Expatriate living sounds very exotic and while it can be exciting, it is not the same as being on vacation, and you may find that you have to make an effort to enjoy expatriate living. I’ve lived as an expat in 3 countries – S. Korea, Thailand and Germany and have found that if I take care of 5 things, I enjoy expatriate living. See how you can live the good life abroad:
1st Tip for Expatriate Living: Make Friends
Making friends is an integral part of enjoying expatriate living.This photo is of a friend I met 10 years ago while living in Thailand who recently visited me in Stuttgart.
Making friends is a challenge whenever you move somewhere new and it doesn’t happen overnight, but the sooner you start making friends, the sooner you will enjoying expatriate living. I’m a fan of joining clubs where you share a similar interest (such as a hiking or a book club). You can try googling your interest with your city name, but also check out www.meetup.com. It’s a free service listing clubs around the world for every interest you can think of from cooking to game board meet ups to public speaking to travel groups. Facebook is also a good place to find local clubs. Most places will also have an international or expat group and I would recommend joining one of these as well, www.internations.org is an international organization that organizes get- togethers across the globe. There are lots of ways to meet new friends, the point is to do it sooner than later, since friendships take time to develop and the sooner you have people to share your new expat life with, the sooner you will start to enjoy expatriate living. If you live in Stuttgart, Germany, check out these Resources for Expats Living in Stuttgart.
2nd Tip for Expatriate Living: Have a Purpose
If you have a job, great, hopefully it’s one that you enjoy, and it will give you a reason to get up everyday. If you don’t have a job, you will need to find a purpose in order to enjoy expatriate living. This could be a job, but not necessarily. This can be a great time to focus on something you’ve always wanted to but just never had the time to. It could be volunteering, learning the local language, taking an online course, or exploring a career as an artist. I am in Intensive German School which is 5 hours a day, plus homework and it’s very busy, but still I have noticed that the people who have something else going on in their lives, are much happier than the people who only have German school. I think having a purpose in life is a key to happiness regardless of where you live, but particularly true for expatriate living where you lack the support of friends and family that you have at home.
3rd Tip for Expatriate Living: Get Involved in the Local Culture
Experimenting with local cuisine is one way to enjoy expatriate living
It can be tempting to spend all your time hanging out with other expats, and while you will no doubt form friendships with other expats, I do think it is important to immerse yourself, at least to some extent into the local culture because you have such a unique opportunity to do so and by doing so, you will feel a greater sense of belonging. For more ideas on how to do this check out Cultural Assimilation – Why I Refuse to Live on the Fringe but the possibilities really are endless. It can be as simple as taking a yoga class in the local language, even if you don’t speak it, checking out a local musical act, taking a cooking class of the local cuisine, or making friends with some locals. The point is to get out of your comfort zone and try to assimilate to at least some extend.
4th Tip for Expatriate Living: Learn the Local Language
No doubt you’ve heard this before, but it’s worth repeating. Even if you just pick up a few of the basics, expatriate living becomes so much easier – when you can understand how much something costs, can order at a restaurant and actually get what you want, or explain to a taxi driver where you want to go, the quality of your life as an expat substantially improves. Plus if you take a language course, you may just meet some new friends.
Exploring your new surroundings is a fun way to enjoy expatriate living
5th Tip for Expatriate Living: Explore Your New World
Exploring my new city and country is without a doubt my favorite thing about being an expat. Living in Germany, I explore castles, ruins, museums, and ancient civilizations on a regular basis that are not found in Canada. I also visit nearby cities and other countries that are only a stone’s throw away from my new home, but thousands of miles from Canada. Many expats are good about exploring initially, but then get comfortable and stop exploring. I find that by continually exploring my new surroundings and taking full advantage of expatriate living, I am much happier than I would be if I just stayed at home.
What additional tips do you have for happy expatriate living?
I'm Laurel, a former Program Director from Canada now living in Munich, Germany. I love traveling, diving, and hiking. I'm also an animal enthusiast with a special affinity for monkeys, cats and sharks.
Great info, but sadly I was an expatriate only once in my life back in 1998-99 in Tokyo. Since then I have just been a basic and simple traveler.
David @ Malaysia Asia recently posted..Michael Buble Live In Kuala Lumpur March 2011
@David – I’ve heard that Tokyo is an interesting place to be an expatriate, from what I’ve heard, you either love it or you hate it, but I’m sure it was definitely an experience.
These are really great tips! And will totally help enjoy life as an expat! I think making friends is the most important one, really, for me anyway. Without the people I met while I was living abroad, I wouldn’t have had half the experience I did. And they have now become my lifelong travel buddies, and we meet up all over the world.
Sound advice, Laurel and I am totally impressed that you have managed to live the good life in such diverse cultures. You are an expat professional.
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@Kelly – Thanks and so interesting about the friends that you’ve met, me too! Friends I’ve met in Thailand, I’ve met up with in Germany, Canada and England. I think friends that you meet as an expat, can become friends for life since you’re all experiencing so much together.
