Should I Stay or Should I Go? The Choice of Becoming an Expat

The choice of moving abroad is not one to be taken lightly. Without making informed decisions and proper preparation, the dream of living "la dolce vita" can quickly turn into a nightmare.

A resource that can provide you with help in making this important decision is a book that I had the honor of contributing to: Should I Stay or Should I Go? The Truth about Moving Abroad and Whether It’s Right for You.

The author, Paul Allen, is a freelance journalist and writer. Having left his native England to live and work in New York City as managing editor with a leading financial publisher, Paul then swapped city life for the beauty of north-eastern Spain in 2003.

Spurred by the “lucky you” comments of colleagues and friends, who seemed to be under the impression that life overseas was one long fiesta, Paul took up the challenge of revealing both the bright and dark sides to living abroad, hoping it would help people better decide if they too should make the move. And so his book was born. 

Paul graciously agreed to answer a few questions regarding some of the issues he covers in his book.

Paul, what did your research show were the reasons why most people want to go abroad? And what are the most popular destinations?  

Millions of people around the world have already moved abroad, and millions more each year dream of following in their footsteps. Given the numbers, and variety of countries people move from and to, inevitably there will be a wide range of factors inciting them to relocate. However, among the most commonly-cited reasons are:

• Lifestyle issues, such as climate, recreation opportunities and relative living costs
• Career development prospects
• Relationships and family ties
• The adventure element of having new experiences and obtaining different skills
• Concerns about crime, healthcare, education services, etc at home.

The most popular destinations vary according to nationality, with expatriates from the US, Canada, the UK or Australia favoring different locations, depending on geographic proximity, cultural and political ties, ease of entry, language and the like. 

For US expats, the Association of Americans Resident Overseas (AARO) calculates the 10 most popular locations are:

• Mexico
• Canada
• UK
• Germany
• Israel
• Italy
• Philippines
• Australia
• France
• Spain 

Meanwhile, the biggest draws for UK expats historically have been:

• Australia
• Spain
• United States
• Canada
• Ireland
• New Zealand
• South Africa
• France
• Germany
• Cyprus

 

What are the most important things to consider when deciding whether or not to move overseas? What things do people most often forget to think about?

In my book I investigate the 10 key topics people should address when contemplating whether or not to move abroad. These include factors such as how living costs and income-generating opportunities compare, how easy you will find it to integrate abroad, the quality and availability of healthcare services, what quality of life the country offers for any children you may have. At the end of each chapter there is then a list of questions to help readers clarify their thoughts and feelings on each issue, and thus help them understand what is the best route for them to take.

The country’s climate is one factor people often overlook, or don’t fully consider. For many prospective expats, the promise of sunshine and warmth acts as a big lure, as witnessed by the popularity of places such as California, Mexico, Australia and Spain. Yet the sunshine can bring its downsides: excessive heat that may imprison you inside for months on end, the threat of drought, an array of pests, or phobia-inducing creatures such as snakes and spiders.

Bridging the cultural divide, especially where a language barrier is involved, can often be harder than people anticipate too … hence why so many end up depending on the expat community as their sole social outlet. 

And while it may not be something people forget to think about, the issue most expatriates underestimate is how much they will miss family and friends. In surveys this separation regularly features as being the hardest aspect of moving abroad. That raises two questions:

• Are you comfortable – happy even – with being away from your family and friends? Do the plus points of living abroad so far outweigh any drawbacks that there really is no contest?
• If you are going to move abroad, what distance can you cope with? 

 

What is the best way for an aspiring expat professional or entrepreneur to find out about job or business opportunities abroad?

The internet is an obvious starting point. Just 15-20 years ago the only real way to find out about a location, and the work and lifestyle opportunities it afforded was to go there. Thanks to the internet we now have the world at our fingertips. 

The official websites of corporations, local commerce departments, newspapers, employment agencies and so on are one source of information. Then there is the mass of informal resources, such as personal blogs and expat forums. These can provide a wealth of on-the-ground insights into the job market, bureaucratic hurdles, the availability of business grants and bank loans, and a thousand other details.

Networking – both online and off – is another excellent approach. For while internet search engines can get you so far in terms of gleaning information, relationships offer the most effective entrée to any situation. 

