Deciding to move to another country, not to go on a temporary vacation, but to drop anchor and live and work there, requires a lot of logistics and courage.
But what are the underlying motives for deciding to take such a step?
For the “classic expatriate”, a frequently cited reason is career advancement. A stay abroad not only gives you new expertise, but often also a better-paid job. If you are sent abroad by your internationally operating company, you can often expect a significant career and salary boost in your home country after the phase of working abroad.
In second place are the partners of these people.
They often follow them out of emotional attachment, without being able to push their own careers. They often do not have their own employment abroad and have quit their own jobs in their home country. Unlike their working partner and perhaps children, they have no fixed structure in their everyday lives and no interaction with other expatriates, as they often do not have a job (anymore). They have to reinvent themselves in every respect, but without any mental support. Even in the few cases where the sending company helps the employee to arrive in the new country, the partners are usually not included.
There are people who want to escape.
They want to escape the structures and conditions in their home country and therefore try their luck abroad, where they believe they can find better living conditions and a better salary. They may have seen from friends, on social media or on television that the standard of living in another country seems better to them. They often become disillusioned when it turns out that the labour market situation is not as good as they thought, that work permits are linked to the recognition of qualifications and that although the salary is better, the cost of living is also much higher. For example, food prices in the supermarket may be temptingly low, but energy costs are exorbitant. However, this point is not obvious at first glance.
Many people move to their partner's country for love.
They are not expatriates because they are in their familiar surroundings. Their partner, on the other hand, comes to them and build their own life there. This can be particularly difficult if the partner who is moving does not have a recognized degree or one that is compatible with the new country. For one partner, everything stays the same, they get an “upgrade” to their own life situation, so to speak. For them, their environment, friends, accommodation and, in fact, all living conditions remain the same. For the new partner, on the other hand, everything is different - job, culture, environment, friends, hobbies, sometimes even the language. This can lead to great tensions and is often a stress test for the relationship, as frustration, loneliness and homesickness are common.
Then there are the explorers.
The “explorer expatriate” is a term often used to describe a specific group of expats who move abroad because they have a strong desire for discovery and adventure. These people are characterized by different traits and motives: They are curious people who are open and flexible to other cultures and ways of life. There is a good dose of adventurousness in them and they often have a good understanding of other cultures and customs. They are prepared to move out of their comfort zone and take on other perspectives, in other words - to go beyond their own boundaries.
They are genuinely interested in getting to know the country and its people. In particular, people who do not work remotely but only need an internet connection and a laptop are an ever-growing group. Especially after the corona pandemic, there are ever better and more diverse opportunities to work from anywhere in the world.
Do you recognize yourself here or were your motives completely different?
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.
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