This is a great, informative post! I'm so glad you wrote about the seven signs that you were ready to live abroad as I agree that these signs will be slightly (or incredibly) different for each person. After I finished my Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education, I was ready to be a teacher but the Canadian job market in the education sector was not good at the time. Rather than spend years getting the job I wanted at home, I thought I would start overseas. In truth, I was not ready. I had not done my research. I moved to Cali, Colombia in my mid-twenties and was completely unprepared for how different the culture would be. It took me the better part of that year to shed "Canadian" brain and to understand people's behaviour as different... not hostile or inappropriate, but motivated by different values and beliefs. By the time I left, I was actually in love with Colombia (and Colombians) but the road to my cultural adaptation was not a smooth one. I believe that living abroad demands a certain kind of flexibility. It helps to be a relaxed person by nature and I'm not, even after all these years. If I could not be relaxed at my core, then I needed to understand the importance of learning to adapt; I learned to embrace late buses and indifferent service and craziness of all kinds. The reward for getting over my pre-conceived notions about the way things *should* be done was... the whole world! Mexico and Spain have been much smoother. Thanks for starting this conversation!
Although I'm not going to live abroad (yet), the thought of being stuck behind a computer, clicking my youth away and knowing that one day wife and kids are bound to come, I've decided to travel at least SOME of the world on my own. I have done away with some luxuries, sold stuff online and even done the save more than 50% of my check at times (living at home is sooooooooo nice!) and paid off almost all of my debt, so when August 13th comes, I'll get the hell out of Florida!
I knew I was ready because I was bored at home. People keep asking me if I'm running away. I tell them yes, from boredom. Some of it is my own fault (i moved back home to save money) but when i came home my friends were right where i left them, but i was miles beyond. I'd be overseas. You live once, I need to pack it all in!
ps- your page hits the left end of the browser. You may want to go back into the html code and push it over a bit. maybe 10px?
Nomadic Matt
· 1 year ago
ps -click click i go on ur google ads
Christine
· 1 year ago
@Teachergirl: I can imagine I might have been the same way at that age. There is something making it through your 20s that just teaches you to handle change better. Or maybe that's just me.
@Anthony: You're totally right. Travel now, while you can! And if I was 21, like you, I would live at home to save money too! (Well in retrospect... at the time I would have been all Hell No!)
@Matt: That's a variation on themes in my life too to some extent. I moved back to Boston after seven years of living on the other side of the country and people are still swirling around in the same drama. That's the reason you can't come home again... the you that these people knew doesn't exist anymore. They've stayed the same, but you've changed. PS Gracias on the clicks and I will check out that layout thing you mentioned...
NP
· 1 year ago
Thanks for a great post! I totally agree with everyone. After just a few years behind the cubicle, I am ready for a change. After all, I still have at least 30+ years to be behind the cubicle. I've actually thought about it for a couple years now, but I was not ready before (relationship, financial, etc.), but now I am at the point where I can save and plan and see myself actually going. I don't have anything to hold me down.
Christine
· 1 year ago
Hi NP! You should do it!
NP
· 1 year ago
Thanks Christine! I still get a hard time from some people about what my plans are, but I've been reading blogs like yours to keep my spirit up and motivate me to keep on planning. I think it's the first leap that's the hardest!
A
· 1 year ago
I just stumbled your site and it is great! I am moving abroad to teach English in a month. I knew I was ready because I spent 5 months studying abroad in Australia and also took a 3 week backpacking trip through Europe that opened my eyes about the unimportance of possessions and the personal growth that one can experience from travel. I also got involved with the culture in my travels, working as a bartender in Australia and of course, will be working as an English teacher in Seoul. Thank you for your words, it's always good to know there are like-minded people out there! Keep up the good work, and good luck with your move :)
Wink
· 1 year ago
Man, makes me want to pack up and hit the road when I graduate. I have been thinking about doing teaching work with either the DoD or Peace corps. I just have to talk my fiancee into it.
Christine
· 1 year ago
A: Thanks! It's nice to know that people relate to what I'm trying to do!
Wink: No doubt, you'll work it out together...
erin
· 1 year ago
these were great, a beginning checklist, if you will, for our own pre-planning travel mode...
All Comments
After I finished my Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education, I was ready to be a teacher but the Canadian job market in the education sector was not good at the time. Rather than spend years getting the job I wanted at home, I thought I would start overseas.
In truth, I was not ready. I had not done my research. I moved to Cali, Colombia in my mid-twenties and was completely unprepared for how different the culture would be. It took me the better part of that year to shed "Canadian" brain and to understand people's behaviour as different... not hostile or inappropriate, but motivated by different values and beliefs. By the time I left, I was actually in love with Colombia (and Colombians) but the road to my cultural adaptation was not a smooth one.
I believe that living abroad demands a certain kind of flexibility. It helps to be a relaxed person by nature and I'm not, even after all these years. If I could not be relaxed at my core, then I needed to understand the importance of learning to adapt; I learned to embrace late buses and indifferent service and craziness of all kinds. The reward for getting over my pre-conceived notions about the way things *should* be done was... the whole world!
Mexico and Spain have been much smoother.
Thanks for starting this conversation!
Teacher Girls last blog post..Postcards I Wish I Had Sent, Sevilla
Anthonys last blog post..Departure and The Route
ps- your page hits the left end of the browser. You may want to go back into the html code and push it over a bit. maybe 10px?
@Anthony: You're totally right. Travel now, while you can! And if I was 21, like you, I would live at home to save money too! (Well in retrospect... at the time I would have been all Hell No!)
@Matt: That's a variation on themes in my life too to some extent. I moved back to Boston after seven years of living on the other side of the country and people are still swirling around in the same drama. That's the reason you can't come home again... the you that these people knew doesn't exist anymore. They've stayed the same, but you've changed. PS Gracias on the clicks and I will check out that layout thing you mentioned...
Wink: No doubt, you'll work it out together...