THE PROS AND CONS OF LIFE OVERSEAS - ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

Did you know that 281 million people live outside of their birth country?

The beauty of life is that everything comes with a balance. Just as there are pros to living abroad, there are also some cons that might affect your decision to move. Expats choose to live in a different country regardless of the challenges to uplift their professional trajectory and foster personal growth. They also support their loved ones financially by making online money transfers to their home country.

This guide explores the pros and cons of moving abroad that can help you form your decision.

Cons of living abroad

Once the adrenaline of moving to a different country wears off, the standards are set, life returns to normal, and you start to notice the challenges. Here are a few common cons that most expats experience after moving abroad.

Adjusting to the lingual barriers

If you have moved to a country where you do not know the language, think about the challenges that can arise. How will you communicate and express yourself if you cannot converse with the people you want to engage with? What options are for learning the language without splurging your entire initial budget?

Learning a new language can be challenging, especially with an entire lifestyle on hand to adapt. It can be overwhelming and stressful when you cannot express the smallest concerns.

The good news is that there are ways to overcome this issue. You can take language classes or participate in language exchanges. The timeframe of learning depends on your dedication, confidence, and practice.

 Staying away from family for longer periods

The major challenge that expats face is homesickness. If you are close to your family, living abroad without them can be a significant change. Sometimes you may wish to vent out to them when you’ve had a bad day or share some exciting news. They might not always be available to listen to you. Hence, prepare yourself for this change in advance.

As a solution, you can schedule times for video calls. Keep in mind both time zones while scheduling the calls. Send regular voice notes and text messages to keep the communication going. You can also send money to them as a token of love. Adjusting might take time, but it is not impossible.

Building a new community is tough.

Creating a supportive community abroad takes time when your family is away from you. You have to find people you get along with, which requires you to put yourself out there. 

Every relationship that you make depends on the effort you make for it to grow. Making connections in a foreign land relies on a two-way street. You can check community centres to find events to attend where you can meet new people. Join a gym or dance/yoga class to make friends.

Culture shock can last longer than your expectations

85% of international students and expats experience culture shocks. It is a gift that you receive for moving abroad. Every person’s experiences with culture shock vary. Preparing for culture shock before moving abroad is best as it creeps up on you unexpectedly. You might suddenly burst into tears at a grocery store because you can’t read the labels. The little things often sneak up on you and make you miss home.

Overcoming culture shock is not impossible. Here are a few strategies to try to overcome this lingering feeling

• Journaling

• Spend more virtual time with friends and family back home

• Practise deep breathing during overwhelming situations

• Communicate your problems with fellow expats from similar

Paperwork can be draining.

Moving abroad means having never-ending office visits and applications. Applying for visas, passports, rent agreements, health insurance, and buying a car are just a few of the draining procedures.

Research to make this transition smooth. You can also hire lawyers or consultants to understand the procedures better.

Moving abroad is not easy on the pocket.

You should be planning your finances because moving to a foreign land can be expensive. Initial finances include visas, airfare, and other miscellaneous expenses. The real finances pile up once you arrive in your destination country.

Pros of living abroad

Now that the cons of living abroad are out of the way, let’s explore the pros. This section is much more fun and encouraging because the advantages of moving abroad definitely outweigh the disadvantages.

Travelling to new destinations has never been easier

Once you move abroad, you will realise that travelling has become much easier and more accessible. Moving abroad itself is a one-of-a-kind travel experience. You get to learn about this new place's history, culture, and traditions.

You are also more enthusiastic about maximising your weekends in a way you may not have been in your own country. Freedom of movement is one of the top reasons why people choose to work abroad.

You learn incredible soft skills.

Working and living abroad come with a list of challenges. These challenges instil certain soft skills in the individual that are highly valued at workplaces globally. You gain adaptability, flexibility, and an experience in intercultural communication.

You will have an intercultural global friends circle

Moving abroad means you get to make friends from different cultures and backgrounds. You will get to interact with people of different races, cultures, mindsets, values, and traditions. This can be one of the most memorable parts of your journey.

It is important to keep these kinds of connections intact. They can always turn into something more beneficial for you. You never know what doors of opportunities your global network can open for you.

You can financially support your family back home.

Once you become stable in your life abroad, you can earn much more than what you were back home. Developed countries have much higher minimum wages than underdeveloped countries. You can save an amount from your total monthly income to send money back home for your family to utilise.

However, it is important to choose the correct medium to transfer funds internationally or, you can end up splurging. Using third-party remittance-sending services is much more affordable than wire transfers.

ACE Money Transfer is the leading remittance-sending service provider. It has the lowest transfer fee with market-competitive exchange rates. The system is transparent, with no hidden or receiving fees involved. All your funds can be transferred to your loved ones within a day. This makes it ideal for urgent situations.

Your global knowledge will expand.

You experience a new way of life by living in another culture. Visits to museums will teach you a lot about history that you didn't know before. You may become healthier by adapting to another country’s customs of biking and walking.

Interacting with multicultural groups means learning about different points of view and belief systems. Working in an international office will increase your knowledge about global markets. It can be a significant experience for securing higher positions in any field.

Final thoughts

How you let these advantages and disadvantages affect your experience abroad is up to you. Nothing comes without problems. You should be willing to adapt and learn.

Nothing can be smooth sailing except for money transfers if you choose ACE. It provides top-of-the-class international transactions at affordable rates. Sign up on ACE today for free.