How Being a Foreigner Can Challenge You to Improve Yourself

This week marks two years since I left my home country. Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, I’ve always wanted to experience the world. But instead of backpacking, I decided to move to Europe as an employee. Today, I’m sharing my reflections on what this experience has taught me so far.

Adaptability

I was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, a city with 6.2 million people. My daily routine included spending an hour commuting to work, enduring crowded public transportation, and enjoying 35°C weather. The beach was just 15 minutes away by car.

Then I moved to Cork, Ireland, a city of only 200,000 people, with cold weather (at least for me!). Everything felt completely different.

Everyone says the beginning is the hardest part, and it truly is. Adapting to a new reality hits you hard because, no matter how well you plan, reality is always different. It starts with not understanding the language you thought you knew, only to realize the accent is much stronger than expected.

Then came all the administrative challenges: setting up a bank account, getting a phone number, understanding the laws and procedures—all the small details of becoming a functioning citizen in a new country. And all of this happened while starting a new job with new people and adapting to a completely new professional environment.

I had to adapt quickly, and I learned that adaptability is not just a skill—it’s a survival tool.

Curiosity

Living abroad has made me even more curious and eager to expand my knowledge about the world.

Being in touch with so many different cultures made me realize that the world is not just about the community I grew up. It’s about everyone and how we are simultaneously equal and different. We are humans with needs and dreams, coming from totally different places.

To work and share with people from other cultures, you have to be curious. You have to be willing to ask questions and realize you know nothing about the world. Every day is an opportunity to discover something new—a new perspective, a new connection, a new understanding.

If you are curious enough, you can broaden your horizons and bring fresh perspectives to your work environment and your personal life.

Open-Mindedness

During my first experience abroad in the USA, I stuck with my Brazilian friends. We formed an amazing group, but after returning to Brazil, I realized I hadn’t connected with any Americans. I missed out on a deeper cultural experience because I was afraid of stepping out of my comfort zone.

In Ireland, I worked with Irish colleagues—wonderful people, by the way—but my sense of “home” came from the large Brazilian community there. I was lucky to have Brazilians in my workplace, which made the transition easier.

Now, I’m living in a small city in Belgium with no Brazilians at my workplace. My daily interactions are with people from entirely different cultures. I’ve been pushed out of my comfort zone like never before.

Interacting in a multicultural environment is challenging. A South American woman’s perspective can differ greatly from a European man’s, and when you add Indian, African, and other perspectives into the mix, it becomes a mosaic of views and values.

I believe diverse environments are the best environments. Different ways of thinking lead to better insights. But it’s not always easy. Discussing and collaborating with people who see the world so differently can be difficult. Yet if you are open minded, mutual understanding and respect are achieved, and you gain the ability to work with anyone, anywhere in the world.

Conclusion

The path I chose for my life is a tricky one. I can’t say it’s easy to leave behind everyone and everything you know, to be all alone in the world, trying to fit yourself into new realities and navigate different aspects of life.

However, I can say this: it’s a path I’ve always dreamed of. It’s something I am conquering, not alone, of course, because along the way, you meet amazing and wonderful people who help shape your journey, and I am very grateful that these people exist.

This experience is transforming me in ways I never imagined. Two years ago, I wouldn’t even recognize the person I’ve become today.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading. If you feel connected to my story, please don’t hesitate to reach out and share yours—I’d love to hear from fellow outsiders navigating their own paths.

#LifeAbroad #SelfImprovement #DiversityAndInclusion #PersonalGrowth #Adaptability #CareerJourney