5 Reasons to live in another country on your own (for at least a year)

Five years ago, I studied in London for two years. I was lucky to have been given that kind of opportunity. Traveling is amazing. However, living is so different than just visiting. It’s an experience that will last with you forever.

Reasons to live in another country for at least a year:

1. Make lifelong relationships

Back home, I stuck with my own circle of friends. We were always in this small bubble. Starting new at a different country forced me to talk to new people. I was fortunate enough to have lived in a hostel full of international students in Lee Abbey , London International Student’s Club, so all of us were on the same page starting on a blank slate. Many of friends there came to London to improve their English while studying. We looked different from one another, and we all had different ways of thinking. If I were back home, I probably would’ve never introduced myself to them. I would’ve never met such remarkable people.

I learned to open up to people other than my friends as I stepped out of my comfort zone. We all ended up being distinct pieces of a puzzle that fit together perfectly. We were not just friends but we were a family. Our differences were what made our communication interesting, and we gradually saw we are a lot alike than we knew.

Now that I am back home, I still keep in touch with them, through social media and the occasional post card. I thought post cards were outdated but written letters are a lot more personal.

2. Become independent

I had no curfews. I was able to come home at 4 a.m. without having to call. I learned to do my own chores, but that was not what made me feel independent.

Back home, I relied a lot on other people. If I were in trouble, I would call my friends to save me. They were my friends for more than 5 years so I know that I can always count on them at any situation. If my car didn’t start, my first move was to call my mother, not a car service.

I learned to make my own decisions, take care of myself and take responsibility of my actions. In the end, I loved how I was in control of my own life. I felt like a real adult.

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