@Inka – Oh it was a journey, believe me, I’ve had my share of loneliness, wondering what to do with my time, language struggles, etc, but I think I’ve finally got an idea of what works for me now
Helpful tips! My partner and I are heading abroad in the next six months or so and are toying with the idea of being expats. We know we’ll be staying in each place we visit for a couple months at a time (but moving periodically), and our hope is to find an apartment in India for the length of a tourist visa (6 months). Not sure how long it takes living somewhere to qualify as an expat, though.
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@Christy – Sounds like a wonderful adventure, and spending 6 months in India will be incredible and I’m sure long enough to experience the culture shock felt by all expats
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Great tips! I think making friends is probably the most important one. With friends, you can experience the local culture, travel in the new country and so much more. Alone all of this can get a bit tedious I think. For myself, I think I would have to add one more tip to be happy in the long run in a new country: keep in contact with family and friends from home and visit regularly. I know this sounds kind of counterproductive since you’re trying to assimilate in the new culture… but for me it’s true. By staying in touch and going back once in a while, I am more relaxed to enjoy my new country more if that makes sense.
Sabrina recently posted..Anywhere in the World
Hiya, I have lived in various countries and cultures in the world – working and living. I love being an expat actually but I think the tips you’ve given others are a great start. My biggest piece of advice is to do your research and talk to some local people before going. This way you will have an idea of what to expect & some friends to help you out once you arrive.
Thanks for the post, Miraim
I have yet to live in a another country, but these will be great tips to remember when we move to South America next year. One of the biggest things for Scott is that he is worried we won’t have many friends. Meetup.com is a great idea and I’ll have to check out the other site you mentioned.
Christy @ Ordinary Traveler recently posted..Personal Favorite- Hostal Naylamp in Huanchaco- Peru 4
Great tips! I don’t know if anyone has ever done this but I used a being expatriate excuse to avoid a very expensive traffic ticket (like $300-$500 worth). I mistakenly entered a one way street and told the cop I wasn’t from the US (using a heavy accent). I thought it was a cool perk but I would not abuse it. =)
Grace recently posted..Battle of the Petticoats- Vantage Point on Bolivia Part 1
They are indeed great tips. Thanks for sharing.
I know we are not enjoying my Singapore expat experience as much as we expected to. The main problem is a lack of time and an inability to meet other people in our situation — a working mum and a stay-at-home dad. It’s a tough gig in any country but when we can’t seem to connect, it makes it all the more difficult. My poor husband goes along to a few mums and babies meetups but he feels awkward. I’ve gone along to a few mums without bubs drinkiepoos and I feel a bit awkward too.
We are planning to dump the job and find a way to be self-funded expat travelers or professional dropouts.
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Really good advice here Laurel. Even as wandering travelers we felt lonely and making local friends along the way was a huge help. We used couchsurfing as our way to meetup with local people and hands down it was an incredible experience. Having hosted before we left on our trip, we actually visited some of the surfers that stayed with us in DC. We’ve spent holidays and birthdays with couchsurfers, many of whom we still regularly chat with today, some of whom I count as close friends! You never know who will come into your life!
Sound advice all the way through. Expat life is a bit like life but with added communication barriers.
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Good tips, Laurel. We’ve been lucky to make some great friends whilst living in Fethiye and we certainly love going off to explore other parts of Turkey.
Online, we’ve met other expat bloggers living in Turkey but more importantly for us, we’ve also made contact with a lot of Turkish bloggers, too. Obviously, we’re in contact with expats elsewhere, like yourself, and I think if people were struggling in their chosen country, they can always vent their worries to other bloggers.
I guess another tip could be to start writing a blog.
Julia
Turkey’s For Life recently posted..The Kindness of People in Turkey
Great tips, I even find that these help me for long term travel, especially learning the language.
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@Sabrina – I agree, making friends is the most important one for me as well. Great advice, about staying in touch with family and friends from home as well.
@Miraim – Great advice and very true. I didn’t do my research the first time I was an expat in S. Korea and ended up being miserable since my school was small, only one other English teacher and across the city from other expats, so it was difficult to meet people.
@Christy – Congrats on the move, how exciting! I love meetup.com, I used it at home too and was a member of a couple of hiking clubs. Look forward to hearing more about your adventures.
@Grace – LOL, one of the unexpected advantages of being an expat
@The Dropout – Sorry to hear you’re not enjoying Singapore as much as you’d hoped. I agree connecting is so important and it’s hard when you can’t. I lived in Northern Thailand and most of the other teachers were male, who experimented regularly with the local drugs and talked about their prostitutes over dinner. I really had a hard time connecting and it was a very lonely year, so I hear where you’re coming from. Hope you’re able to meet at least a few people that you can connect with. Thanks for sharing your experience.
@Jillian – Thanks for sharing the tip about couch surfing. I’ve never done it, but it does sound interesting and it would be a great way to meet people.
@Robin – Well put!
@Turkeys for Life – Glad you’ve met some good friends, it really does make all the difference. Great point about meeting other bloggers, it’s nice to connect (even virtually) with other people who are in a similar situation and can relate to what you’re going through
@Ayngelina – Thanks and you’re right, I can see how a lot of them would apply to long term travel, which can also get lonely.
