A Beginners Guide to Living Outside the USA

There is a multitude of reasons you may live outside the USA. You could be relocating for work, or just need a change of scenery. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or have never crossed a border in your life, living abroad can come with many challenges and surprises. Here are a few tips to help you make the most out of your journey abroad:
 

Prepare Yourself for Culture Shock

Regardless of where you are going, you will most likely experience some form of culture shock. Some may experience it the second they step out of the airport, and see the unfamiliar and busy streets. Others may experience it a couple weeks later, when the difference of language and culture begins to make them feel like an outsider.

In reality, you can’t prepare yourself for culture shock, but here are a couple of things you can do to help:

1. Have an Open Mind
As a beginner expat, this is very important to keep in mind. Toilets might not work the same, or a simple task such as ordering food may become a challenge. By keeping an open mind, you are able to not only adapt to your new environment, but learn from it.

2. Be Patient
You are not going to learn a new language or get accustomed to a new culture overnight. But, don’t worry, eventually things will get easier and you won’t even remember you ever felt uncomfortable.

3. Get Involved
One of the best and quickest ways to cure yourself of culture shock is to face it head on. Sign up for a dance class or volunteer at a school. You might feel uncomfortable at first, but eventually this will slowly disappear.
 

Don’t Be Afraid to Feel Out of Your Comfort Zone

Living as an expat, you will surely be faced with feeling out of your comfort zone. But, instead of dreading every time you need to ask directions in a new language, try to embrace and enjoy the awkwardness. The more we go through life, the less we get to experience new things. Instead of looking at it as an uncomfortable situation, look at it as a new adventure. You are part of a small population of people who gets to experience a vast amount of new things in such a small amount of time. If you are still not convinced that trying the blood sausage your new friend is offering you is an exciting experience, it can at least be a funny story to look back on later.
 

Learn a New Language

 

Maybe you are going somewhere where many people speak English as a second language. Maybe no one will speak English at all. Regardless, learning a new language will be immensely beneficial (and sometimes necessary) when living outside the USA. 

However, learning a new language is often much harder than it appears. Here are a few tips to help make language learning a little easier:

1. Take Advantage of Free Resources

There is no reason to spend hundreds of dollars to learn a new language. There are plenty of free (and amazing) resources to help you learn. My personal favorite is Duolingo. They even have an app you can use to practice on the go. However, this is just one of the many free resources out there.

2. Jump Right In

Practicing a language through online resources and textbooks is helpful, but sometimes the best way to truly learn a language is to just jump right in. Talk to locals as much as you can. Don’t worry if you mess up, or sound silly. It’s all part of the experience. Every language learner has to start somewhere.

3. Immerse Yourself Right at Home

Some days you just want to stay home. Using those free online resources can be helpful to learn a language, but still might not give you that real life practice you are searching for. But, reading a book or watching a TV show in your new language is a great way to learn without ever having to leave the comfort of your home. Start out with children’s books and shows, and work your way up. You may not become an expert right away, but you will at least gain confidence to practice and speak in the real world.
 

Keeping in Touch

 

One of the hardest parts about being a beginner expat are the friends and family you leave behind. You may find that you lose touch with some, and have a very hard time staying in contact with others. Time differences and internet connections can make it hard to stay in touch with even the closest of friends and family. Here are a few tips on how to easily keep in contact with those not with you:

1. Find a Routine
Living abroad also means that your family and friends may be in a very different time zone then you. Find a time that works for both of you, and stick to it. This may require talking late in the evening or early morning, but if you make it a routine it will not seem so challenging.

2. Go App Crazy
Talking long distance on a phone is going to get expensive...very expensive! A local phone is great for talking to people within the country you are living in, but not for talking internationally. Thankfully, there are many apps out there that make communicating with friends or family free or very cheap, as long as you are connected to Wi-Fi. Skype is my personal favorite app, but here are a few others that are also helpful. It is also a good idea to learn how to use a VPN. They can help with everything from internet security, to helping you watch your favorite TV show live. They can also help you access any restricted US based apps or websites (this could be very important depending on where you will be living).

3. Be Creative
There are plenty of other unique and creative ways to keep in touch. Try creating a blog to keep family updated on what’s going on in your life, or keep it old fashioned and send letters to friends (who doesn’t love getting something in the mail?). Whatever you decide to do, have fun with it. Staying in touch shouldn’t feel like a chore.
 

Embrace your New Home

Moving abroad can induce feelings of fear and excitement all at the same time. You may love exploring your new city one day, but feel shut out and lonely the next. Slowly you will start to discover your favorite cafe and meet new people. One day, you will wake up, and realize this once foreign place is now home. So go out and embrace all that your new home has to offer you.

Hopefully by now you feel a little more prepared to take on the tremendous adventure of living outside the USA. It may have its ups and downs, but if you keep these tips and tricks in mind, you will be an expat expert in no time.
 

About Jess: 

Jess is an expat who has moved around quite a bit. She has lived in Abu Dhabi and is now currently based in Hong Kong. She is obsessed with the beauty and wonder of the world and has spent the past 3 1/2 years exploring and doesn't plan to slow down anytime soon. She maintains a travel blog.