Many opportunities have opened for us with how science and technology have advanced in the past couple of decades. Who would have thought that remote work would be the norm, with the help of computers and the internet? A lot of the things we have now are just things we imagined a century ago.
People no longer have to work abroad out of the need to make a good living and provide well for their families. Nowadays, most people who decide to leave the comforts of their home and country do so out of choice. However, a lot of people are still forced to go out and search for greener pastures elsewhere.
Whether the decision to work abroad is brought about by need or choice, those who are left back home fail to realize the realities that ex-pats and foreign workers face daily.
Realities About Overseas Work that Most People Fail to See
Just because a person is based in a different country because of their work doesn’t mean that life is going great for them. The financial compensation is mostly rewarding, but they are also faced with particular challenges and opportunities for growth. They may have to deal with personal issues and sometimes even legal issues that require the services of an immigration bail bondsman if such services are available to them in their location. Either way, they face these challenges head-on, and not many people are aware of them.
It’s not as romantic or glamorous as it seems
A lot of people have goals of traveling and living abroad. They probably got that idea from seeing all the wonderful photos on Instagram. Unfortunately, most photos on Instagram are curated and do not depict the other side of the coin: life abroad is very challenging.
Adapting isn’t as easy as you think
One thing that makes it hard for any ex-pat in a foreign country is the need to adapt to the local culture. Each country has its own culture, behavior, and language. Breaking through all these barriers is tricky because one needs to unlearn many things they grew up with.
It makes you grow a lot
The good thing about adapting is it makes you grow holistically as an individual. You get to experience the great and fun things the culture has to offer, from exotic dishes to breathtaking sceneries, from amazing customs to beautiful languages.
Your mind is more open to new ideas and unusual concepts. The amount of knowledge and wisdom that can be acquired by living internationally pushes a person to become a better individual.
People are driven by different reasons
There’s no denying that living abroad opens many opportunities to grow, regardless of the reason for the relocation. As we mentioned earlier, many younger folks today choose to make a life for themselves in a new country because of these opportunities.
However, not all ex-pats that you meet have the exact reason for moving. Some might have moved out of a desire to earn more compared to what they could make in their homeland. Others see it as an escape from oppression. Still, others relocate to get a fresh start in life, a pushing of the reset button.
Homesickness is no joke
Regardless of the reason, almost all overseas workers experience homesickness, some worse than others. If a person decides to move to a different nation and is allowed to bring their family along, the homesickness is somehow reduced. They still might miss their friends, the places they frequent, or their favorite food.
But not everyone is given that advantage. Typically, foreign workers go on their journey alone and leave their families behind. Time is not a cure for homesickness. It can help strengthen a person’s resolve about their situation, but it does not heal. Thank heavens we now have technology that allows us to talk to our loved ones from across the globe in real-time. That somehow makes the distance between them a lot easier to deal with.
You learn to look at the world in an entirely new way
Traveling to different places all over the world is a great educational experience for everyone, foreign worker or not. Being exposed to different ways of life helps open your eyes and makes you realize that there is an entire world behind the bubble you’re used to. This allows you to experience life in a whole new way, both professionally and personally. The collective experience gives you greater wisdom that changes the way you look at things.
Hopefully, more people realize how hard it is to be far away in a different land. Folks should give overseas workers the proper respect and appreciation they deserve.
