There are a whole host of reasons why people decide to move abroad, whether to work or to study. Young people use to take up international jobs to broaden their horizons. For example, students participate to the Erasmus+ Programme. They then realize their dreams of studying in a new university in a different city.

Of course, there’s a great number of benefits of living abroad. So, if you still have doubts about moving to study or work in Berlin, Amsterdam or a score of other cities, this list should help you understand why thousands of people take the plunge every year.

Moving out of your comfort zone

Moving abroad is not just about stepping out of your comfort zone, it’s more like jumping. You won’t just be in a new city, where you may or may not speak the language. But you’ll be exploring the surroundings, managing your finances and meeting tons of new people. However, don’t see this as an anxious, overwhelming experience.

Actually, many people who have moved abroad say they really needed a little help to realize their true potential. Or even to get out of the prison of living in the same neighbourhood with the same friendship circle. There’s nothing like leaving a small, quiet city to settle in a bustling metropolis such as Barcelona or Milan.

Making friends from all over the world

When we move to a new city, we’re looking for an opportunity to meet new people and make friends from all over the world. With so many people making the decision to work or study abroad nowadays, you can easily find vibrant expatriate communities in which to live with people like you.

You may have heard that some people have experienced homesickness or that others have experienced a degree of cultural shock on arrival. But when you are prepared to start a conversation, have lunch with your new classmates or colleagues, and to go out with your neighbours at the weekends, you’ll have a whole host of friends before you know it.

Gaining a global mindset

Even if this is your first trip abroad, this experience will definitely change you forever. In today’s working world, it is a real asset to understand the global market and work in teams, made up of many different cultures. It can offer endless opportunities.

Living the adventure of working or studying in a cosmopolitan city is a fantastic way to “learn by doing” and live in conditions in which you would never have found yourself in before. There are so many young people who enjoy working abroad and they become “digital nomads”, moving and working anywhere as long as they have a good WI-FI connection.

Why moving abroad will change your life: developing a cultural awareness

When we live abroad, our awareness for the fascinating cultures around us increases. You’ll walk down the street and hear different languages that you didn’t pay attention to before. You may even end up by making adventurous choices while shopping at the supermarket or choosing an international coffee at home.

Learning a new language and communication skills

 Most of people who move abroad choose a place where they may not know the local language. While you can easily make yourself understood through English by most students or expatriate communities, learning a bit of Dutch before moving to the Netherlands or familiarising yourself with German before flying to Austria is a good idea. Once there, you’ll learn even more from everyday interactions such as when you’ll go at the supermarket and you’ll speak with the local population.

Moreover, you’ll learn more about the way to communicate with others. Sometimes, when you’ll be struggling to find the right words, you’ll discover a way to make yourself understood. This will lead you to quickly bounce back and adapt to the situation.

Having more opportunities to travel abroad

Your new city may be in a convenient location, which can bring you closer to other important capital cities, and even countries. Imagine living in Florence and having the opportunity to pop into Rome every weekend.

Travelling opens your mind and your range of experiences, so much so that it’ll be hard for you to believe. There is nothing like stepping outside your “normal” life and seeing people and attraction in other places, and then, noticing the differences as well as the similarities. Moreover, if you’re a student, or under 25, you can usually get a discounted rail pass, or you can choose one of the many night trains in Europe.

Why moving abroad will change your life: experiencing better job opportunities

Everyone knows that Erasmus students are more likely to find easily a job, and it may even be one of the reasons why you chose to study abroad at first. Or, perhaps, you decided to do an internship in the Netherlands or other exciting destinations because you can make new connections and expand your professional network.

If you want to enter the international market, the living abroad can lead you to a successful career. Learning about the cultures of different places can help you adapt to different working environments, as well as giving you the communication skills you need to grow.

Expanding your professional network abroad

As you progress in your career or studies, you will begin to understand that a good contact list can be highly profitable. Knowing who you can contact if you need a letter of recommendation or an opportunity to earn a few extra pounds, can be helpful when you live abroad. Do your best to attend a networking event, and make sure you add the people you met to your social networks so you can keep in touch.

Why moving abroad will change your life: studying in a university

One of the main reasons why students choose to live abroad is to study in a new university. Whether you choose a bustling city such as Madrid, or a little village in France, this experience will definitely be the highlight of your student life. A lot of students chose to stay just one semester abroad, but others prefer to stay for a whole academic year.

Fortunately, there are many student associations to ensure that you adapt to your new university and environment. For example, the Erasmus Student Network organises a while week of meetings parties and other events. They allow students to get to know each other as well as discover the different social and personal development opportunities that will be available throughout the semester.

Learning to manage your budget

Sometimes, moving abroad can be the very first time you’ll be on your own and living entirely independent. So, this is a big step in which you’ll need to learn how to manage our budget, and not just stick to want you’ve set yourself. Especially if it’s a different currency, it will make you more careful about how much and what for you spend.

One of the best things you can do when moving abroad is to share a flat with other-minded people. It can help you save money, and you can combine your resources for common expanses.

Learning to manage your relationships

When you’re away from home, you’ll learn a lot about how to adapt to different types of relationships. Not only will you need to keep in touch with your friends and family, which lay be in a completely different time zone, but you’ll also need to take time to fuel the new relationships you’re trying to build.

Many people suggest that you spend one night a week to reach out to your loved ones and keep up to date with what’s going on back home. But try to spend the rest of the week making new friends and looking for new connections that might be useful.

Why moving abroad will change your life: getting to be patient

Let’s say that you’ve spent the past five years dreaming of living in Vienna. You find the perfect accommodation, and you even have an internship at one of the city’s top start-ups. However, no matter how perfect the situation is, there may be moments when being away from home will be difficult. And it is in those very moments that you’ll understand why patience is considered a virtue.

When moving to a new city, there is always a learning curve. You will sometimes get lost on the way home. Communication and making new acquaintances will be difficult because of the language barrier. But it’s all about perseverance and patience to get through the adjustment period. Like anything else, living abroad gest easier with time.