"Traveling requires patience, courage, a good sense of humor, forgetting all domestic worries, and not letting yourself be put down by adverse coincidences, difficulties, bad weather, bad food and the like."
This quote is from the German writer Freiherr von Knigge (*1752 to 1796 ) about traveling and, for me, has some parallels to working abroad as an expatriate: deciding to leave your own country and familiar surroundings (at least temporarily) is a task that has both positive and challenging aspects.
In this article, we will take a closer look at a few of the many aspects:
Challenges
Some of the most obvious challenges are language barriers, cultural differences in gestures, facial expressions, conversation and everyday behavior. Some of these are obvious. But there are also hidden differences that are not expected, especially if the culture of the home country and the culture of the new country seem very similar at first glance in terms of language and way of life. Countries such as the group of Germany / Austria / Switzerland are a good example of this. Or the group: USA / Great Britain / Australia. Or Spain / Mexico / Argentina. They have the same language, yet they are very different. The differences can be seen not only in different mechanisms of communication with each other, but also in linguistic differences, for example when the same word has completely different meanings in different countries. This can make it really difficult to communicate with neighbors or colleagues, to do normal daily things, to integrate into society, let alone build friendships. Feelings of isolation or homesickness often arise during the various phases of culture shock. It is precisely here that there is often a lack of mental support from the sending company, as there is often a lack of understanding for the problems that arise during the adaptation process. Often the posting to a job abroad alone is perceived as reward enough and the assignee is literally left alone.
Opportunities
On the other hand, there is the positive effect of being able to experience new cultures and their way of life. Expatriates have a good chance of learning about the country and its people, their customs and traditions. Being integrated into a culture other than your own is an enriching experience for many people.
But it also offers the chance to learn a lot about yourself, to push your own limits. To critically question your own behaviour and reactions and to take them out of their own cultural context. It can be very enriching to look beyond your own country.
This also applies to the new skills that expatriates develop on the global job market, be it in specialist knowledge, networking or language skills, which then opens up better career options in the long term and the better salary that goes with them.
Summary
In conclusion, it can be said that living and working abroad has both positive and negative aspects. Which one outweighs the other is a very individual experience and depends on the individual. Before taking such a step, the pros and cons should be weighed up carefully and stringent preparation should be made for this unique experience. This is the only way to maneuver through the various ups and downs.
I regularly publish articles on the topics of “Living abroad”, “Living in Germany” and expatriates. If you would like to be coached on your individual path to make this phase in your life easier, please do not hesitate to contact me.
photos / source: shutterstock