The Reality of Living Abroad pt 2

Well, we already reviewed the good parts (or pro list if you will) of leaving the comfort of home behind, but now we will jump into the more realistic part of our "Pro and Con" list, and that is the Cons List of course. Now, I do not mean the good things were nonrealistic, but I mean that this new list of "more serious" things might make you take a step back and reconsider your decision to fulfilling your lifelong dream of moving abroad. And this is not my advertisement to keep you from traveling but it is what I would have loved to hear before I myself moved out for a long period of time.

1. Change. Inevitable change. Change of people, change of scenery, change of food, etc. You might recall I mentioned the new things in my previous Pros List, but even though it is a good thing in the long run it can certainly become a little bit of a problem

2. Homesickness. Do not tell me this would not be an issue for you because that is exactly what I always thought and boy,did it slap me in the face when I moved out. The longest time I have been away from my family has been 4 months now. And the number of times I have literally shed tears due to homesickness certainly outnumbers those four times. So there you go, it is an issue you have to face.

3. Time zone differences. This point is very relative. It certainly depends on where you are moving and into where you are going. But even if it is a two-hour difference it surely gives a very strange feeling for at least the first two months.

4. Loneliness. Again, it sounds like I am being dramatic, but am I being so? If you haven’t quite been by yourself for a long time this feeling of loneliness might come as a shock at first. Not because one needs a constant presence to be OK but because it might be overwhelming being left alone with yourself. You have all this time with your thoughts and mechanisms. It can be a little unsettling at the beginning. Even though it is the best way to know yourself and evaluate how strong is your relationship with God. Just keep in mind that being all by yourself can be a tiny bit dangerous.

5. Cultural shock. Let me ask you this: have you ever had a sleepover at your friend’s house and it was the most horrible, uncomfortable night of your life? Well, after that one bad night at least you had the comfort of going back to your own house and bed. Think about that feeling of being uncomfortable but without being able to escape it for months. Think about how if you get tired of not even being able to hear your own language spoken in the streets you still have to swallow it down for who knows how many more months in your stay…

I did not mean to scare you, and I am pretty sure I did not because my CONs list did not even sound that horrible to me who has actually experienced these things in the past few months. However, now that I survived them for the first time I am a witness that is it possible. But I do not really feel like going through that again. Because in its own moment, it is not pleasant. And I would probably have tried to prepare a little better for the particular situations described above. And even though this will not ever steal the passion I carry in me for traveling and experiencing new sights, cultures, and people, I now also carry with me a newfound respect for people who are always on the move and away from home. Because it can be a big task of self-denial at times.

God loves you,

Dear Ordinary Caro