I’m about to embark on my own journey as an expat. I’ll be living in Paris with my EU husband.
I speak good French and having lived in France twice before for 9-mo stints each, I am familiar enough with French culture to empathize with the negative and positive critiques that people share on this subreddit. In other words, I know what to expect.
Nonetheless I am still nervous about the move; fitting in, finding a community, finding my tribe. I’m nervous about feeling like I’ve made a colossal mistake to sell everything and move here.
The truth is is that reading this subreddit does not make me féel very optimistic. I read posts lamenting the move abroad, the regrets you have, the challenge adapting, and none of which are unwarranted! I get it Expat life is difficult!
……But my question is…is there anyone here who is happy with their decision to have moved abroad?
Absolutely, best decision I ever made was leave the UK and go to Canada. I’ll be dragged kicking and screaming if I ever have to move back.
I lived in London, Paris and Hong Kong for many years and I was usually very unhappy the first few months but after finding friends through hobbies or school that feeling would mostly go away. Looking back I am grateful for the experience and the memories!
I have learned that social life is like 90% of my happiness. Weather, luxury, architecture lr even money dont matter if you dont have friends and girls, or a girl. And looking back its always been like that. Toys,videogames and cool cars were only fun if you had people around you to share it with.
Very happy in Portugal! I’ve been gone 11 years from the US across various countries and have finally set down some roots here- bought a house, car, and just had a baby. We could never see ourselves moving back and although this isn’t our forever home, it’s our home for the next 5-10 years and that’s good enough for now!
I’m not happy but most of my expat friends are
Left U.K. coming up on three years ago to live in the USA. I had lived in the USA before for a four year stint so knew what to expect.
No regrets at all. I love my job, region where I live, friends, neighbourhood. As of now, I don’t ever see myself going back to the U.K. I have visited once since I left and it did not make me want to return at all.
Incredibly happy here in Mexico.
Btw, "expat"is just short for migrants and/or immigrants. The British love their charming words with syllables chanting of Shakespearean references and other overly- meticulous wastes of breath. Let’s not talk about Churchill and his love of mapping…
I’m an American who’s lived in Japan for 35 years and I love it here. I have some American friends, some Japanese friends, the people I work with, I don’t really have a “tribe” but I get along OK. I have my wife and kids of course.
I moved to Japan from the US nearly 30 years ago. I am very happy here, and plan to stay.
There are several reasons I am happy here: I have a a job I enjoy, I love the neighborhood where I live, and most of all, I have made friends. I have a Japanese husband and some Japanese friends (most of whom speak English well), but also many non-Japanese people who are here long-term. There are positive and negative aspects to any culture, but if you can surround yourself with people who appreciate the positive aspects, it helps a lot.
Unbelievably happy in Finland. I can never see myself returning to the U.S.
Very content with the decision to leave USA. Living on the pacific coast of Honshu near mount Fuji.
Many may have regrets about moving but I think that mostly comes from expectations. Setting them aside makes for the best experience. Focus on our goals, have a healthy hobby or three, a loving supportive family and life is usually pretty good.
Some expats didn’t really understand their motivation andperhaps were running away to find something. Others cannot exist due to an inflexible mindset. Setting aside those who run into bad luck or lousy relationship, the ones who last generally don’t focus on regret. They go out and live their life as best they can.
Regarding Paris, I found it to be one of the most unfriendly places I’ve ever visited. So its not somewhere I would consider healthy for living but I suppose everyone is unique in our own way. Getting out of the greater Paris area is where France truly shines imho.
best of luck with the move
I’m an American in Mexico City, this is the happiest I’ve been in all my 52 years
I’ve lived in several countries now, and my happiness levels varied. I have lived in four countries outside the US over the past 15 years, and I’m batting .500. Things to keep in mind: you can’t change cultures, you can only change yourself. You can’t change the number of other expats in any given area, you can only change how you interact with the ones that are there, and by extension how you integrate into the local community. But you know all that, since you’ve been there twice for extended stays.
I think you carry an advantage vs. some who’ve had bad experiences - you’ve already been there, 9 months at a time. You didn’t expatriate after a nice holiday or after a two week business trip. Your eyes are open as to what you’ll face. Don’t worry.
Yes. Be a little outgoing in the first weeks. Attend groups you think you’d like, meet ups etc. and build from there.
After the first few weeks, you start to get a feel for the place, know the area, restaurants, cafes etc. it becomes more homely.
I’m super happy with mt decision. I’m from Italy and I moved to London. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done!