Finding Fulfillment in London

Cadesha, 32, shares her experiences leaving her home in Toronto, Canada and moving to the UK.

“The most rewarding part of my journey as an expat is literally the experience! I knew I would regret not taking the leap in this adventure. I have learned so much about myself and I have experienced so much personal growth.“

Let’s start at the beginning: Where are you originally from? When did you move abroad and where did you move abroad to?

I was raised in Canada, specifically Toronto, Canada and I decided to take the leap across the pond to London, UK in 2019.

How were you able to migrate? (Job, Visa, Spouse, Family or another channel?)

I applied for the Youth Mobility Visa and got approved!

Why did you decide to move and did you know anyone there?

To be perfectly honest, I felt unfulfilled in my life in Canada. I felt that there was much more for me to see and I felt I was limited living in Canada. I had initially wanted to move to the US, but with the current state of the country, I quickly felt that the US wasn’t ideal for me. When I first visited my family in London back in 2016, the city was not on my radar of places to relocate; but then I started researching and I learned about this visa agreement between Canada and the UK and I thought why not?! What could I possibly have to lose? This was my moment to see what I am made of and I took it and it has been one of the best decisions I’ve made.

How did you find the job searching process? Was there anything about working overseas that surprised you?

I was extremely nervous and excited when my visa application got approved. I knew the job market in London is highly competitive so I started reaching out to people via LinkedIn and networking. I started as soon as I got approved and I had six months to prepare for my move. To be honest my job searching process was pretty smooth as I utilized my network to land a job before relocating, I would say I was quite lucky and blessed and I am extremely grateful! But I do know the job market in London is highly competitive especially in the climate of covid-19. Working overseas is a great experience especially when learning about a new culture and practices. Certain words and expressions can cause language/cultural barriers; yes even in the UK and yes even with English being my native language lol I also find that taking time off for vacation and to heal when sick is encouraged and it boost productivity. I really don’t understand why North America only provide 2 weeks vacation, people are overworked and it is not beneficial for employers to have employees who are burned out.

How was the experience finding a new home?

My transition to the UK was pretty smooth as I do have family living in London. The housing market in London, just like the job market is highly competitive and if you don’t act fast when you find a place you like, you could risk losing it to another individual. London’s housing market is a landlord’s playground!

How is the social scene? What was your experience making friends?

Honestly, I didn’t know how LIT London was until I actually moved here! There is literally so many new, different and quirky things to do here! And if you are bored of the city (which, I highly doubt you ever would be) you can hop on a cheap flight and two hrs later be in a totally new city/country exploring it! Since moving to London I don’t believe there was a day when I have been bored! Its that amazing! My experience making friends has also been amazing! I’ve met friends from all over and hilariously some of my best London friends are also Canadians! London is extremely multicultural! So you will make friends from all over the world. This has been my experience. Some people may have it harder making friends as London is a large city filled with lots of expats/immigrants from all over the world and may tend to move around quite often. I recommend joining a club or participating in activities that you find interesting and soon enough you will be going to brunch at the Shard with a new friend.

Did you date overseas? If so, what was that experience like? Any memorable stories you can share?

Dating in London lol where do I start?! I would say my dating experiences in London hasn’t been the best as like many major cities in the world, people want things quick and easy or that instant gratification without making the effort. I am however hopeful that they are still good men out there filled with chivalry, ready to date and spoil me. My dating experience in London however hasn’t been as bad as my dating experience in Toronto. I’ll leave it at that.

Do you feel your race impacted your experience? If so, how?

This is a really good question with so many layers to unpack. The quick answer is yes professionally and personally. Professionally, I find being Black and a woman, you are not taken seriously when you put forth an idea or you have to work your a** off to get half the respect you deserve! You have to be so mindful of how others perceive you on top of that you cannot fully be yourself. You have to censor yourself and that in itself can be soo frustrating. In my personal life (I could write a whole novel about this), but I do find alot of men (SADLY including Black men) not taking me as seriously in terms of courting as they would other races and some may argue against my point but its something I have experienced and seen around me; again too many layers.

What has been the most challenging thing about moving abroad?

The most challenging thing about moving abroad for me is not being able to be with my friends and family during major occasions such as birthdays, engagements, births, Christmases etc. There have been times when I do get home sick and not being with my friends and family is my major sacrifice during this whole process. Their support means the world to me and I miss them everyday.

What has been the most rewarding?

