What I learned living abroad: tips for surviving the experience

Living abroad is an adventure that teaches you so much about yourself, but nobody says it's easy. I've moved countries several times: I went through Spain, the United States and France, and ended up spending eight months in Vietnam teaching English. From all of that I took away a few tips I would have loved to know beforehand.

The first thing is to get the paperwork out of the way as soon as possible. The first few weeks are an endless slog of offices, visas and banks, and until you close that chapter you won't be able to enjoy anything. Then, listen and observe: don't judge or start comparing everything to your home country, because you're the one who has to change, not the place.

A mistake many of us make is hanging out only with people from our own country. It's the most comfortable option, but it keeps you inside your bubble and it takes you longer to understand the place. Look for plans with locals, use apps like Meetup or Couchsurfing and, above all, learn the language: it's the key that changes how people treat you.

Not everything is rosy — culture shock arrives sooner or later — but with patience and new friends the feeling of being uprooted gradually fades. In the end, stepping out of your comfort zone is one of the best decisions you can make.

Source: El Viaje de Mi Vida