You know the feeling; you’re tired of this mundane life, running around this dead end façade that you call your daily reality. Complicated social circles, stressful work environments, low pay, trouble with partners, the only thing you look forward to be having the weekend with friends.

You take a holiday abroad, and wonder why everyone abroad has it so easy. Why their lives seem so more stress free than everyone else’s. Everyone is interested in talking to you. Everything seems cheaper brighter and more interesting.
You return home back to that mundane existence and get the idea to more abroad to run away to more interesting places. It will all be so easy!

Adam Moore, a career expat, answers some questions on the life of a globetrotter. 

Is it easy to move?

Every place I have ever been to has the same frustration, challenges, and hard work. You can never run away from the problems of life, just find new ways to deal with them. You will gain a new outlook on how to deal with them. In some cultures you may find the issue of personal space or touch redefined, or if it is socially acceptable or expected to show emotion. Some cultures are more direct than you may be used to. If you are unable to adapt you may find yourself a social reject, which is the hardest to Endeavour when you have rely upon yourself. Moving is the easy part adapting is the hardest. For me I made a decision to get up and go, and did something about it. 

Is it easy to meet people?

Having friends there already is always a good place to start. Having the ability to make friends easy is a very useful tool to have. Every-time you move you will have to learn new social dynamics and customs. You will make mistakes, people will misread you. What was normal and sociable acceptable in one place will come off as needy in another or cold and distant somewhere else. People will misread your intentions or words because they are used to their culture, and you do things differently.

In some places such as the middle-east you may even put someone’s life in danger for talking to them. You have to adapt but this will take time, if you find the right friends they will point out to you if you’re wrong or something came across wrong. How you acted and how your friends acted are no longer the social norm. You will have to re-evaluate social dynamics and swim fast. Suddenly the long term friendships no longer count. You have to build new friendships; your close friendships are back at home. Building close friendships and trust takes time. More often than not for the career expat by time you get this level you are gone again. There is no-one you have known for years and have a deep connection too.

You also have to contend with a language barrier, which is harder to compete with. People are not just going to switch to your native tongue to please you all the time. Good people are good people wherever you go. You have to learn to be confident in your-self; other people are a guest in your reality. I always hold the mantra treat others how you will like to be treated. You will meet great people, but you’ll meet some fake ones as well. If you don’t worry what people think of you it gets easier.

I can always return home?

Yes you can always quit and return home. One of the biggest problems ex-pats encounter is repatriation. Most expats I encounter have the idea that it will all be the same at home, and if they get fed up they can return to what they know and left. The problem is the social dynamics you left behind have changed, your friends have changed and moved on, and politics and peoples viewpoints have changed. Your new world view and ability to emphasize with other cultures will have changed you. Suddenly your grasp on the social dynamic has changed from your adventures. Repatriation is just a big a challenge as it was when you are the new and exotic. Your friends and family have changed just as you have. You will pander for customs, items from other cultures, just as you pandered for the items, customs, action’s like from home when you were abroad. I see repartition as just another expat experience, though I’ve found so many better places I will probably never return home. 

What's work like?

Salaries may be higher, but normally their higher for a reason. You will find that cost of living rises with salary. You will find taxes complicated and confusing even more so when they are in a different language. You will have to learn different company dynamics, different ways of working. Some cultures have strict hierarchies in their companies others are less formal. Different things are expected of employees in different countries. What was a typical job role in one may require more or less or even different skills. Levels of responsibility are different. This normally varies from company to company.  Some cultures involve collaborative decision making processes, others the boss is the boss. The ability to adapt is key to your success, never stay in a comfort zone, it stops you from growing. Work hard you will reap the benefits and make yourself more attractive later in your career. 

What is it like globetrotting?

This lifestyle is one of the most rewarding things you will ever do. My advice is be prepared, be realistic and be strong. You will have to rely upon yourself, and always be positive. You will gain new outlooks, and understanding of life. You will enter mindsets of different cultures. You will find a new challenge every day.
You will meet some great people on the way, you will lose others. You will gain a new level of maturity and outlook that few ever have the opportunity to possess.
The worst thing I see is people that become expats and refuse to let go of their culture, customs and language and integrate into the adopted society.  They spend their time socializing with their own people moaning about how good it is back at home. If you ever want to be part of where you are, you have to be part of where you are.

This lifestyle can be the most fun and challenging you ever experience, you will either find paradise lost or paradise found, whatever the outcome it will be one hell of a journey. 

How do you deal with the language barrier?

The language barrier can be a tough one to deal with. In some country’s you find yourself socially excluded because you cannot communicate. This goes for working with people as well. People naturally slip into their mother tongue.  It’s not that they are being rude, even if you find it so. British people do the same thing all the time. You just get used to it. In the right environments you can make yourself heard. It can be awkward in social circles watching a conversation occur and not being able to add to it because you cannot express yourself. Even when you can, sometimes it can be misconstrued. Even if you can communicate it won’t be at the level you can communicate in your mother tongue. 

How do you deal anti-immigrant feelings?

People are people, and patriotism kills. Some people have never left their own town never mind their own country. You will meet small minded people wherever you go. It’s like any other prejudice; the problem is with them and not with you. If they can’t see you for who you are don’t give them the time of day. Some people stereotype all immigrants as tax dodging, crime ridden scum. When they find that you are a hardworking professional contributing more to the society than they are, some people change their tune. 

Any last advice to the new expat?

Remain positive, be realistic. Don’t let people bring you down because they don’t understand the way you do things. Don’t let it wear you down to isolation or homesickness I’ve seen those eat at too many of my expat friends. Above all have fun, enjoy this unique experience. Who knows you may find a place worth stopping in.

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