#lifeoverseas

[walkaboutrojo]

What's the Hardest Thing About Living Abroad?

When living abroad, there are many joys and challenges that we, as expats, experience.  I’ll save the joys for another time; there are a lot.  What is the hardest thing about living abroad?

I asked many of my expat friends here in China this question and I got a large variance of answers.

“You feel like an outsider, all the time."

This is true but it’s also to be expected depending on which country you’re living in.  For me, in China, there’s no doubt that I’m a constant outsider and I’m reminded of that every time I step outside the front door.  However, I don’t feel this is a bad thing.  I’ve been told that after a few years this gets old and I’ll be longing for a sense of community.  However, I feel I have a sense of community in my neighborhood and adopted city; I’m the foreigner here and I’m OK with that.  So, this is not much of a problem for me.

“Your previous life feels like a lifetime ago.”

This is true.  This could be because I’m getting older, but I do feel that time moves at a different pace here.  It doesn’t so much move faster or slower each day, but what was considered to be the recent past, or “just a few years ago” actually feels like another lifetime.  My previous life of being a hotel manager, a troop, a real estate professional, a son, a brother, an uncle, a friend….  It all feels like so distant.  I’m sure the differences of lifestyle and surroundings attribute to this odd feeling and I admit it is difficult to articulate.  Perhaps this should be another video in the future.

“You grow apart from friends and family.”

No matter what I do and what I tell myself, this is an inevitable fact.  If you’ve ever had a long-distance romantic relationship, you know the reality that eventually comes along with it.  My relationships with my friends and family suffers the same result.  Of course, I have all the modern conveniences with the internet to stay in touch the best I can, but without the ability to press the flesh, it’s just not the same.  Family will always be family and friendships will last a lifetime, but the bonds are not as strong as they used to be. 

Usually, wherever a person decides to hang their hat in the world, there will be a community of expatriates doing the same thing.  I have discovered these folks and they have become my new best friends and we share this experience together.  Still, we mostly come from different cultures and different pasts, even if we share the same passport. 

“Differences can be difficult to live with.”

Everyone knows about the term “culture shock”.  It’s real.  If you’ve never experienced it, it can really trip you out.  I believe that “reverse culture shock” is even more of a slap in the face but that’s another topic for another time.  Learning to live with lifestyle differences and adapting to them can be tough for the less adaptable crowd.  But, for the most part, these challenges add color to the adventure and with the right attitude I can learn to embrace them. 

“Vacation time.  Going home, or exploring a new place?"

Those who don’t live abroad might not understand this one.  “Why would you need to take a vacation away from your vacation?”, one might ask.  That’s just it.  Sometime I need some time away from my adventure to return home for a little R&R.  Those of us who have the time to do so, often have a dilemma to work out.  When do I visit home?  How long is a good amount of time to visit home?  How should I best utilize my time at home?  These are not always easy questions to answer.  Personally, I’m usually constrained by my American tax liabilities in that if I’m in the US for more than 30 days a year then I’m not eligible for the foreign income exclusion from the IRS. 

“You really start to miss the routine, places, food and people from home."

This issue is a cousin to growing apart from my friends and family.  My relationships with the places in my life have suffered, too.  The beaches that I used to surf.  The tacos I used to eat.  The roads I used to drive while listening to my favorite tunes.  My drinking buddies.  The bonds and connections I have with these places are far away.

“You don’t take part in life events”

This is the hardest thing about living abroad in my opinion.  It’s when there are life events that take place back home such as births, graduations, holiday time, and deaths and I’m not there to experience them with my friends and family.    These are memories that normal people would get to create and treasure for the rest of their lives.  But, as an expat, I am not a part of them and can only participate through Skype calls and Facebook posts.  It’s just not the same.  There’s a river of guilt that runs through my soul when I hear about these events and moments.  I often ask myself if this sacrifice is worth the lifestyle choice I’ve made.  Am I being selfish for making these choices? Am I missing out on the most important parts of life?  Or, am I creating my own world and celebrating a separation from conformity and normality?  I don’t have the answer to those questions.

Still, whatever challenges expatriates face while living and thriving in another part of the world, time doesn’t stop and the world keeps turning.  Like a relationship, sometimes hardships are things we need to flip the script on and embrace as part of our lives and the lifestyle we choose for ourselves. 

