My 10 tips for becoming an expat

expat

ɛksˈpat/

noun & adjective

informal

1. 1.

   short for expatriate.

Moving abroad can be both liberating and scary. You get to see a whole new world other then the one you grew up in. As you know, I love travelling and I love seeing new places. But there's a difference to going somewhere on holiday and moving there, becoming an expat.

The life of a solo-traveller

Travelling by yourself brings on many challenges. It tests your patience, your courage and above all, yourself. There might be moments where you'll feel lonely and vulnerable, where you feel like a stranger.

But I wouldn't trade the memories I've gained from solo-travel for anything in the world. It has allowed me to experience things in a different way, my way. I've gotten to know myself in a whole new way and I'm still getting to know myself. There's no "social noise" around you, you get to make decisions by yourself.

Working Holiday scheme

(!) See disclaimer at the end of article (!)

Source: J. Aaron Farr CCA licence

Want to really experience a country and its culture? Want to see the local sights, hidden off the "tourist-track"? Then a Working Holiday visa might be just your thing. The visa allows you to travel a country for a longer period of time and finance your travels by working. It's a fantastic opportunity and one I would encourage any person, with access, to do at least once in their life.