13 Unexpected Advantages of Living Abroad
My work permit extension is getting nearer and I am eligible to become a permanent resident in Sweden already! I haven't been back in the Philippines since moving abroad in 2018. I cannot help but think about how living abroad for almost four years has changed my life and perspectives.
There are definitely pros and cons of living abroad, but the advantages of living abroad still outnumber the cons.
Practically, those who planned to move abroad have experiences they are expecting. If you are not sure what to expect, or if you are still contemplating starting a new life abroad, then this post might help you lean into booking that one-way ticket already!
I love new beginnings. That's why the thought of living in a foreign country on my own excites me more than it scares me. It's one of the most exciting experiences.
The reasons to live abroad can differ for people. From most of the posts, you will read, one of their reasons is the cheaper cost of living.
Not for me. I moved to work abroad and a small amount of money in Sweden can go further in the Philippines.
With that in mind, here are the unexpected advantages of living abroad!
You become more self-reliant
Living in a foreign country on your own can sometimes mean you have to rely on yourself only. It's hard to seek help from others, especially when you don't know anyone yet.
You are out of your comfort zone, and you are starting a new life overseas which can be overwhelming sometimes. But, that's okay! Because that will make you a better YOU.
Before I moved to Sweden, I always choose to be surrounded by people. But, being alone in Sweden made me realize how much I love my own company. It gives me peace, and it pushes me to make better decisions too.
It's one of those advantages of living abroad that makes a huge difference in your life.
Related: Things to Know Before Moving to Sweden
You improve your communication skills
When you start living overseas, you will learn how to listen more. You'll learn to have an open mind and it is important to know how you can relate to people with different backgrounds.
Sure, English can be the common language, but there is so much more to that. You also need to consider social cues like facial expressions, tone, or body language.
You will also sometimes learn to be thoughtful with your word choices to simplify your language when communicating with other people.
You get more insights into another culture
I have learned so much about different cultures since I moved to Sweden. It is definitely one of the benefits of living abroad because it helps give us a global perspective & at the same time helps us feel connected with others.
It's normal to experience culture shock since you are in an unfamiliar environment.
As the only Filipino in the office, I get to share about our culture & how we have 100+ languages in the Philippines. I get surprised when I found out new things about other cultures that I don't consider normal, but it is normal for them.
It helped me understand more and get a different perspective on my views. I also feel more connected with people if there are similarities between our cultures.
And because you get more insights into another culture...
You develop to be more mindful
When you are living overseas, you meet different people from different cultures. You start to learn their ways of life, and you always see different perspectives.
When I was living in the Philippines, I hangout with Filipinos so the culture and ways of thinking are usually similar.
But now that I am in Sweden, I meet a lot of foreigners. Interacting with them helped me become more mindful of what I say or with my actions.
Despite the differences, people are people.
What seems to be normal behavior to you, might not mean normal to others. But, living overseas will help you quickly adapt to cultural signals too.
Being able to be more mindful is one of the important advantages of living abroad that some people might overlook.
Related: Challenges of Living Abroad
You get a global mindset
Getting a global mindset is one of the keys to growing professionally in your career when living overseas.
Because you have more insights into another culture, you will improve your communication skills and develop to become more mindful which will make you more adaptable to different cultural backgrounds.
You grow professionally in your career
A global perspective is highly considered by employers which opens up more opportunities in the future.
When working in a diverse company, you will not only improve your adaptability, flexibility, and cross-cultural communication skills, but you will also have different working styles.
It also increases your teamwork skills when working in a diverse team because you will need to accept different perspectives and understand how to cater to different expectations to achieve common goals.
Related: Life and Work in Sweden
The work environment in Sweden and the Philippines is completely the opposite. I'm happy that I got accustomed to the working environment in the Philippines, and it led to more opportunities at work.
You get accustomed to the new food
Raggmunk med fläsk (potato pancake with pork belly), kebab pizza, gyros pizza, banana pizza, Princess cake, and a lot more Swedish food! These are all the foods that I've never heard of or tried before moving to Sweden.
This was one of my struggles when I am still settling in a new country. I often eat my comfort food, and I don't know how to make it, so trying out completely new food was not ideal.
Since I am living in a foreign country now, and some of my favorite foods are not accessible here, I learned to get accustomed to the new food.
I still miss Filipino foods, but I have a few favorite Swedish foods now. I also realized that I like different food now.
I remember I like eating salty food, and I thought some foods here are bland. When I asked my husband to bring my favorite salty snacks from the Philippines, I couldn't finish them because now it is too salty for me!
