Moving abroad wasn’t something I seriously considered until just four months before I found myself on a plane to London. The idea terrified me. Walking into a room of strangers seemed daunting enough, let alone setting up my life in a completely new country. Quitting my job, finding a new one, packing up my house—starting from scratch felt overwhelming. Saying goodbye to my family was the hardest part; I had nightmares in the weeks leading up to my departure. The guilt of spending every last penny of my savings to cross the globe weighed heavily on me. I quit my job and booked my flight quickly because I knew that given too much time, I'd find a hundred reasons not to go.
Arriving at Paddington Station in London, I felt absurdly out of place. I was greeted by a rush of people in suits, the sound of buses hurtling along the streets, and the dull grey clouds drizzling rain on my baby blue suitcase. Between this, the jet lag, and the adrenaline, figuring out the Tube was out of the question. So, I opted for a taxi to my temporary Airbnb. Sitting on the bed in my new room, I just cried, overwhelmed by the enormity of my decision.
But now, five months later, I feel like a completely different person. The initial weeks and months were tough, but now, feeling settled in my new city, I couldn’t be happier. I'm doing things I never thought I could—weekend trips to different countries, making friends with strangers, and walking into rooms full of people with ease and confidence.
So, here are my brutally honest truths about what's great—and not so great—about living abroad. Enjoy.
The Cons
Time Difference: It’s always at 3am when I feel like calling my family back home. Sometimes you just want to pick up the phone and call, but the time difference can make that challenging.
Missing Out: I miss my favourite family gatherings and just being able to have a cup of tea with my mum and dad, or a gin and tonic with my sister in the pool.
Money: London's cost of living is sky-high, and the teacher's pay isn't helping. I've never had beans on toast so much in my life. My bank account and I have a mutual understanding: we avoid each other.
Missing My Cat: I miss the company of my sweet cat Ginny, but it will cost $2000 just to go home for a visit. Meanwhile, she’s probably forgotten I exist.
Weather: It rains a lot in England. Enough said.
Lack of Shopping: I miss buying clothes. So much of my money goes towards rent and travel that I wear the same outfits every week. It's a real challenge to make sure I'm not rocking the same look in every travel photo.
Homesickness: It doesn’t fade, it just fluctuates in and out like waves. One minute you’re fine, the next you’re crying over the familiar sound of the Aussie accent of a passing stranger.
Sharing Moments: Describing amazing views over WhatsApp just doesn’t cut it; sometimes, you just want to share these moments in person.
Feeling Like an Outsider: Living abroad means you're not quite a tourist but never truly a local either. It’s the permanent outsider syndrome.
Dating: Dating sucks here. That’s all I have to say on that one. If you'd like me to write an article on why, let me know.
The Pros
The Thrill of Uncertainty: I have no idea what I'll be doing next year. Or tomorrow. And that is damn exciting. Spontaneity is my new way of life.
Hobbies Galore: Literally any hobby you want to try, you can give it a go. I tried Korean pop last week. This week, I might try Brazilian jiu-jitsu, just because.
Travel Opportunities: I love how so many of our trips have already made it out of the group chat. We meet for coffee and the hardest decision is whether to go to Croatia or Turkey on our way to Slovakia.
Family Reunion: Planning a family reunion to Italy in September is pretty exciting to say the least. Everyone agreeing on the accomodation is the challenging part.
Discovering My Best Self: Being on my own in a new city has given me the freedom to be unapologetically me. When you start fresh in a new place where no one knows you, you have the freedom to discover who you truly are, without the familiar boundaries you've always known. I've spent most of my life thinking I was shy and timid, when I'm actually very extroverted.
Every Day Feels Like the Weekend: Mondays are just as thrilling as Saturdays now; every day is precious and I find myself living in the moment more and more.
Memories Made: In just 5 months here in London, I've already made some of the most unforgettable memories of my life that I will cherish forever. Cycling through the streets of Paris, road trips through the Scottish highlands, getting a little tipsy at Salsa night in London.
Never Bored: This beautiful, historic, bustling city offers a never-ending variety of unique experiences, ensuring boredom is never an option. There's always something new to explore—if I ever run out of museums, I can start on the pubs.
Picnic Culture: The picnic culture is adorable. I love a balmy Saturday night on Primrose Hill. The sound of champagne popping, glasses clinking, laughter and just a warm and bubbly vibe. On a warm day, everyone goes to the park, lies on picnic rugs, reads and just soaks up the sun.
Freedom: I cherish the freedom to follow my own timeline here. While back home, many people my age are purchasing homes, getting engaged, or excelling in their careers, my priorities are different at this stage of my life. Here, I prioritise spending as much time as possible travelling, using up all my earnings. I'm far from considering settling down, but what's refreshing is that it's perfectly acceptable in this environment, where everyone embraces similar values.
Friendship Standards: My standards for friendships have changed. Because I’m so independent now, I no longer feel the need to settle for friendships that are toxic or unhealthy. My social circle may be smaller, but it’s drama-free.
Holidays: Back home in Australia, a holiday to another country was always a huge plan in the making - usually months, or even years in the making. I just got a notification from Easy Jet with flights to Ibiza for £25. Maybe I could squeeze it in before Santorini in four weeks..
A x
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