I got infected while travelling

Read time : 3 minutes

In the last month, a few friends have reached out to me saying that they want to live and work in Europe.

They told me that they’re looking for an international experience, and to have a fresh new start.

Having lived abroad for the better part of the last 2 years, they ask me for advice on the first steps to take that leap of faith. I’m always very happy to share my experience and advice with them.

Travelling is powerful. It allows you to see different parts of our world, to experience different cultures, and to create new friendships. However, doing a EuroTrip is very different than wanting to become a European resident.

Why do I have the impression more people like me are looking for professional experiences in a foreign country?

Here’s how I see it:

Everyday we are subjected to the opinions and views of other people about ourselves. We’d like to think that we are authentic, but in a way, we play different roles depending on who we’re interacting with.

For example, you don’t act the same way with your parents than with your best friend, or with your boyfriend/girlfriend and your boss. The way we act depends on how we think those other parties view us (and other societal norms, but let's not digress).

"Who you decide to be doesn’t depend on who is in front of you, it becomes a choice to freely express yourself."

This transpires in social media.

We live in a time where we are led to compare ourselves to everyone around us. For obvious reasons, we post only the best parts of our lives, making it seem perfect to the outside world.

Seeing that everyone else is [supposedly] living a perfect life can be very demoralizing, and flat out depressing.

But something funny happens to you when you travel alone:

You free yourself from the views and opinions of other actors in your life. Who you decide to be doesn’t depend on who's in front of you, it becomes a choice to freely express yourself.

To those of you who’ve had this experience, you know what I mean.

You come back home feeling a little out of place, because suddenly you have to step back into playing different roles.

We leave home with the idea that we're going to see and learn so much about the outside world, when in reality, we come back with a clearer view of how things really are at home.

Then again, that's just my point of view, what do I know?

"I just had to live another reality"

Studying in Munich and working in Luxembourg at The Recruiter has made me realize how wide open our world really is. Everyone is from somewhere else, and anyone can get here, you just need to find the right path.

So if you're someone who is looking to make a jump to Europe (or to America or elsewhere for my European friends), believe that it is possible, because it truly is.

When I asked my friend why he left his home of Cape Verde and second home Lisbon to come to Luxembourg, he said: "I just had to live another reality".

I think this illustrates exactly the desire that pushes some of you to make the leap.

Is this a result of the times we live in? Most likely.

The world has never been so connected, and far off destinations are now more accessible. Plus, it has become mainstream to take vacations to 'exotic' places, which only adds fuel to the fire of that impulse.

With all that said, I miss home.

I miss family, friends, and traditions. But that's normal, and, thank God, I was lucky to be raised by parents who encouraged me to travel, and to pursue opportunities when they presented themselves. I know all of that is one FaceTime away, and all of the worries go away.

I'm on my own path, and I'm trying to make everyday the best day ever.

I can only wish that you make that decision too!

If you've read this far, thank you! If you are thinking of making a move to Europe, don't hesitate to contact me, I'll be happy to help. I would also love to hear your comments and/or personal experiences on this topic!

Zach Traer is a Talent Acquisition Consultant at THE RECRUITER in Luxembourg. Originally from Chelsea, Québec (Canada), Zach is passionate about sports (especially basketball), positive routine-building, personal development, and the World. Follow him on instagram @zachtraer & @WorldWanderersInc