Working Abroad: Is It Worth Leaving Your Country?

Today it is 4 years since I moved to Spain.

However, it is almost 14 years now since the first time I moved to another country on my professional life.

I was 17 years old when I moved to Canada to study English during six months before going to university. Something happened on my mind during this time, that it changed it all and I discovered that in the future I wanted to see more things and learn from people from different cultures.

I went back to Mexico for university. After graduating, I was convinced that I wanted to have an international work experience, and not because it could be something better than working on my own country. I just wanted to do something different than what was expected from anyone starting its professional life and learn from people that would have a completely different way of thinking and working than me.

Long story short, in 2010 I moved to Chile for an internship and then I found a job there. After some years I was relocated to Ecuador, then to the United States and finally to Spain.

Moving out of your country can be tough but at the same time a very rewarding life experience.

If you are thinking about the possibility of exploring a life in another country, here is what I have learnt during these years and some tips based on my experience and personality to keep in mind:

o?? Not everything is for everyone.

We all have different interests and personalities. What works for me, won’t work for everyone else. In my case, I decided that this is what I wanted, but if someone likes more stability or staying in their country, that is perfectly valid. You don’t have to like everything nor every place, so if something didn’t work out, don’t see it as a failure, because you learnt something new about yourself and what you don’t want in your life.

o?? It helped me to be a more empathetic and welcoming person. Small things can make a big difference.

After knowing what it is to start over many times in a place you don’t know and not having anyone, it taught me to be a better person and to try to make easier the life of anyone that is starting with something new: someone that just moved to the city or the country, that person that is new in the company or the team, or anyone that is experiencing a big life change.

Sometimes just smiling, asking how they are, having a cup of coffee, inviting them to a social event or helping to unpack can feel so welcoming.

o?? How your experience develops will depend mostly on you.

I have seen each move as a period of my life and not something permanent. Try to find the positive out of each experience. If there is something you don’t like, just think that it is not forever and learn to deal with it. It is up to you to have a good experience and find things that make you happy or to complain about what you don’t enjoy, hence wasting time. It won’t last forever, so try to create good memories.

o?? Be open. You have to adapt to your new country, not the other way around.

Remember that you are the foreigner, the one arriving to a new culture. If there is anything you don’t understand or like, instead of complaining, try to understand why they are like that. There could be huge differences among cultures, and if these differences go against your beliefs or principles, then it is not the right place for you. The culture of a country won’t change because of you.

o?? Be patient and enjoy the process! It is normal to feel sad or frustrated sometimes.

It takes time and patience. Based on my experience, it could take between 6 months and one year to be all set depending on what kind of actions you take.

o?? This is not what makes you a successful professional.

For me, success is to find the happiness doing what you love, where you want and with whomever you want. Just being in another country won’t make you more successful or better than anyone. It is possible to achieve the same staying in your own country, but maybe in a different way.

You just decided to live your life this way. Same things don’t make happy everyone and that is the beauty of diversity!

o?? There is a price to pay but you will also receive a lot on personal growth.

Unfortunately, distance has a price, you will miss important family and social events and you may lose some relationships. Try to be present somehow and to assist to the most meaningful events as it will recharge you and your family is the one that will be always there for you. However, remember that you have a new life to build and if you keep living in the past, it will be more difficult to start over as it requires time and efforts.

o?? Create a new life and build relationships. This will be key. Not everything is work.

Find a balance. Relationships will play an important role especially if you are moving alone, which has been my case. No matter how attractive your new role or company is: how happy you are and how much you enjoy your life out of work, will have a direct impact also on your work. If you don’t feel happy, there is big chance of underperforming at work because you are not at your fullest.

Rely on your hobbies and push yourself to do things that will help you meet people: join a group exercise, go to any kind of classes (language, dancing, painting, etc.), go to concerts, to the theater, or whatever makes you happy. Finding people with alike interests will make things easier.

o?? Try to avoid having many completely new factors on your life or that you can’t control.

We all need routines and a safe place.

Let me give you an example: if you just got married or started a new relationship, you are relocating to a new country hence moving to a new house, to a new job in a new company, this is a huge combination of many new things that could be out of your control creating a lot of stress and the possibility of failing or having some of those things going out of your hands is very high.

Try to keep something with which you are familiar. For example, new role but same company, or new company but very similar role, etc.

o?? If you move many times, there is a risk: feeling that you belong to everywhere and nowhere at the same time!

It is not necessarily something bad. If you experience this feeling is because you are enjoying each place and integrating in the best way possible. However, someday you’ll find a place where you’ll want to stay.

o?? You can always go back home.

This is good news! If you conclude that this experience wasn’t the right one for you, home or your country will always be there waiting for you.

There is no manual, a key or a best way of living. Find what is the right path for you. Experience whatever you want to experience and don’t feel pushed by anything that anyone else is doing. You are the only one who will know what works better for you based on your interests and personality, and what makes you happy.

If you want to live and work in another country, go for it! But if you want to stay in your country, that is a great plan too! Define success and happiness on your own terms.