It´s a common mistake to presume that people with international experience, such as travel and study abroad, are made for expatriation.

I love to travel, indulge myself into new cultures and learn foreign languages. Hence I believed life abroad was cut out for me and I wouldn´t have many difficulties to adapt. Moreover, I had got to know the Mexican culture already; I loved it during my exchange semester, so what was there to worry about?

Being a globetrotter is of course the perfect starting point for expatriation. But moving to a new country adds a different dimension to the international experience.

Study Abroad & Living Abroad are Not the Same – 5 Differences

I don´t mean to degrade study abroad or scare you for moving across the border. The following insights are meant for ex-exchange students to help them understand the differences between both life changing experiences. I hope it will help them to put spontaneous plans into perspective and support those facing more challenges abroad than foreseen.

Difference #1 – Social Interaction

Upon arrival, the first thing exchange students do is getting in touch with fellow exchange students. Even though you arrived alone you will notice that you are not alone in the unknown surroundings. You meet international students with similar interests and feelings towards the new country, language, culture, subjects, etc.

Soon after the introduction week you start feeling that you belong to them – although you have just met them and you have very different backgrounds. Moreover, local students interested in foreigners are also within reach. Even when you only see each other at university, you´ll have social interaction on a regular basis.

Expats have more difficulties establishing social contacts. Especially when you don´t have a job with direct colleagues it takes time and great effort to replace your social support system. Having very few contacts can lead to loneliness and isolation; two common feelings among new expats. After constant attempts at approaching people, new friends will come. But new family won´t…

Difference #2 – Sense of Belonging

The average stay of a study abroad program is one or two semesters. This period students are part of the student’s community of which studying and traveling are it´s typical activities. As soon as you have found your group of friends, many more activities or connection to the country aren´t needed to feel comfortable in your new surroundings.

For expats it takes longer to really settle down. Since you don´t return to your home after the semester, you have to build up a new home.

One of the secrets to feel at home somewhere is creating a sense of belonging. This feeling of belongingness that expats need goes beyond social interaction. It involves a real connection to the country´s community. You need to get to know the country via people, the news, its history, etc.  Building up this connection can take up to a couple of years…

Difference #3 – Local Language Requirement

Since any university worldwide offers courses in English exchange students don´t necessarily need to know the local language to study abroad. You find yourself among well-educated students and many of them will be able to converse in English. Learning the local language is therefore not always priority for exchange students; it rather depends on personal motivation.

There are two reasons why mastering the local language is of higher priority for expats:

1. While taking care of practical arrangements, you will encounter local people from diversified classes and you cannot expect the local plumber, baker and butcher to speak English.
2. Making local friends, avoiding isolation, creating a sense of belonging to the community, and for the sake of your emotional well-being, basically forces expats to make the effort.

Difference #4 – Cultural Adaptation

Exchange students will only partially walk the U-Curve of Cultural Adaptation. Due to their limited stay and their greater distance to the country´s society, a lot of students hardly experience the second “culture shock” stage of uncomfortableness and disillusion. The happy honeymoon phase continues and before the difficulties begin, the semester ends.

People trying to build up a new life abroad typically go through the four stages of cultural adaptation. Common phenomena are: feeling shocked by the cultural differences, the feeling of living in a no-man´s-land, the loss of one´s identity, acute homesickness, letting go of your roots, etc. Many expats go through a difficult period before climbing back up again.

Difference #5 – Financial Insecurity

Students are generally considered to be “poor” people. Exchange students, however, somehow always find money to survive and travel a good bit. Either with savings, a scholarship or a loan, they have their finances sorted out and know exactly for how long the money has to last; until the end of the semester. Then they go home again to their old side job or other source of income.

Moving abroad without the financial support of a multinational causes a more insecure situation. Whereas in the fifties people improved their financial situation by expatriating, nowadays independent expats know that it´s very likely that their income goes down. The possibilities to earn enough money abroad seem difficult to estimate.

Needless to say, money concerns cause an unstable basis for a new life abroad. On top of that they also hamper the adaptation process; building up a social network comes later, first there is an urgent need to stabilize an income. It´s important to find the right balance between earning enough to take away the pressure and spending what´s necessary for gradual integration.

Don´t Underestimate Expatriation

I have both studied and lived in the same place abroad (i.e. Guadalajara, Mexico) and I was, maybe naively, surprised by the big differences between both experiences. Among exchange students from all over the world there was nothing to worry about, but as an expat I hit the wall while being pushed beyond my personal boundaries.

The above mentioned points are for me the biggest differences between study abroad & living abroad. What else adds a different dimension to life abroad? You can leave any thoughts in the comment section below.