Of course, it’s also worth seeking the advice of a professional who can guide you in the right career direction, and save you making a lot of elemental – yet costly – mistakes. And what better way to start than to consult Career By Choice! 

 

What are the three most important things that people will walk away with after reading this book? 

Not to approach moving abroad with rose-tinted spectacles, an all-too-common phenomenon. Yes, moving abroad can be the start of a dream life. It can lead to a happier, healthier you. But relocating overseas will come with challenges, frustrations and disappointments, many of them from unexpected directions. You have to be prepared for the difficulties you will face so that it doesn’t wreck the entire experience. This book will help you understand a bit more about yourself, and thus where the difficulties are most likely to arise. 

Preparation is crucial to your long-term success. There are people who move abroad on a whim and end up blissfully happy. But there are more who don’t. By spending time considering why you want to move and to where, how you will finance this new lifestyle, and what you are giving up by relocating you will make a better-informed decision that will likely prove more successful in the long term. 

Sometimes the road to happiness lies in changing aspects of your life where you are at the moment, rather than in uprooting everything to move abroad. It may sound like a New Age cliché, but if you’re not happy with yourself now you are unlikely to resolve it by switching countries. So consider why you want to move in the first place. Are there real ‘pull’ factors that draw you to a location, with the promise of a better lifestyle? And will you make the most of the opportunities it affords? Or are your reasons based more on a desire to escape your existing circumstances, and frustration at your current lack of ‘success’ (by whatever measure you define it)?

Ultimately, the book is neither for nor against moving abroad. For some people it will be the best decision they ever take, for others the opposite. Rather, the goal is to help readers decide for themselves what is in their best interests, and incite them to take the steps towards achieving the life they desire, wherever that happens to be.

Thanks so much Paul for sharing this information that certainly will help people think more critically about the choice to become an expat.

If you are considering moving abroad, you can order the book Should I Stay or Should I Go? The Truth about Moving Abroad and Whether It’s Right for You at Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk. Or if you prefer to download an electronic version, you can go to http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/11591. 

And if you would like more free information and advice on the pros and cons of moving abroad, visit Paul’s website at http://www.expatliving101.com/. 

 

EXPAT SUCCESS TIP: If you are considering moving abroad, make sure you have thought through the decision properly. Leverage the resources out there like Should I Stay or Should I Go? The Truth about Moving Abroad and Whether It’s Right for You to help you do that. If you do decide to make the move and live and work overseas, I also recommend taking steps well before you leave to build that career or business to support your life abroad.

 

Comments

[Conny]

Hello,

I really liked your article. To move abroad is a difficult decision, I made that a few years ago, when I moved from Germany to Malaysia, too.

There are so many wonderful countries in the world to immigrate to, that everybody should take his time to visit the place of choice at least 1 time or more for a longer period.

I never regret to immigrate to Malaysia, but it was difficult to adapt to a new culture and a different way of handling things, in the beginning. I decided to make it a little easier for my fellow expat friends with creating a website and writing ebooks about the live in Malaysia as well.

My advice, get out of the rat race and start a new life in your dream country, but get as much information before as possible.

Greeting from Kuala Lumpur!

[Randall]

This is the book for me since I'm thinking of relocating abroad. I am actually in the research process. I'm still checking out my employment opportunity in that place as well as if I can handle the climate. I don't have a family of my own yet so I only have to worry about myself. I consider it a good thing to have come across this post.

[Yamii]

Very iitsghnful post. No. 1 and 2 did strike a chord with me as these are, in my experience,the most difficult situations to cope with. The rest are easier to deal with, maybe except red tape, but since I'm from Argentina, I'm used to it!

[Isadora]

Excellent read. Thanks for sharing this resource. I can say from personal experience making this choice should not be taken lightly. The adventure could not be the adventure you were looking for without doing your homeward.

[Megan Fitzgerald]

Hi Conny - wise words! Thnaks for sharing your experience.

Hi Yamii - unfortunately there are numerous challenges, but as you say, as you become more practiced, you learn to manage better. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Hi Randall - I'm glad to hear that you are doing your homework. It should help you make the right choices for you.

Isadora - My pleasure. I hope you'll share it with others.

To all of your success abroad,
Megan