Whether you become an expat because you crave change, build an international career, or follow your spouse, expatriation comes with certain, and sometimes somewhat unexpected challenges. To find out how likely you are to cherish your new life abroad or how much of a devout expat you are, see how many qualities and skills you can check off our list. But, don’t despair if you are not acing the test because, as long as it does your heart good, you can learn some of these skills.
Adventurer
Do you relate to this? — You are energised by taking risks and exploring the unknown; you look forward to experiences outside of your comfort zone, and you like experimenting with your boundaries. If the answer is yes, congratulations; you are holding one of the leading traits an avid expat should have. An adventurer is also curious about the world and the people in it. From following the international news and checking the weather in different countries to watching foreign language films, the curious adventurer wants to seize the world. So, when the adventurer gets the chance to have firsthand experience of the unknown, they jump into. In practice, this means many postcodes only in a few years' time, bank accounts in different countries, a bag full of coins from various currencies, and often, third culture kids.
Planner
A successful expat is the one who can balance the spontaneous calling of an adventurer with the systematic approach that only a good planner has. Expatriation is a complex project, especially if you are new to it. Thus, it requires thorough planning — how long are you moving abroad for? What is the cost of living in the host country? Can you ship your belongings or will you rent a furnished house? What is the level of education for your children? What health insurance do you need to purchase? Is there a big https://www.expat.community? However, if you already have the quality of a planner, you know how to get organised and establish time frames. This skill will help you deal with important things before they become serious problems.
Bounceback
Often, no matter how thoroughly and hard we have worked on a plan, it doesn't work out due to unpredictable and external forces. It is not impossible that you have booked your accommodation in the new country online, only to arrive and discover it's nothing like in the pictures; to top it all, the water pressure is too low. Or that you hadn't realised your children's dependent visa won't be ready in time for your kids' school registration. However, expats with the bounceback quality see setbacks as opportunities to get up and go faster and further away. If you have this skill, disappointments that may come your way, will only make you more determined to succeed. Isn't that great?
Adaptable
A big part, if not the greatest, of your expat life is about change — from the food you eat and the clothes you wear to the language you hear on the street and the people you interact with. To thrive as an expat, up to a certain extent you must feel comfortable with tasting new flavours, reshuffling your routine, learning about new traditions, driving on the other side, and packing and unpacking. Adaptability is an expat's superpower, which allows you to respond to new situations and demands by rearranging resources and moving things around. For example, it's not a big deal for you to start drinking tea instead of coffee and drive to work instead of cycle. An adaptable personality sees changes as learning experiences and new adventures rather than inconveniences.
Relationship deepener
As an expat, very often you have limited belongings, and you prefer to invest in experiences and people. This is when you realise that you have friends all over the world, whom you may not see often but you know they are friends for life because of all the things you have been through away from home. The friendships that grow among expats are relationships which have developed based on common life-changing experiences and challenges — and that's what makes them timeless. So, every time you find yourself alone in your host country thinking how much you miss home, remember that you are not alone, and try to connect with other expats or the locals.
What is your most valuable skill or personality trait as an expat, which has helped you succeed in your expatriation project?
