A DIFFERENT TYPE OF TRAVELING

It's something I've done for the past 9 years on and off after leaving my home town of Brisbane at the tender age of 19 to move to the UK. I did the 'aussie-working-behind-a-bar' thing for a bit, then a stint in China teaching English before heading back to the UK to finish my uni degree. I returned back to Brisbane to graduate, and shortly after started my career in travel and before the year was up relocated with my job to Hong Kong. After a decent stint calling the 852 home, I've now moved to Singapore and if all goes to plan, will call this home for the next few years. 

There's countless inspiring travel quotes onlinet, but here are a few that I feel sum up my experiences from living abroad:

Now I'm not saying jumping out of planes is for everyone, although the adrenaline rush is a whole lot of fun, but pushing yourself out of your comfort zone gives you that opportunity to not only learn about yourself but surprise yourself on what you can overcome on your own. 

Everyone's experience living abroad is of course different. Here are some of my own experiences I would like to share...

The first few months you're on a high with the initial excitement of being in a new place, exploring your new neighbourhood and getting lost. I remember for the first few months since moving to HK, on my bus ride home after work I was getting off 3 stops too early, and walking to my flat. One day, I fell asleep and missed my stop only to find the same bus I always caught actually stopped right outside my flat! I still have a chuckle to myself when I walk that stretch of road, remembering how differently I viewed that same street that now seems so familiar to me.

Relocating can be costly as there's usually a lot of initial outgoing expenses like shipping fees and the essential purchases and down payments needed when you do find somewhere to live. So moving with some spare cash does make life easier, but shouldn't be the reason why you delay and delay until the moment has passed. This seems to be a common occurrence. One thing I have learnt from moving around quite a bit, is to pack light. Besides a few valuables and basics, you'll end up buying everything new anyway. So many people I know pay hefty shipping or air freight fees and by the time it's arrived they've already bought replacements. I remember shipping 2 cardboard boxes full of clothes, accessories and general Made In China crap back from Beijing. By the time it had arrived 2 months later, I'd completely forgotten what was even in there! Obviously I could've lived without.

Moving to a country that speaks a different language from your native tongue can certainly test your patience when medial tasks can prove somewhat challenging with the language barrier. On the flip side what a great opportunity to learn a new language! That being said,  I left HK barely being able to say my address in Cantonese, so props to those expats who have mastered the 9 tones!

One of the best things about living abroad is the people you meet, which you otherwise probably wouldn't. Frustratingly, I found in Brisbane it was always hard to meet someone brand new, someone who didn't know anyone you already knew. This typically meant some sort of preconceived judgement on who you were and what your story was. Everyone has their own reasons for wanting to live abroad, some for career opportunity's, some just for a change of scene and a new challenge, but for me being able to meet new people was hugely important. It was refreshing. It's like starting a clean slate somewhat, where you can just be the person you want to be from Day 1, no preconceptions. Although HK is renowned for being the 'world's smallest cities', where especially in the expat community after a while it seems like everyone knows everyone, it also has quite a high turnover so there's always new people to meet. 

Now Im sure in every expat community around the world, there are congregates where Aussie's hang out with Aussies in their sports bars or certain neighbourhoods like Putney in London; the Brits with their fellowmen in pubs like the Globe; the French in chic cafes and bakeries dotted throughout Sheung Wan. I always thought it was quite interesting how some people move overseas and then only befriend the same people they would back in their hometown. To me it kind of defeats the purpose of relocating, but i guess it's only natural to want something familiar in a foreign place. Especially if there's a language barrier or huge cultural difference so your interests might differ compared to that of the locals. Since moving to HK, as much as I do enjoy the Aussie banter at work, I am now partial to dim sum brunches and late-night karaoke sessions with just as much enjoyment.

For those moments of home sickness, where all you want is to see a familiar face, my advice, don't get on Skype. Instead, turn to a new friend or colleague, who may be or have been in a similar state of homesickness, who can give you the support and reassurance you need. The sooner you create a support network in your new 'home' the more settled you will feel. Sitting on Skype all weekend telling your loved ones back home how much you miss them, is non-progressive. In fact, I try not to go back home for at least 12 months of moving to a new place, so as not to unsettle me as I made that mistake once which left me feeling very confused. For those that know me well know I've never really been a 'home sick' type of person, I get attached to people, not places, but perhaps I've been away for too long. I do believe those moments of loneliness, is really part of the process of personal growth which actually allows you to figure a whole lot out about yourself. So stick with it and overcome the 2 month hurdle, the 6 month hurdle and after 18 months I've found it's sweet sailing. Again, everyone's experiences and attachment to places are different.

Always keep in mind, home will always be home. A place which will have a comforting familiarity however long you've been away. The more I travel, the more I realise how tiny the world is for us privileged few holding certain passports. This means home is always only an overnight flight away no matter where you are, making that 'living abroad' decision, really not as daunting as it may first appear.

So I urge all my fellow wanderluster's whether you're studying, thinking about taking some time out for a working holiday/gap year or chasing career opportunities, widen your net, not just to your city or interstate, but globally. 

For me, living abroad has been by far the best type of travel.