I’ve Lived in 6 Countries: Here’s the Truth About Moving Abroad
The ups and downs nobody talks about
Moving abroad looks glamorous on the internet.
Sunsets in new cities.
Exotic food.
Weekend trips to places you’ve never heard of before.
But after living in Portugal, China, Switzerland, and now Qatar, I’ve learned something most people don’t talk about:
Living abroad changes you in ways you don’t expect.
Some of those changes are incredible.
Others are surprisingly difficult.
Here are a few truths about moving abroad that rarely make it into Instagram or Linkedin posts.
The Honeymoon Phase Always Ends
At first, everything feels exciting.
The language sounds fascinating.
The streets feel new and interesting.
Even grocery shopping feels like an adventure.
But eventually, life stops feeling like travel.
You start dealing with everyday realities: work, bills, errands, and bureaucracy.
The adventure slowly becomes routine.
And that’s the moment when living abroad truly begins.
Loneliness Is Part of the Experience
One of the hardest parts of moving abroad is leaving behind your support system.
Your close friends.
Your family.
The people who understand you without explanation.
Building a new social circle takes time.
Sometimes a lot of time.
Even when you meet great people, friendships develop slowly. Everyone already has their own routines and lives.
For many expats, loneliness isn’t a sign that something went wrong.
It’s simply part of the process.
Culture Shock Isn’t What You Think
People often imagine culture shock as something dramatic.
But in reality it’s usually subtle.
It appears in small daily interactions:
how people communicate
how quickly things get done
how direct conversations are
None of these differences are right or wrong. But when they accumulate, they can create unexpected frustration.
Living Abroad Changes Your Identity
Over time, something interesting happens.
Your perspective starts to shift.
You begin to see your home culture from the outside. At the same time, you start adapting to your new environment.
Eventually you may feel slightly disconnected from both.
Many long-term expats describe this feeling as living “between worlds.”
And strangely, that feeling becomes part of your identity.
The Instagram Version Isn’t the Whole Story
Life abroad isn’t a permanent vacation.
Most days look surprisingly normal:
You work.
You cook dinner.
You do laundry.
Sometimes you’re just sitting on the couch on a Tuesday evening doing exactly what you would do anywhere else.
The difference is simply where you’re doing it.
Why Living Abroad Is Still Worth It
Despite the challenges, living abroad is one of the most transformative experiences you can have.
It forces you to grow.
You become more adaptable, more open-minded, and more confident navigating unfamiliar situations.
And eventually you realize something powerful:
You can build a life almost anywhere.
That realization changes the way you see the world forever.
If you’ve ever lived abroad, I’m curious:
What’s something nobody warned you about before you moved? Let me know on the comments :)
I have written my own version of this exact article! Very different in tone and structure (yours has less whining and is more succinct), but with very similar central points!