Every time Anna moves, she feels like she knows all about it because she’s done it so many times – and yet, the process always surprises her with new challenges, pleasant surprises, and raw emotions. She is working to help expats receive support during this beautiful yet challenging time at My Expat Mind.
Where, when and why did you move abroad?
My first move happened when I was nine years old, so you can technically say that it doesn’t count – although I vividly remember the stress, the anxiety, and the curiosity that came with it. Moving for the first time reminds me of a first kiss, first big win, first failure – something that leaves a mark on you, yet something you can never quite replicate. It felt surreal, like a huge adventure that was ahead of me.
I moved again when I was 16, and that was a much different move – tragic since I didn’t want to leave my friends and the life I envisioned for myself, yet again painfully fascinating. What will the new place be like? What will I be like in that new place? How will life treat me? All these questions couldn’t quite allow me to fully immerse myself in, well, the tragedy of leaving the place I came to know and love so much.
Just two years later, I moved again for college, and since then, I’ve been moving consistently every couple of years or so.
Soon, I realized that “moving” has become a part of me – changing countries so often that it doesn’t feel like an exciting new venture anymore, but more so another step in my life towards finding a place I can truly call home.
What challenges did you face during the move?
Challenges ranged from mental to logistical/bureaucratic. First of all, it was hard to accept how different things are in some places. I’ve experienced it all – from culture shock to language barrier (living in France without knowing French is truly an adventure in itself, although I loved every moment of it!), and then some more, like loneliness, homesickness, and feeling like an outsider.
These are all very common challenges that expats deal with – and I didn’t escape them. To help address those, I collaborated with my lovely expat colleagues to launch My Expat Mind – a platform built to support expats with accessing therapy abroad and making the whole process slightly more manageable.
Then there was a host of logistical issues. Visas, insurance, employment prospects, and lots…lots…and lots of paperwork. Sometimes things felt so overwhelming that I couldn’t help but regret my very decision to move.
When it wasn’t my decision to move in the first place (and I was too young to understand most things), my parents dealt with it all – and I just followed along to appointments. But suddenly, I was the one in charge. Let’s just say, after about 10 hours spent in a visa office and being turned around because I didn’t bring the correct stamps, I was on the edge of a mental breakdown. But here is the truth – these things are just a part of the life of an expat. If I stayed home, I would’ve likely faced other, yet no less inconvenient challenges.
What do you enjoy most about life in your new country?
I think the most resilient part of you will always find something to enjoy – and that, to me, is the beauty of moving. I never quite know what it will be this time around – a local coffee shop, a lucky encounter, or a beautiful view? But I know that I can be 100% sure that I will find little things to love it for.
So let me break it down for you based on some countries where I’ve lived.
In Lithuania, I loved the culture, which was similar to mine back home. I profoundly enjoyed the food, absolutely adored how clean it is, and made some of the best friends of my life there.
In the Czech Republic, I fell in love with the architecture and its slightly mysterious, yet actually extremely welcoming vibe. I truly spent some of my best years there.
In France, I couldn’t help but adore the loveliest locals, who will meet you with a warm smile wherever you go – from a boulangerie to a bank.
In the United Kingdom, I thoroughly enjoyed how vibrant London is and appreciated it for all of its opportunities, connections, and meaningful lessons that it taught me.
What is the hardest part of expat life for you / your family?
For me, it’s always been homesickness. In my terms, home is wherever family is, so while I might not so much miss the place where they are, I do miss them terribly. Luckily, I never moved far enough to not be able to visit them every few months, so you might want to consider that when choosing your perfect forever home.
What is your relationship like with locals and other expats?
I’ve met many expats throughout my life. Actually, I’m willing to say that I’ve met more expats than locals. It’s always fun meeting someone who’s from a different place – not only because they can tell you all about it, but also because they can share how they’re adjusting.
Are they struggling as much as you, or are they enjoying it as much as you? What have they noticed that you’ve missed? How are they dealing with the move? Occasionally, you find a shoulder to cry on – and sometimes, make a true friend who is with you through the highs and lows. I think being an expat is a bonding experience on its own, and for me, it became a part of my identity.
What advice would you give to someone thinking of making a similar move?
A part of me wants to say, don’t think – just do it. If you’re anything like me, then the longer you contemplate something, the less likely you are to actually go through with it. There is some beauty to this advice as it mixes closely with just “letting it go and allowing life to take its course”.
But if you’re more pragmatic, – no worries, I definitely am – then you might want to do your own research first. What is the accommodation situation like, what documents will you require, can you access medication (or therapy!) if you need it, how safe is it? For someone who likes planning, I would write down all the things that truly matter to you, regardless of how trivial they might sound, and check how well the place you’re moving to can provide you with them.
Other than that, honestly, enjoy it. Few things can shape you quite as much as turning your life upside down. And for that, we love a big change 🙂
Contact Details
Anna is the Director at My Expat Mind, which connects expats with qualified, English-speaking therapists all over the world. The goal of the platform is to make therapy more accessible to people living abroad, as well as provide relevant insights for expats worldwide.
Site: https://myexpatmind.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/my-expat-mind/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myexpatmind/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579660852190