. You can overcome this obstacle by learning the new native language even before moving to your host destination. Communicating in a native language can get difficult if it differs from your mother tongue. Ideally, you should take up language classes at least two months before you set foot on foreign land.

3. “New Kid” Syndrome

Pros and cons of living overseasLanding in a new country can make you feel like a “new kid” in town. You will go through this awkward feeling during the initial days, but this is completely normal. Don’t get overwhelmed. Just think about those days when you first joined an elementary school. With time you will adjust to the new environment and the new way of life.

The Decision is All Yours

Moving overseas is quite different from planning a short vacation abroad. This type of transition requires adequate planning and research. Remember that choosing to be an expat is a huge decision. However, it can get you exposed to endless opportunities that you could not have expected back home. So be prepared for change and move to a new place with an open mind and a strong will.

Now you learn about the pros and cons of living overseas. We would also be remiss if we did not remind you of the importance of buying international health insurance before you move abroad. We have even written a blog on the importance of buying international health insurance cover. You can get free advice and advocacy by getting a quote online or offline via Expat Financial.

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