Expat Observations: The Advantages of Living Abroad

The Economist recently published an article on being an expat, stating that “it is becoming both easier and more difficult to experience the thrill of being an outsider.” Well put.

Everyone has their own reasons for leaving their home country; some to escape oppression, some for work, and some to be inspired. The Economist noted that of the past ten winners of the Nobel Prize for Literature, five have been emigrants. Some of the most interesting people in history have spent time abroad; think: Hemingway, Gauguin, Kerouac, Madonna. My past six months here full-time (plus a year half-time), have proven to be a rewarding experience in ways I never expected.

Spending time in a foreign country, even one as mildly foreign as Panama (I still pay with US dollars and English is widely spoken), has the potential to enrich your life, expand your horizons, and provide daily opportunities for personal growth. A few observations of things I have gained:

• Daily Growth – every single day, I am confronted with new challenges that push my mind to think in different ways and complete different tasks. Some as mundane as figuring out what beer to order (Panama brand is my favorite), to more complicated things, like how to sign up for electric service for our office (it’s a pain, don’t ask). Psychologists found that living abroad makes you more creative.
• Travel Opportunities – I had already traveled up and down both coasts and many places in between in North America. Being in Panama has given me the opportunity to experience the rainforest and go places nearby that I never would have from the US (I am planning a trip to neighboring Colombia).
• Worldly Acceptance – Being exposed to different people with different perspectives and different ways of life opens the mind and has allowed me to be more welcoming and understanding. If we knew our enemies, we may not be so inclined to destroy them.
• Appreciation – I was surprised to find myself being patriotic when living abroad. Often a critic of my country, I have realized that it’s not such a bad place. I miss things that I previously had overlooked, things like sidewalks and the use of turn signals.
• Financial – The great things in life aren’t free, but they’re definitely cheaper in most places outside of the US. Panama is not an exception.

Three words: pack your bags!

TAGS: Culture Living Abroad

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