[misticotraveler]

Realistic Living Costs: What $500 Actually Gets You by Mistico Traveler - Heart Centered Living We dive into the truth behind living expenses abroad. Many videos claim you can thrive on just $500 a month, but the reality might surprise you. Learn to manage your expectations and discover what’s truly possible! Join here: https://ift.tt/42fJEmY #LivingAbroad #CostOfLiving #TravelSmart #FinancialPlanning #BudgetTravel #RealisticExpectations #ExpatLife #TravelTips #LifeOverseas #MoneyMatters via YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddyXe4S6fTg

[rainakawa]

Today in Kuwait, another teacher arrived, I got my workout in and finally aquired a yoga 🧘‍♀️mat. No more abs on the tile floor. My AP and I set up class meetings. I set two meetings with parents for next week. My AP delivered Monday goodies to our staff. Seahawks football 🏈 💚💙

[apinguangzhou]

(3.13.19) I made it safely from Boston to Guangzhou! 1) the flight was long especially from Boston to Hong Kong (~16 hrs)! I was asked to switch my seat with a member of a family of 3 traveling together & luckily I did because I ended up having the entire row to myself! The food was surprisingly very delicious & I ended up napping a lot of the trip to Hong Kong 2) when I arrived at Hong Kong, it was too early so I ended up reaching an empty gate but that didn’t last long before it got filled with many people traveling onward from Hong Kong to Guangzhou. This time the flight was only an hr so it was manageable 3) after going through customs, immigrations & picking my luggage up after a long wait, I was surprised by my local friend who came to pick me up at the airport. There was actually a representative from my new employer holding a sign waiting for me as well. I then met another person who also traveled from Boston and was going to be a fellow coworker of mine. 4) we got picked up by a van & was driven to the hotel where we were being housed for the next 2 weeks until we settle in & find our own apartment. The room was small but it had all the basic necessities & most importantly a view so I cannot complain. 5) I then explore the surrounding area with any new friend from Boston; had our 1st successful lunch despite my very poor mandarin skills; and walked the entire mall. Definitely a well spent afternoon! 6) my local friend dropped by in the evening & took me to dim sum for dinner! The food was phenomenal & delicious! Never had dim sum for dinner so it was definitely an experience! Overall I’d say it was a very successful 1st day in Guangzhou. Tomorrow starts our orientation & onboarding training - I’m a bit nervous but cannot wait to see what’s in store for me! **Lesson(s) learned: 1) in Guangzhou, not knowing Mandarin can quite be the challenge. Cantonese can only help you so far but it is definitely a game changer if you can speak Mandarin 2) people actually dim sum for dinner whereas compared to Boston, it’s only offered until early afternoon #APinGZ #iphone8plus #apiphone8plus #lifeoverseas #travelingabroad #wanderlust #wednesday #mittwoch #广州 (at Guangzhou, China) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu9AWFMnwCtp5RpGv3NBsRxpjRoz5tyJra1wAg0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=jcu7w1sllx4m

[lady-247365]

#lifeoverseas #family #lafamilia #joy #definition #choice #clarity #justice#yoga #Zen #peace #NYC #Atlanta #hair #love #fitness #hairstylist #weightlifting #weightloss #spiritual #love #marriage #lovequotes #poetry #poems #dobetter #christ #courageous #hairstylist. #hair #hairextensions #blondehair #melaleuca (at Mandarin (Jacksonville))

[gregory-teaches]

Macau or Brazil? 🇲🇴🇧🇷 • Having a great 10 days of Chinese New Year. Shame about this virus making people sick but I am alright so far 😪 • Book is undergoing illustration still - Can't wait for it to be finished!!! • #travel #writer #macau #gregoryteaches #lifeoverseas #redhat @lucia.paulo 📸 and tourguide credit @stevestewart91 🛫 travel buddy (at Ruins of St. Paul's) https://www.instagram.com/p/B73eSRBn1NH/?igshid=1pzmfz83dmc56

[briaworldadventure-blog]

The perfect time to kiss your girl, right boys? . . . . . . . . . . . #kiss #mountainscapes #lakelovers #loveofnature #natureporn #nature_seekers #travelingpost #travelblog #travelblogger #natureinside #pretty #boatcruise #travelporn #mountainporn #rainyday #rainday #lovely #travelstroke #travelstoked #natureshot #natures #natural #nofilter #nofilters #nofiltersneeded #natureloves #bbctravel #lp #lifeoverseas #olympusinspired (at Virpazar, Montenegro)

