Things I Learned While Living Abroad

In the past year and a half, I have been living abroad. The beautiful island of Sri Lanka is the country I chose. Since living here, I have been enjoying the sun-kissed beaches, soft rain and the friendly smiling people. But living here has never been easy. In fact it’s quite an emotional ride and a learning curve. However, I enjoyed every adventure Sri Lanka has to offer. It’s no doubt this is one beautiful country! Thinking about the beautiful memories I have so far, intriguing culture, I thought I share with you some of the things I have learned while living abroad.

Things I Learned While Living Abroad

Sri Lankan Cinnamon

Learn Something New Every Day

Part of the beauty of living abroad is discovering something new everyday. It could be a new aspect of the country you never knew about, or a new art district you just stumbled upon. It could even be a new word in the language you’re learning. Lucky for me I know the language. I personally feel more alive with a better sense of being when I’m constantly learning something new. Here are a few things I got to know since I have been here:

• Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon before 1972
• Buddhism arrived in Sri Lanka in 3^rd century BC
• The spice cinnamon originated in Sri Lanka
• The national flag of Sri Lanka, the Lion Flag, is considered to be one of the oldest flags in the world
• World famous Ceylon tea comes from this island

Initiative

When I first moved to Sri Lanka, I was literally thrown into a new environment, although I have came for holidays before. You either try your best to meet new people, socialize and build up new relationships, or you’re just stuck in a foreign country. Lucky for me, I have family here. It’s easy to feel depressed when you first move abroad but with some initiative, you’ll enjoy living abroad just like you would back home.

Meet More Locals

Local Surfers, Sri Lanka

Instead of trying to meet friends from the same country as you are, it’s much more fun to make new local friends. That will also help you understand a bit more about their culture when living abroad. I find that meeting locals give an interesting perspective of life in the country. In fact it will let you experience the country in a deeper level when living abroad.

Respect Local Culture

Sri Lankan Kandyan Dancers

Although I was somewhat familiar with the local setting, I wasn’t fully aware of the local customs and culture. Through the year that has passed, I understand that it’s extremely important to respect the local culture as if it’s your own. There could be things you can laugh about while others you can easily get frustrated. At the end, it is all about blending and adjusting to where you live.

Learn The Language

I strongly believe that language holds the key to a country’s soul. It is essential to learn the language when you’re living abroad. again, I can converse in the language though I don’t understand idioms, slangs and puns all too well. Locals do speak English however but it’s best when you know the language. That way you can completely immerse in the local culture when living abroad.

Independence And Confidence

Living abroad sure gives you a sense of independence and confidence. Since my move to Sri Lanka, I’ve been living out of my ‘comfort zone’. This allowed me to be independent, meeting new people and adapt to the local setting in the process.

Unexpected Setbacks

There could be many setbacks when living abroad. Things like homesickness, illnesses, problems with finances could be an issue. The best way to prepare for these setbacks is to ‘pre-trip preparation’. Speak to your local bank, do a medical checkup and get comprehensive health insurance. The more organized you are with such things, the less hassle it becomes for you.

Have A Positive Mindset

Last of all, and most importantly, having a positive mindset helps you adapt to the new environment when living abroad. A positive mindset will automatically encourage you to deal with potential problems and lead a happy life abroad easily.