Special Life 2.0
Life 2.0: A Change Of Scenery
Always been dreaming of the good life abroad? Maybe now is the time to take the plunge – these experts did, and here they share their best advice and lessons learned
If the itch to pack up your belongings and start a new life abroad has only grown during the current pandemic, you’re not alone. Crises often trigger change in us. And while we’re realistic and acknowledge ongoing travel restrictions, we also say: Start planning and preparing if you’re halfway serious.
Not sure where to begin? These experts-by-experience have already taken the plunge, and here they share their experiences and lessons learned (the hard way, at times).
Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram
Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram
Inspired By A Breakdown
Nora Dunn – The Professional Hobo, a Canadian who sold everything to travel the world full-time. Author of the free Travel Lifestyle Guides
“As with many life changes in general, mine was inspired by a breakdown of sorts. With hindsight, I might say the universe had been conspiring to alert me to change course for some time, but stubborn as I am, I ignored all signs (like two car accidents in one week and various signs of fatigue), and trudged ahead, until the only thing left working properly – my body – broke down. Two long bouts of bronchitis and a crippling case of pneumonia later, my day of reckoning had come.
“I remembered my dream of travelling the world, long-term and immersively. I already understood that the kind of travel I really wanted to do couldn’t be accomplished in vacations; it had to be a lifestyle. I also had figured I wouldn’t have a chance to live that dream travel lifestyle until retirement.
“However, while contemplating my life in the throes of pneumonia, I realised if I invested another 30 years of career monotony, only to reach retirement age and not be willing or able to live my travel dream, I could end up with serious regrets. That realisation in itself was enough to inspire me to sell everything I owned to travel full-time, which I did for 12 years.”
Just Jump In
Jessica Drucker – Tourism director, writer, podcaster and Expat Coach based in Brooklyn
“Studying abroad changed my life. When I landed at the airport in Costa Rica and hopped into the back of a jeep to my school in the Monteverde mountains, I couldn’t believe that all this… life… had been going on the whole time, and I was only just now becoming a part of it! That March, I took a bus to Guatemala to see the incredible Semana Santa (Holy Week) festivities, and knew immediately I would move to Guatemala after graduation. In 2001, I did just that.
“Love is what brought me to Germany in 2003, a Master’s Degree brought me to England in 2006 and my travel blog brought me around the world for four years as a digital nomad until 2014. All of that led me to writing a book: How To Move Abroad And Why It’s The Best Thing You’ll Do – out in autumn 2020.
“Here’s my best advice: There are 9 million Americans living abroad. 50+ million expatriates globally. From the outside it seems like such a big, unknown risk, but once you do it, there is a massive community out here. Connect with people, join expat groups, find an expat coach to give you more custom advice. But the world is there, waiting for you to jump in – just like it was for me all those years ago. Just go!”
Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram
Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram
Be Like Water: Powerful Yet Flexible And Calm
Jackie Omotalade – Empowering Black women with the skills, information and resources they need to thrive abroad on her blog The Jackie O Life
“Travel is all about keeping an open mind, staying strong and embracing flexibility.
“I’m a mother who slow-travels full-time with my toddler daughter. I’m also an entrepreneur, and it’s my sole responsibility to support our lifestyle. At least a couple dozen times a week, I’m asked how do I do it all – and to be honest – I DON’T. I know what I MUST do, and for the rest I outsource, by either hiring an amazing team to support me – or it doesn’t get done, and I’m okay with that too.
“I left my life in the U.S. because I wanted freedom, safety and flexibility. I wanted a life beyond the demands of tech life in Silicon Valley. I wanted to spend my time watching my daughter grow, be professionally fulfilled and travel the world. It can be done, and I am proof. I am doing what I love by doing all three, because those are my priorities. Anything that doesn’t fall inline with that isn’t making my must-do list.”
Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram
Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram
Don’t Try To Fit
Cath Brew – Illustrator and creator of Drawn To A Story, a blog and shop focusing on identity, belonging and expat life
“A common myth about expat life is that it is a glamorous adventure. It can be! But when you live in another country, you also find out who you are in ways that ‘normal’ life will never give you. It’s an incredibly profound experience, which is rich in the ‘stuff of life’ – new opportunities, encounters with different types of people, enjoying other cultures, and opening your mind to the bigger world out there. But it also takes resilience, flexibility, adept troubleshooting skills and commitment to internal growth.
“I’m a ‘love-pat’. I moved from Australia in 2006 to be with my British spouse. Even if you’re an experienced expat, I don’t think that you ever fully realise the potential impact of a relocation. Each one taps into a different part of you and somehow compels you to meet yourself fully. It’s certainly an enriching way to live life. That said, the one piece of advice I’d offer everyone at any stage is: Don’t try to fit. Know and live your own identity. Find your own sense of internal belonging, and you can belong anywhere in the world.”
Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram
Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram
Overcome Your Self-Doubt
Emily Hughes – A digital nomad who has lived in Portugal and Germany, creator of the blog loololo.com
“When I lived in New York City, I categorised people who lived abroad in two ways: diplomats or nomads. In my mind, you either had to be rich or lost to make it work in another country. Fast forward a few years later, and there I was, a freelancer with a visa to live and work in Portugal. And would you look at that? I wasn’t rich, and I’m way too organised to be lost. I was just a girl on a mission to go after the life she wanted, and I simply wasn’t finding that life in the United States. And now, one year later, I’ve relocated to Germany without any regard to the intimidation factor of visas and bureaucracy.
“As I see it, the biggest hurdle to moving abroad is your own self-doubt. Was the paperwork annoying? Of course. But as I stood at the town hall in Ericeira, Portugal flanked by two locals who happily agreed to vouch for my address (an actual process that blows my mind), I realised the paperwork was just another excuse for my insecurities and doubt to rear their ugly heads. Take my advice, pretty please: These doubts are valid, but so are the answers (and incredible people!) waiting for you on the other side. In fact, these same doubts – and the things that I thought made me the ‘boring American’ – were actually some of the reasons I got hired abroad (ie. being a native English speaker with experience working in hospitality). Not knowing the language actually led me to an incredible community of new friends in my Portuguese lessons. And being open to change finally helped me value my own happiness more than a paycheck. In short, my journey abroad has been a wild ride, but it has made me the most confident, open-minded and curious version of myself that I’ve ever met.
“P.S. I’m still not rich… yet.”
Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram
Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram
Reach Out And Connect
Elizabeth & Vientiene Ta’eed – The travelling couple behind TravellingforTea.com and the founders of MatchaAlternatives.com
“We are a location-independent tea-selling British-American couple who travel slowly, eat eagerly and think about tea (and horses) perhaps too much. We started travelling in 2014, setting out from London to spend two years in Madrid. At that point, we left to begin life as ‘digital nomads’, and have been travelling permanently for the last four years, taking us across 30 unique countries, primarily in East Asia and Western and Central Europe.
“Elizabeth’s first move was from the US to the UK in 2009, and she is now in the process of applying for her fourth concurrent residency. Her biggest piece of advice is that moving countries is far more manageable than you might think: It is simply an exercise in bureaucracy, which just takes patience. Effort rarely goes beyond making multiple trips to the print shop, emails and time on Google. (Though the experience can vary depending on your citizenship situation and target country.)
“Vientiene has visited over 50 countries. If there’s one lesson to be had, it’s that people the world over are generally kind and always happy to help, whether it’s navigating the local supermarket or even national immigration policy. Reach out, connect, show genuine interest, and of course, always be happy to help in return.
“Don’t wait. Life can change, and the opportunity can vanish. Whether due to health, politics or a global pandemic, things change. Go for it!”
Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram
Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram
Get Your Finances In Order – And Do Your Homework
Martha Liner and Nicole Williams – Founders of lifestyle blog luxepatriate.com, exploring all things San Miguel de Allende
“My business partner and I did not know one another until we both moved to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico in late 2016. We were both burned out on big-city living, and we were similarly suffering from stress-induced autoimmune issues. We came to San Miguel for the same reasons – to enjoy happy, healthy lives with less stress and more adventure.
“Expat life can be enormously rewarding; however, living the good life abroad is not without its challenges. Adjusting to a new culture takes time, and an international move is fraught with unanticipated expenses. Our best advice for anyone considering a move is twofold: Get your financial house in order, and do your homework. Many expats are returning home due to financial instability caused by COVID-19. Explore the true cost of living and quality of life by joining an expat Facebook group from the area, or reading expat blogs, before deciding if the move is right for you. We can’t say enough good things about our experience, but it isn’t for everyone. Good luck!”
Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram
Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram
There Is No Perfect Place And No Ideal Time
Alison and Alastair Johnson – Founders of wherecani.live, a website helping people fulfil their dreams of moving abroad
“We’ve lived in 4 countries in the last 25 years. From South Africa to London, then Sydney, and now a little beach town just south of Barcelona. We’ve loved every one of these places, and each one has taught us something.
“The first move was an easy one for both of us – we just wanted to see the world! Both from small South African towns, we followed the well-worn path to London. We had seven fantastic years there, but eventually the idea of another English winter was too much. We decided to head to Australia, work for six months and then catch the 2000 Olympics. Well, we fell for Australia in a big way, and we met a group of friends who are now like family. We lived there for 15 years, became citizens, and our son is a born and bred Aussie. However, building successful careers in corporate life took a toll. We had no time as a family and no energy to do the things we loved. We knew we needed another change.
“A year’s sabbatical in a little beach town in Europe was just what the doctor ordered. We headed for Sitges, a town that feels like coming home. And it happened again. We met great people and fell in love with another place – languages, cultures, food and people – Europe has so much to offer. And our moves inspired a brilliant idea for a business that would allow us to work and live anywhere. We’ve been here for five years now, and we are here until our son finishes high school, at least. But we’re pretty sure that there are a few moves left in us yet!
