Very little puts the realities of life into perspective quite like learning how to participate in a completely new and different culture and community. Living abroad offers boundless experiences and memories, as well as endless struggles and challenges. Like life, living abroad reminds us what it truly means to be human, and what things matter most in life. Everyone should, at some point in their life, spend some time in another country truly learning about themselves. There are a thousand life lessons to be learned by living somewhere else, but these are the most important.
It’s okay to take the path less traveled.
There’s a perception in America that there is a singular path to success. We go to high school, then college, then grad school, then get a job, then retire. Nowhere in that plan does it say, take a year away from your life and go discover some things about yourself and the world. However, despite the cultural inertia telling you it's not in the cards to go, it’s totally okay to take that path less traveled and go experience something that will make your soul happy.
It’s all about the small victories.
Living abroad is terrifying. If you weigh every positive experience with every terrifying one—especially in the beginning—odds are you’re going to have a very negative outlook on your experience. Celebrate the little things, like discovering a new and fabulous food (for me it was plantains), or learning how to take the bus. The more you acknowledge the successes, the easier it is when things get a little bit tough.
Perspective is everything.
When we’re in America, we can get extremely bogged down in our own problems. It’s what happens when we live somewhere. Going outside of your comfort zone and looking at America from overseas or just across borders can add a tremendous amount of perspective. When I was living in Ecuador during the Trayvon Martin trial, I had to explain to my host family that racial tensions were still very much alive in American society. Seeing the good and the bad, as well as the tremendous influence and privilege of our lives allows us to be more grateful for the incredible opportunities we are given.
Making a fool out of yourself is necessary and fun.
You aren’t a local. As a result, finding things is complicated and not knowing how to do things is a given. Be okay with randomly walking up to a lady on the street and asking her where the street you’re looking for is, or accidentally mispronouncing a word or using it incorrectly. The more you laugh at yourself along with the people who you’re interacting with, the more you’ll realize that being a bit confused and silly is definitely part of the experience.
Your plans will NEVER go exactly the way you think.
This is one of the most important lessons of life. No matter how much you plan, how much you prepare and how excited you get, things will inevitably change. When I was in Ecuador, my 10 month plan was derailed by a visa problem and required a move to Chile before returning home and moving back to Ecuador again. Whether it be big or small, loving the journey is the best and only way.
It's impossible to know everything.
One of the hardest things I had to realize upon moving abroad was that, as much as I may look like an adult, my vocabulary resembled that of a seven year old and my understanding and comfort with the city and culture was about zero. No matter how much you try to look cool, you’re never going to pull it off. Own your ignorance. You learn a lot more that way.
The capacity for human love has no bounds.
People love the same wherever they are. One of the best parts of travel is you leave little bits of your heart with the people who you meet overseas. Through my experience, I’ve met and made connections with people from nearly every continent. Love with your whole heart and those around you, wherever you are, will love you too.
At the end of the day, you always have yourself.
No matter where you go in life, who you love or have in your corner, you will always have yourself. So do the things you love, go on that weekend trip to the Amazon, eat that ice cream cone, buy yourself that book, take that day off. You are your biggest fan, and the sooner you acknowledge the awesome that you are, the sooner it becomes okay to do things alone.
Your story is incredible and worth telling.
You have lived and continue to live an incredible life. You are accomplishing amazing and wonderful things. LOVE the beauty of your story, and share it with others.
The first step is always the hardest.
In theory, everyone wants to live abroad. It is exciting, exhilarating and exotic. But actually booking that flight, pausing your life and packing up your things is terrifying. Actually landing in that country is even worse. But the first step is the hardest and nothing worth doing is ever going to be easy. Just do it.
