No kids. No spouse. No mortgage. Seize the moment. Carpe diem. Yolo.
Young people have more free time and are more open to letting new people into their lives. Being young and abroad is a very unique opportunity and inserts you into a fun, adventurous circle of other 20-somethings.
Young people are still developing their idea of the world, which makes them more open to foreign cultures and practices. As a 20-something, you’ll be able to more easily adapt to a foreign culture, as you are still figuring out the type of adult you want to be.
Being single and childless makes budgeting for life abroad much easier. Moreover, as a young person, it’s likely that you’re a little less picky about food and housing so you don’t mind taking the cheapest option.
Let’s go to the beach this weekend! Sure! How about flying to Brazil for New Years? OK. As a 20-something you can say “yes” to last-minute trips, changes and adventures, making it an ideal time to live abroad.
Exploring a foreign country is best when you are at your physical peak. You can see more and do more as you’re likely stronger, faster and fitter than you will be later on. Places to go, mountains to climb!
Being out of your comfort zone away from your family and friends means that you have the freedom to “discover yourself”. You’ll figure out what makes you truly happy. Doing this in your 20s means that you’ll save yourself years of doing things that you don’t want to do with people who don’t make you happy!
Once you’ve taken the initial plunge and moved your life abroad, adopted a new culture and probably a new language, you’ll realize that nothing seems that scary anymore. If you can do this, you can do anything. This can-do attitude will change your life.
Tiny baggage allowances mean that you won’t be taking everything that you own to your new destination. Within a few weeks you’ll be glad to have only your essentials and enough space for your new foreign findings. You’ll realize that you don’t need much to lead a happy and exciting life – a lesson that will serve you well forever.
Since you’re young and probably single, you’ll get to the opportunity to date people from a foreign culture, which is a terrifying, exciting and rewarding experience. It’s the best way to learn about another country’s customs while also recognizing your own cultural expectations. It may not work out – but you’ll learn a whole lot.
People who get out of their home country as young people will be more likely to travel when they grow older. If you don’t go ahead and live abroad now as a 20-something, you likely never will.
Learning how to fend for yourself in a foreign country will make you a more independent and autonomous person for the rest of your life. Everything is harder abroad, making the learning experience all the richer.
Communication has improved since the days of postcards. Missing home is normal, especially if you’re away for months or years at a time. Nowadays, with the help of Skype, FaceTime and other similar apps, you can be rid of your homesickness in seconds. Your loved ones are just a wifi connection away.
Before settling down in your home country, living in a foreign country is great exposure to a completely different way of life. Every culture has something to offer. Living abroad makes you realize which elements and values of your culture you really care about and which are more inconsequential.
Understanding how foreigners view your home country is an essential element to having a global outlook. Considering the opinions of foreigners about where you come from will give you a more independent, objective and nuanced view of where you come from.
Such an important lesson of living abroad is learning how to rely on the kindness of strangers. Once you experience the compassion of people in a foreign country it will make you a more patient and generous person when interacting with people new to your home country.
When you finally do make it back home, you’ll have the support of the open-minded, adventurous friends you met abroad. These people were your family abroad and their friendships will stay with you in a different way than friendships established at home. They’re also great excuses for holidays all over the world when you’re older!
Because they all wish they had the guts to do what you are doing. #yesIwenttotheGreatBarrierReefthisweekend #sorrynotsorry #livinlavidaloca
Referring to your international work experience will catch any potential employer’s attention because it’s still not common. The fact that you dared to live and work in a foreign country demonstrates courage, an open mind and problem-solving skills.
A Business Insider article shows that one of the most common major regrets in people’s lives is not having traveled abroad. If you have the chance live in a foreign country, why wouldn’t you take advantage of that opportunity while you can?
Convinced? It’s time to take advantage of the freedom of your 20s and learn about how to make your international dreams a reality!
Photo 1. based on Nan Lian Garden, Hong Kong | Canon AE-1 Program, by Nathan O’Nions, CC-by-2.0
Photo 2. by The Intern Group
Photo 3. based on Plane Landing at London City Ariport, by oatsy40, CC-by-2.0