“We’ve learned that there is no perfect place and no ideal time. As carefree youngsters, corporate career folk, parents and now startup founders, we’ve found somewhere that suits us. The people and places that have made up our lives so far have made us immeasurably richer – every move has added some magic. And the best thing is that you carry all your friendships and memories with you wherever you go.”
Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram
Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram
Start Living A Half-Priced Life
Tim Leffel – Travel writer, editor and author of the Cheapest Destinations blog, living in Guanajuato, Mexico
“As the author of a book on living abroad for less, I try to show people the great change they can make in their finances just by changing their address. If you live in a wealthy country, you can easily cut your expenses by half or even two-thirds by moving to a less expensive country. It’s even easier if you’re American, since you escape the most expensive health care system on the planet. You can easily pay for most health expenses out of pocket for a fraction of what you used to spend before on insurance.
“If you move abroad solely to save money, though, with no interest in the local culture or people, you might not be happy in your new home. I strongly advise travelling around a bit to get a feel for places you would consider moving to. The key next step is to do a trial run. We did it for a month, but try to set aside at least two weeks. Rent an apartment in a real neighbourhood, shop where the locals shop, get errands done and communicate your needs with the people who live and work there. After all that, if you still love the place, you’re set! No place is perfect, but now you’ve seen it like a resident instead of a tourist, getting a feel for what it will be like to live there instead of just passing through. Now make the move and start living a half-priced life!”
Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram
Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram
This Is The Time To Turn Your Dream Into A Plan
Tanya Rodriguez – Product manager for a major luxury group, and founder of Abroad for Love, supporting others to fulfill their dream of moving abroad
“It’s no surprise that today we all have a great level of uncertainty about where our lives, the world, the economy is going. We are experiencing massive changes, but at the same time, we intrinsically know that with all of this change comes opportunity. I invite you today to take advantage of this uncertainty, because uncertainty is change, change is life, and this year will change our lives forever. If change is inevitable, then why not use this opportunity to finally create the life you’ve been dreaming of?
“After living for more than 5 years in Paris and working in multiple luxury companies, I feel the need to share my story. That is why in these times of change, I decided to create Abroad for Love, an expat advice platform that has the vision to inspire, motivate and guide people who want to build their career in France. Helping them develop the necessary skills and strategies to turn their dream into a plan, while delivering life-changing and motivational content for falling in love with every aspect of expat life.”
Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram
Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram
Do Your Research
Vanessa Avila – From Chicago, currently working for DoDEA, a field activity of the Office of the US Secretary of Defense in England
“The opportunity to live abroad presented itself five years ago, through a job offer that would take my husband and I to Italy. Deep inside, I always knew I wanted to live in another country – a desire that was reinforced by work trips around the world – but at the time, my excitement was contoured by bouts of trepidation. I had a career in international development that checked all the boxes for me, and I struggled with the decision to leave the comfort and safety of the familiar to pursue a life in another country.
“Ultimately, the decision to leave was made easier by knowing that my husband and I would have financial and professional continuity. One practical piece of advice I would give to those considering a move abroad, is to first research job opportunities in other countries. We live in a globalised economy where people can work from anywhere in the world, but aside from teleworking, people can also find work opportunities within the travel sector (during normal times, at least) as well as with large companies, universities, international non-governmental organisations, and many other places that are willing to sponsor or hire people from other countries.
“Five years and two countries later, we still believe that leaving was the best choice for us. Currently, my husband and I are living in England as we weather the pandemic. This experience has changed us for the better, through the exposure to new cultures, languages and ways of living. We carved our own path, and in doing so, we met versions of ourselves that never would’ve existed had we not had the courage to leave.”
Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram
Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram
Living Abroad Makes Every Day An Adventure
Lynne and Brian – Teachers and bloggers behind To the Airport and Beyond
“In 2017 we went on our first trip to Southeast Asia. We fell in love with Asia, the food, the culture and the people. It was during this trip we realised we wanted to travel on a long-term basis. After that trip we returned home to Ireland and to our 9-5 jobs in Dublin. We continued to work hard, save money and researched destinations. In September 2019, we boarded a plane to Beijing and haven’t looked back since.
“We spent the first six months backpacking around Asia and Australia, and halfway through, we realised we were going to have to stop to work along the way. So we decided to go to Chiang Mai, Thailand and work as teachers – plans that we had to speed up when COVID-19 began making future travel uncertain. We are now loving life living and working in Thailand. Living abroad makes every day an adventure – and getting set up in a new country during a global pandemic came with some unique challenges. Thankfully we have overcome these challenges and are now settled into our new life.
“Our advice for anyone considering moving abroad is to think about what you want to get out of it. Do your research on what destinations meet your needs. For us Chiang Mai was a perfect match. We couldn’t be happier and would encourage anyone thinking of making a change to go for it. The world is full of adventure that’s just waiting for you.”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.