Feature

The Fabulous Life? A Survival Guide to Living Abroad

by Carissa Ceballos
Sipping wine in the northern regions of Spain; eating gelato on a Sunday afternoon while strolling along the cobblestone streets in Italy; passing the Eiffel tower on the way to work; these are some of the glamorous aspects of life abroad. Due to global expansion these moments of paradise and extravaganza are becoming a reality for many people.

The majority of people who choose to be brave as they embark on life abroad have little idea what it is really like. I was one of those disillusioned people who thought living in New York City would prepare me for the challenges that lay ahead. I found that I was unprepared for life abroad and I acquired skills out of sheer necessity. Skills I now feel are important to share with future travelers in hopes to make an already stressful situation easier to handle.

Know where you are going

While this may seem like common sense you’d be surprised how in the midst of all the excitement most people haven’t really contemplated that there is more to life in France than crepes. Try to give yourself a reality check every now and then. This will prepare you for the initial shock of arriving in paradise and realizing you don’t speak the language well and have to find a place to live.

Engage in some extensive research above and beyond the “vacation” version of your new home. It’s great to know how to get to all the tourist spots and ask for the check, but have you thought about the best neighborhoods for long-term housing or figured out the cost of living?. Try searching for forums or expat (expatriate) pages for the country where you are planning on moving.

If you are headed to France, for example, check out the French Assistants website that provides a variety of information from legal paperwork to housing to food and events in different cities (www.assistantsinfrance.com). If you are planning to head to Spain, Loquo offers extensive information on jobs, housing, language exchanges and other great services (www.loquo.com). Many countries will have similar services so just start searching and you’ll be sure to come across lots of great information. For a start, visit this general expatriate’s webpage (www.expatriates.com).

When I first arrived in Barcelona I wasn’t sure how long I was going to stay so my savings went pretty fast as I frequented the bargain Zara. However, I soon realized that if I was going to stay I needed to figure out the cheapest supermarkets and the most convenient place to live to help save on transportation time.

While some research and planning can’t be done until you are in the country, try and tap into the foreign community of the country where you plan to reside. They are more likely to give you a realistic version of what you are about to encounter. As for once you arrive, just keep reminding yourself that it’s not vacation and that you have to make this home. Start familiarizing yourself with the local parks and free services that you can take advantage of in case you find yourself short on change.

Be flexible

When you first arrive you will most likely be working off the high of being in a foreign country, taking in the sights, absorbing the language and being in awe with everything that is new and different. But just like any relationship, things start to become real when the infatuation wears off and the reality sets in. Now what you once thought was so glamorous might really start to get on your nerves. This is the time when you need to practice patience and flexibility. Things aren’t going to run like they do at home because you aren’t home. Try to make the best of the situation and readapt the way you do things and the way you think about things.

When I first arrived in Spain, I hated Sundays. Everything is closed on Sundays - it’s probably the most boring day of the week. I can’t go shopping or to a museum. I can’t go anywhere.After many frustrating Sundays I decided to try and experiment. My frustration wasn’t going to make anything change so I changed my attitude. I now had a day where I was forced to be lazy. I made sure I stocked up on food for the day and planned in advance to have that day to relax. I could go out as late as I wanted on Saturday since I would have nothing to do on Sundays and now you can’t force me to leave on a Sunday. It’s a really nice change in perspective. Adapting this flexible attitude will really make life abroad much easier.

Home away from home

Most people who head abroad are willing to shed the comfort blanket from home and venture into the new and exciting, which can also sometimes be scary. But don’t be afraid to take a little home with you- you’ll be glad you did. Eventually, when the real sets in you will start to get nostalgic and begin to miss the little things. I say if you can’t bring Mohammed to the mountain.

Try to find things that resemble home in your new place, for example establish a favorite cafe‚ or find a great local bookshop where you can routinely browse. Meeting foreigners is another great way to help you overcome some possible anxiety about being a small fish in a big sea of strangers. It is comforting being surrounded by others going through or who have gone through a similar experience. They will be able to offer support while you are adjusting and can be a great resource for places to visit and ways to overcome the culture shock. Even just hearing a different accent can be comforting. Many cities list language exchanges in their publications or groups such as the European Union group, the English speaker group or various cultural organizations where you are bound to meet foreigners on the first day.

Join a social club or a gym and enter into a routine. Many countries will have at least one magazine or paper designed for foreigners or expats, often times in English. In Barcelona, there is the Barcelona Metropolitan which is a free English magazine that lists organizations for the international community whose topics cover a broad range from politics and religion to outdoor adventure and cinema (www.catalunya-classified.com/www.barcelona-metropolitan.com). One of the things most comfortable about home is familiarity which comes from the routine we have there. So try to establish familiarity and create a routine in your new home. This will help you from feeling so “foreign” and overwhelmed.

Is It For You?

Living in a foreign country can be an exhilarating and life changing experience. The knowledge you acquire as you face the challenges of acclimating to a new culture and a new language allows you to re-evaluate your limitations and adds richness to your life. You learn more about yourself, what’s important to you, all that you have taken for granted, what you can live without and what is truly essential. It gives you a greater understanding of the world and your life and you are guaranteed to come back a different person than when you first arrived. However, it’s also not an easy step to take. Having to leave behind friends, family and familiarity can be difficult for many people but if you are brave enough to make the leap I say Bon Chance and Bon Voyage!!
Carissa Ceballos is a New York University graduate with a political science major and minor in Spanish. Having realized too late to change majors that her passions lied elsewhere, she has spent the past year or so trying to see as much of the world as possible on a tight budget. Her most recent destinations: Cuba and Barcelona. She is currently an English and Spanish teacher and once the travel bug is gone she plans on getting involved in immigration work on the non-profit level.