No More Excuses: Reasons To Finally Move Abroad
Everyone has that fantasy; one day they’ll move abroad to an exotic country and start a whole new life. But usually we dismiss it as impossible. Who has time to move abroad when you have a job, friends, family, and a whole life here? You don’t actually want to leave it all behind and start from scratch in a city where you don’t know anyone and you might not even speak the language. However, there will come a time when you look back on your life and wish you’d taken more risks – you’ll wish you have lived abroad even for just a short while. Whatever excuses you still have for not moving abroad, here is a list to debunk all of them.
I can’t take all my stuff
You don’t need all your stuff. Yes, there is something a little daunting about moving to a new country with only one suitcase, but it does make you realise what’s really important, and it forces you to live a more minimalist lifestyle. If you genuinely can’t find a nice apartment that comes fully furnished, or you’re just really attached to your sofa bed since you spent years paying it off, then you can hire international removalists to haul your big items from one location to another. It will make your move a little less stressful, and let you focus on packing what you need into your suitcase. However, if you’re only planning to live abroad for a year or so, then you can loan out your possessions to family or close friends on the condition that you will get them back upon your return. Alternatively, you could make some extra cash by selling the things you no longer want. After you’ve lived with your meagre possessions for a while, you’ll wonder why you felt you needed so much clutter.
I don’t have enough money
The cost of living greatly varies from country to country. Although you might struggle making ends meet where you are now, your savings could take you a lot further in another country. Of course, you don’t necessarily have to chose your temporary home based on which countries are the cheapest to live in, especially if you adjust your expectations and live within your means. If you’re travelling alone, you could rent out a nice one-bedroom apartment instead of putting a deposit on a villa for a whole year. Instead of living in the heart of a big city, you find a cheaper place on the outskirts and commute. You could also find ways to make extra money to fund your lifestyle for the next year. You might have raised some money by selling your stuff, but you could also have a regular income if you sublet your apartment at home. The best way to make money is to get a job in your new country; many people would love to have lessons from a native English speaker so you could potentially earn a pretty good living just by talking. Money doesn’t need to hold you back.
I’m happy where I am
Some people just talk themselves into staying because they’re afraid to get out of their comfort zone, or they convince themselves that they’re happy enough just being tourists a few times a year. But living abroad is completely different to being a tourist. From the moment you arrive at your destination, you have to figure out how to complete your errands, learn about public transport, find out where to shop for groceries, and all other kinds of things that don’t bother most tourists. But you also get to see places that tourists overlook during their week-long or weekend visits. You can see festivals that are celebrated during off-seasons; you can find a favourite coffee shop, restaurant, or venue; and you can meet new people and form close bonds with them during your stay. None of this means that you forget your life back home, but it expands your horizons and challenges you to try new things.
I don’t speak the language
This might be the most common excuse in the book, and also the one with the easiest solution. If you want to try living in Germany, Japan, or Peru, but are afraid you don’t know enough of the language to get by, then start learning. You can pick up enough phrases to get by in your first few months, but most people believe that immersing yourself in the language is the best way to learn.
