When I first moved overseas, a lady I knew who lived cross-culturally for many years, saw the wonder in my captions and the newness I felt and she smiled, considering the rookie phase I was in. She told me that living overseas had become so normal to her that she hardly knew what to write about or how to put words to photos. The cow eating trash, the monkeys on the drive home, the incense filling the temple, another plate of steaming lentils and rice cooked over an open fire all felt like another day in the life. I didn’t want to become so used to “normal” that I forget the beauty surrounding me, losing sight of why we came, and where we live.
In many ways, getting used to a way of life that was once totally foreign is a very good thing. No one wants to be in survival mode and culture shock forever. I still remember the days of communicating only through smiles and nods as I guessed what people were asking me or going through an entire church service thinking we were on one passage when in fact the teaching was not even in that book. Not to say that I understand everything, but I have certainly grown in my language proficiency.
I want to remember the wild beginnings.
I want to remember the grace that locals continually have for us clueless Westerners who come from such a different way of life.
I want to remember what it’s like to be an expat right off the plane carrying all my wonder and worry right along with my luggage.
As I write this, I’m in the States, not knowing exactly when we will get on a plane again and travel back overseas. Once I realized we would be staying in the States longer than we planned, I thought about the host country we call home every day. Actually, it felt like I thought about South Asia all the time for those first few weeks. Since then, I have become more present right where God has me but I still miss South Asian life and our community there.
It seems fitting to use this time to stop and reflect on life abroad–the hard, the good, and how I’ve made a home in such a far away place.
If you are about to move overseas or are currently living abroad and simply need some encouragement, I hope this meets you right where you are in your journey.
Twenty Things I Love About Living Abroad
- 1. Living with passion, purpose, and mission are often wrapped up in daily life
- 2. Less materialism
- 3. Learning to cook from scratch (homemade evaporated milk, corn syrup, tortilla chips, chicken nuggets, peppermint coffee creamer, kettle corn, caramel sauce…) You’ll crave things you never thought you would.
- 4. Passionate and intentional people are often in our inner circle (whether locals or expats)
- 5. Rubbing shoulders with people who live intentionally
- 6. Spiritual matters and conversations are often in the forefront
- 7. A broader view of the world, cultures, religions, and people from various places and backgrounds
- 8. Opportunities to travel to nearby countries
- 9. Freedom to establish new rhythms and traditions for holidays
- 10. Holidays become more about the community than hustle, bustle and perfection
- 11. Wild sights become normal and everyday happenings (cows roaming the streets, beautiful markets to buy produce, herds of goats stopping traffic)
- 12. Becoming proficient in another language
- 13. Friendships are often deeper due to greater involvement in each others’ lives
- 14. Sounds that were once jarring become hardly noticed (street dogs, donkey bells, temple bells, chanting, blaring music)
- 15. Relying on others in new ways (learning how to make chai, working together with my spouse, cooking for expat friends when they are sick, helping when emergencies come up, holidays)
- 16. Thinking outside the box and getting creative with what is available (adapting recipes, wrapping presents with newspaper, decorating with what we have)
- 17. Enjoying delicious dishes made by locals
- 18. Time with loved ones in the States becomes more precious
- 19. Greater dependence and trust in the Lord
- 20. Being able to adapt to unmet expectations with lesser degrees of frustration (#everytimewetravel)
If you’ve lived abroad, what are some things you love?