15 Tips for Living Abroad

The thought of international living can be daunting, especially when first arriving. Local customs can be overwhelming.  Take a deep breath and realize what an amazing opportunity you have. Living abroad will give you a different perspective and provide you with unique experiences. Live it up!

1) Immerse Yourself in the Culture.  Don’t be afraid to get to know the place where you’re living.  The only way this new place will feel like home is if you embrace it with open arms.

2) Register with the Embassy. Make sure the Embassy has a record of you being in-country.  You never know what may happen and they can also be a good resource.

3) Learn the language.  English is usually the common denominator between various cultures. However, learning and using the local language will help you to adjust to your new surroundings and feel more at home. Negotiating or asking for directions in the native tongue is not only a way of showing respect, but it will help you to improve your language skills.  There will be one less barrier between you and your new neighbors.

4) Find a good doctor.  You should always be prepared in case you get sick.  You should know where to go and the best way to get there.

5) Make Friends, Local & Expat.  Making new friends isn’t at the top of my most favorite things to do.  But it’s necessary when living abroad.  Consider what your interests are and find local meetups.  It’ll help you find people with similar interests and ideas.  You’ll make new friends in no time.

6) Volunteer. Finding a good local organization to volunteer with regularly is a good way to use your time wisely while overseas.  It will also give you an opportunity to meet other locals and find out what issues plague the country you’re living in.

7) Don’t be afraid to try local fare.  This is one of my biggest pet peeves.  Always try the local foods.  You never know, you may end up with a new favorite food!

8) Be confident.  You may look like an outsider, but in my experience if you walk with confidence, less people will try to get over on you.

9) Put your safety first.  If find yourself in a curious predicament, always err on the side of caution.

10) Think about what you want from the experience.  Make a list of places you want to visit and things you want to do.  And then go forth and conquer!  Which brings me to my next point…

11) Don’t wait to do anything.  Plan your trip and don’t put off doing anything.  You don’t want to put things off and then realize that you won’t have time to do everything you wanted to do.

12) Download apps to stay in touch with your family.  With advanced technology, your family won’t feel so far away.  FaceTime, Tango, What’s App, Skype, Google Talk and Viber are some of my favorites, but do some research and figure out the best ones for you. When you’re a little homesick, your family and friends will only be a phone call away.

13) Take Pictures.  You’ll have your memories, but memories fade.  Make sure you document this experience with as many pictures as possible.  You’ll be able to look back and relive your experience for years to come.

14) Investigate banking options.  Decide if you want to stay with your home bank or if opening a bank account in-country would be a better option for you.

15) Be Open!  This is a rare opportunity to live out of your comfort zone.  Enjoy, embrace and share it!

You have any tips for living abroad?  Comment below!

Personal Post: How Africa Changed Me

Last night, I was having a conversation with my father and he asked how I was adjusting at home after my 2-month long trip to Tanzania.  I’ve been back for about 3 weeks and while 2 months may or may not seem like a long period of time to you, it certainly was not long enough for me when I was having the best experience of my life to date.  I said to him, “Nothing’s changed here. Everything’s still the same." He said, “Everything isn’t the same. You’ve changed”.

When I first heard I’d be going to Tanzania for work, I was so excited for so many reasons. I was excited to add yet another stamp to my passport. I was excited to finally travel for work, as this would be my first trip with my employer and our primary mission involves aiding foreign countries. I was excited to go somewhere not everyone had the opportunity to go…for free, no less.  But I never expected this trip to have such a profound impact on me.  So, here’s how Africa changed me:

1) It fed my adventurous spirit.  Each day presented a new opportunity for adventure.  Whether it would be during weekend trips exploring the country, or finding a place to get my nails and hair done, I was determined to see as much as I could and make each day different than the last.

2) I have a better appreciation for Mother Nature.  People who know me know that I’m not the biggest fan of wildlife or nature.  But during my trip, I saw things that not everyone gets a chance to see in their lifetime.  I swam with wild dolphins, was an arm’s length away from lions, grounded coffee beans, ate fruit straight from tree and was almost charged by elephants, among many other amazing things.  And besides all that, the mosquitoes and flies won’t let you forget they exist, but my safari tour guide helped me to understand that everything in nature has a purpose.  I saw the most beautiful views I’ve ever seen and now understand the natural lure of Africa.  Tanzania is the most beautiful country I’ve ever been to.  But the jury is still out about the mosquitoes and flies.

3) I enjoy traveling alone.  As I said, this wasn’t my first trip out of the country, but it was the first time I traveled alone internationally.  Usually, I’m with a group of friends so there are more opinions than my own to consider.  But I was free to do what I want, when and how I wanted, and didn’t have to consult anyone but myself.  Pure awesomeness.  Every now and then I wished I had a friend there to share an experience, but then I’d remember this was a part of my unique journey and learned to revel in it.

4) My colleagues showed me how to be a really great hostess.  The warmth and generosity I felt from my Tanzanian colleagues was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.  They took me under their wings and honestly, I’ve never felt more welcome in a new environment…4,000 miles away from home.  I was away from my family and friends, which forced me to leap out of my comfort zone and form relationships with complete strangers.  I actually feel like I share a bond with the people I met in Tanzania that no one else will understand.  They wanted me to see Tanzania from their perspectives and show me how proud they were of their country. And for that, I am forever grateful for them.

5) The people knew what life is truly about.  I had the opportunity to tour the city of Dar es Salaam and some more rural parts of Tanzania.  While some areas were severely poor, the people were some of the most content people I’ve ever seen.  “Love is love” is what our tour guide said to us while we took the Afriroots biking tour.  He said this is how the people of Tanzania view life.  They may not have a lot of money or own a ton of possessions, but they have each other.  How awesome is that?

6) I have a different perspective on Africa.  Let’s be honest.  The media doesn’t portray the African continent in the brightest light.  But truth be told, Dar es Salaam had a vibrant city center, booming with new construction and will probably be a hub for big business in Africa within the next 10 years.  It’s not as developed as some major U.S. cities, but there are some rural cities in America that could have taken a page out of Dar es Salaam’s book.  Just saying.

7) I learned so much about myself.  That sounds so cliché, but it’s the absolute truth. I’ve never lived overseas for an extended period of time.  I found myself immersed in an unfamiliar culture and instead of sinking, I chose to swim.  I tried new foods, drank new drinks, talked to people I wouldn’t normally and learned to sit back and observe my surroundings.  I learned that I’m strong and have a healthy curiosity for life.

8) I appreciate home.  While I loved mostly every aspect of my trip, I developed a new appreciation for home.  I’ve been extremely blessed with great parents who’ve provided an amazing life and have given me the tools I need to succeed in life.  I couldn’t ask for more.

It almost feels weird titling this post “How Africa Changed Me” because Africa is a continent, and I’ve only been to one African country so far. But I imagine I will have similar feelings about any other African country I visit in the future. I felt connected to Tanzania in a way that I have never felt to a foreign country before, and feel really fortunate that it had such a positive, lasting impression.  I’m sure the others will not disappoint.