Living abroad is amazing and I am so grateful our family has the ability to choose where and how we live. Being location independent has been life-changing and if I were to recommend something to anyone, it would be to find a way to make location independent income…just on the off-chance that one-day you wish to travel more, move to a warmer domestic locale, or even start living on your favorite far-flung, tropical island.

Have WiFi, will travel!

There are quite a few amazing things that come with the living abroad territory. To list them all would be overwhelming. But perhaps one day I will. For now, I will list five of them.

1. Food. Yes, food is first! I love trying new cuisine. Living in a place that is rich with fresh fish and seafood has been a blessing. Also, the variety of new foods I’ve been able to try has been exciting! My palate has definitely expanded as a result of our transition.

 

2. Culture. Since moving to México, my family has been able to explore the rich history and culture of this place in a way we couldn’t have done from our Midwestern town. This first-hand account has been eye opening to say the least.

 

3. Language. Our kiddos are speaking Spanish with more and more ease every day. Attending a Spanish immersion school program has been deeply beneficial for their language acquisition skills, and for mine too!

4. Weather. By moving abroad, we were able to choose where we wanted to live, what weather we wanted and the types of amenities we desired. Waking up and walking to the oceanfront daily is life-giving and for that I’m grateful.

 

5. Adventure. Moving abroad has given me a greater sense of adventure. Prior to our move, I wouldn’t have tried half the things I’ve tried, nor wanted to. Little things, like getting in the ocean or venturing on horseback have given me confidence to try new things.

 

Now, like I said, I love living abroad! But, like a relationship, there’s give and take and for all the good, I have to be upfront and admit, there is some, well, not so great too. There are three things I don’t like about living abroad and it’s important you know.

 

1. Community. I am an introverted-extrovert (if there is such a thing). I am not one to strike up conversation with a stranger and I will find any excuse not to go out and mingle. Once I’m out, I’m okay. It’s the, getting there, part! When you move abroad, it is essential you ‘find your tribe’ and honestly, the quicker the better. New friends will become your lifeline and it is imperative you make good, strong connections. We are lucky to have made some great friends here, but admittedly, it has been a struggle for me to venture far outside of my conversational comfort box.

 

2. Speed/quality of service. Now this one varies region to region. I’ve heard service in the UAE is beyond amazing. In our little corner of the world however, speed of service and quality of service have been something I’ve had to personally contend with. It has required me to learn patience and accept that ‘my way’ is certainly not the ‘only way’ or even the ‘right way’. For the newbie living abroad, this learning curve can truly make or break the transition.

3. Cost of travel. Living abroad while also maintaining stateside connections is important for our family. We enjoy visiting family and friends when we can. It also comes with a cost. Plane tickets for a family of five are not the cheapest, especially when you have specific flight pattern and airline preferences. Many friends of ours travel very infrequently and choose to stay in contact via the internet rather than through in-person visits due to high travel times and costs.

 

All that being said, moving abroad has been the best decision for our family. We are happy, healthy and grateful for the blessings we’ve received along the way. I write this post not to complain, rather, to provide a small glimpse into the ins and outs, the good and not so good of life abroad.

 

If you’re interested in learning more about how you can begin exploring living abroad, finding location independent income, consolidating your home for a move, or researching your options, join me for a special live webinar on July 19^th at 6pm MDT. The cost for the webinar is just $10 and registration is now open on my website. I look forward to seeing you then!