Laurel, yes, I agree, the tips you list are crucial for a successful expat experience, and one that I also find is important is this:
o Have a sense of humor, be able to laugh at yourself and don’t take yourself too seriously. I’ve made a fool of myself a number of times, but it sure helped getting accepted or respected (and laughed at) by the locals.
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Great tips Laurel. As a long time expat, I agree the life has its rewards and challenges.
@Miss Footloose – Excellent tip! You’re right, living as an expat, you will make a fool of yourself so it’s good if you can laugh about it and make other people love about it as well.
@Nancie – Thanks. I think non-expats tend to forget about the challenges and think an expat life is a glamorous one, which it can be, but not always.
These are great tips! I’ve done the expat thing a few times in different countries and can definitely agree with the points you’ve made here. While it can seem difficult at first and really requires an effort to assimilate, being an expat can be an amazing experience.
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@Andrea – Thanks and I completely agree and most days I really love being an expat.
Great article Laurel. My favorite part of living in London was the proximity of amazing countries with completely different cultures to visit. And airfare was often so cheap. I think I went from London to Paris for a weekend for about $20, including tax. You just don’t find seat sales like that in Canada!
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When I studied in Italy for over a year, I found many of these tips to help me out. I think learning the native language is key. You will always feel like an outsider if you don’t know what anyone is saying.
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All common sense stuff, Laurel. But you’d be surprised how many people don’t attempt to do even these simple things.
I was an expat in Tokyo from 2000 to 2004, and I was shocked at how few of my fellow expats really engaged with their surroundings. The city and its inhabitants go out oftheir way to make it possible for a foreign resident to engage with the oddities of Japanese life.
Yet many still cling to the expat neighbourhoods, with a diet of expensive imported food and satellite TV.
My Japanese was garbage, but a smile got me a long way. And as we allknow, alcohol is the universal translator!
The Honourable Husband recently posted..I Cant Get No Ass-Fax Action
@Amy – Agreed, I’m loving that about Germany as well and am hoping to go to Switzerland for the upcoming weekend, doesn’t happen living in Canada (although I love Canada too of course
@Suzy – Agreed, learning the language is so important. I really want to make more German friends, but feel I need better language skills first before I can put myself in situations where I would meet them.
@The Honorable Husband – It really is sad, and I’m also surprised at how many people spend the weekends glued to their satellite TV instead of getting out and exploring their new country and yes alcohol does seem to improve ones language skills doesn’t it
I grew up in Germany as a military brat, so it was just the way life was, eat the food, learn the language, capitalize on extra holidays. When I moved to the Dominican Republic, I thought I’d be fine, no culture shock for me since I lived overseas a few times. But I had a great group of ex-pats to help me along,and I asked my staff to correct my grammar whenever possible. With support from others, expat living is easier and most of your energies can be put towards exploration!
Does British Columbia count? Since Alberta seems to be the last bastion of free enterpise in this great country. Your advice is simple and sound. I hope to win the lottery and live in another country six months of the year. In the interim, I will continue my effort to live in Canada. Temperatures are improving. Avalanche risk remains extreme. I have added comment luv successfully. Did it all by myself
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@Tiffany – Great point, not being afraid to rely on others and ask for help is a huge help and exploring is one of my favorite things about being an expat as well. I think when you’ve lived in different places, you have some idea what to expect, but will still likely experience some culture shock.
@Barry – Living in another country 6 months of the year, sounds like a perfect way to escape the Canadian winters while enjoying expat life.
not one post, not 1 word mentioned, after arrivals to the new country
HOW TO PAY FOR IT?
1. Food
2. Lodging
3. Gas
4. Fees and Taxes
and Medical
and ALL THE OTHER COSTS AND FEES OF LIVING
========================================
somehow all the above posts mention making friends as #1 thing
as most important thing for happiness
Which May Be True.
However,
DO YOU ALL LIVE FOR FREE SOMEHOW
or
DO YOU HAVE DADDY PAYING FOR THIS?
or
POCKETS SO MUCH MONEY THAT IT IS NOT AN ISSUE?
=============================================
first thing comes to my mind as a expatriate is how am i going to afford it.?
maybe its just me
=========================================================
EVERYDAY are MORE COSTS
to simply eat and survive
how is this handled?
shooting birds out of a tree with bow and arrow?
not one post above mentions MONEY as any concern
see the list of #1-5 of most important things to consider to ENJOY LIFE.
Question is ? HOW IS THIS PAID FOR or is it FREE?
@Eric – Good point about the money aspect being an important concern for expats. As there are lots of articles out there about the money side of being an expat and how to find a job, so I purposely choose not to focus on the money aspect.
The intended audience for this article is people who are already expats and have the money situation taken care of, whether it’s through a job or by other means. From my personal experience of living and working in Thailand, I made a very low salary but thoroughly enjoyed living there and the tips listed above made my life much more enjoyable.