[shanaesqueakymonroe]

Check out My girl 😎this is so inspiring!!! All my ladies in the army this for y'all beauty in the struggle is genius! I love her so much God bless you Sha❤️🙏🏽💯🏆😍🇺🇸✨thank you for serving our country babygirl💗💪🏽You are a true #Soldier a winner a conqueror Always praying with you my sister I love what you are doing and the direction you are headed Forever my heartbeats for you ❤️we went from bartending with @lucrstephen @vibesnyc1 in #southsidejamaicaqueens to the 🔝of the🌎‼️I'm proud of you my ladies STAY ON YOUR #GRIND no matter the circumstances we're PUT in💪🏽👏🏽🙌🏽AS WOMEN * it's important to live your dreams to the fullest✨🌹🦄🌠 & always 🎂🎂🎂🎂#Liveeverydaylikeitsyourbirthday #LINKINMYBIO 🚨📲#Repost @shasonyc (@get_repost) ・・・ Happy Fri-Yay eve! New VIDEOS will up tomorrow 🥂🎊🎈🎈🎈💻💻💻💻📲📲🏙🎆🏅🎉. Link will be in Bio https://youtu.be/4ImEO5RmE_4 #Vlog #beautyinthestruggle #shasonyc #nyc #iraq #youtube #vlogger #deployment #army #lifeoverseas #navy #dedication #marines #subscribe #like #ShasoNyC #Chiraq #comment #friyay #overseas #armygirl #womaninuniform #takealookintomylife (at Baghdad, Iraq)

[missycapp]

REAL TALK: Can someone in the VB area pleeeeeeease 🙏🏻 buy this and store it in their freezer until I’m stateside in the spring?! Some days, I may miss Halo Top more than reasonably priced vegetables. 💯 serious. I will send you the money for it! @halotopcreamery #navylife #lifeoverseas #japan #truelove #realtalk (at MCAS Iwakuni)

[workaholicsanonymous]

Just a quiet back alley... #frenchconcession #frenchconcessionshanghai #overcast #cloudyskies #china #shanghai #shanghaichina #exploration #travel #travelling #toruing #marketarea #market #beginnerphotographer #beginnerphotography #throwback #backalley #startingfromthebottom #alley #overseaslife #lifeoverseas #brownsugar #listen (at Shanghai, China) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bstt_jknS74/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1bg4cmj9exggb

[24ten]

Expat Life: Loneliness and Making Friends

[lady-247365]

@b_monique30 flawless! Y'all need to get with my girl. Makeup is flawless. #mua #muah #flawlessmua #lifeoverseas #lovequotes #malawi #hopewell (at Florida)

[servantgroupinternational-blog]

Hiding behind bushes there is some random statuary. Not sure why this goat lives there, but it does. #goat? #park #iraq #notalive #servantgroupinternational #iraqisdangerousgoanyway #ram #horns #goat #inthepark #lifeoverseas #workabroad

[krissimgrant]

Another great Sunday at the French Bulldog Meet Up in Regents Park London ❤️ Xox.#lifeoverseas #londoncityworld #frenchiesoverload #frenchieoftheday #frenchbulldoglove #frenchielife #frenchbulldogsofinstagram #oneloveoneheart #frenchie #chico #sundayfunday #sundaysbest #regentspark #regentsparklondon #londonweekender #cutenessoverloaded (at Regent Park London)

[briaworldadventure-blog]

Magic place inside the #shkoder #castle in #albania . . . . . . . . . . . . #lifeoverseas #culture #durrës #skadarlija #tirana #tiranalifestyle #igalbania #insta_international #europe #ig_europe #eurotrip #photooftheday #fotooftheday #travel #instago #instatrip #wanderlust #travelgram #postcardsfromtheworld #citiesoftheworld #traveltheworld #travelblog #passportpassion #travelpassion #earthtravel #instadaily #igrecommend (at Shkodër, Albania)

[missycapp]

Received the SWEETEST care package from my mom today, with Baby Capp's first baby book📚!!! We used to read these together when I was little ❤️ Mom couldn't have timed it 📦 any better #cappilyeverafter #cappsX3 #motherslove #lifeoverseas #navylife (at MCAS Iwakuni)