The most rewarding part of my journey as an Expat is literally the experience! I knew I would regret not taking the leap in this adventure. I have learned so much about myself and I experienced so much personal growth. I was able to take my first solo trip to Italy last year and it was one of the best trips I had taken in my life! While enjoying my own company! Experiences that I would have been afraid of taking 10 years ago, I am now living! That to me is priceless!

Tips & Advice for the Her Expatise Community

What in your experience would you say is the minimum monthly cost of living?

£1500 – £2000 (based on your lifestyle)

Any advice on the visa/migrating process that could help someone else’s process go smoother? 

Research, Research, Research and give yourself lots of time to apply for the visa. Also; save, save and save some more! Hidden costs will eat you alive!

Any insider tips on a place you enjoy going to or an activity you enjoy doing? 

Living in London, one of my favorite things to do is visit museums and it is an amazing activity you can do FOR FREE! Majority of the museums here are FREE! London is also filled with beautiful parks with unique features that you can visit for FREE!

Finally, If you could go back in time and give yourself one piece of advice before you got on that plane to move abroad, what would it be? 

I would say be open, but stay true to yourself, no matter what.

Facing Your Fears and Taking a Leap!

Jessica shares how she faced her fears and took the leap to start a new life and adventure in the UK.

In Toronto, I saw sameness… The status quo. In the UK, I saw excitement, growth, the opportunity to explore a new a place, a new relationship, and so much more. I embraced the fear and decided wholeheartedly , that I would move to the UK in May 2019, and that is exactly what I did.

Let’s start at the beginning: Where are you originally from? When did you move abroad and where did you move abroad to?

I am originally from Toronto, and moved abroad for the first time a year and half ago to the UK.

How were you able to migrate? (Job, Visa, Spouse, Family or another channel?)

I came over on a Tier 5 Youth Mobility Visa.

Why did you decide to move and did you know anyone there?

For my 20th Birthday, I took a trip to London to visit my cousin who had moved from Toronto to the UK the year prior. I was so in awe of how much she had grown as individual, and the life that she had made for herself in this amazing city that I told myself once I finished University I too would move to London. Well I finished university, and the prospect of moving across the pond was a bit scary, and I figured it would be a little less scary after gaining some work experience. Well year after year, the fears did not subside, they actually intensified.

On my 28th Birthday I told myself that if I didn’t buy a property by the end of the year I would move to London, especially since that door was starting to close as I inched closer to my 30th birthday. By the end of that year I was no where close to buying a house, and starting to realize that I would need to start getting my act together for this move. So instead, I decided to go on vacation with one of my girls to Thailand and ended up meeting a boy from London… wasn’t expecting that were you? Well neither was I lol. Well you think that would be enough, nope! Fears, doubts, what-if scenarios were on shuffle and repeat in my head, until one of my dearest, and bravest friends came home from Australia for Christmas. She had plans to move the UK the following year and had been encouraging me do the same on our quarterly catch-ups for over a year. A day or two after new years 2019, she summoned me to her house, pulled out a piece of paper and drew a line down the middle. One side she wrote Toronto, and on the other side she wrote UK. She then told me list all the things I thought I’d being doing in either places over the next 6 months, and just like that the doubts vanished.

In Toronto, I saw sameness… The status quo. In the UK, I saw excitement, growth, the opportunity to explore a new a place, a new relationship, and so much more. I embraced the fear and decided wholeheartedly , that I would move to the UK in May 2019, and that is exactly what I did.

How did you find the job searching process? Was there anything about working overseas that surprised you?

So as I mentioned, I decided in January that I would move to the UK in May 2019. I figured I would start applying while in Toronto, but more than likely would have to come to the UK unemployed and hustle to get a job. Well, as life would have it, a colleague of mine in the UK reached out to me to ask if I was still interested in moving as my current employer had an opening, and to make a long story short, I took it!

How was the experience finding a new home?

I started looking prior to moving over, so I knew which website to look on for rental properties, Rightmove and Zoopla. What I found out quite quickly was that nobody was calling me back because I still had my Toronto phone number. So definitely get a UK SIM asap. In terms of finding a place, I can’t say it was terribly difficult for me because I decided to live close to my Job, which was outside of London. So it being a smaller city, and wanting to be close to work, I was working within a pretty small radius. What you will find is that Estate Agents here are shady af, and you need to have your wits about you. I found out later on that 3 days after my move in date, they changed the laws that estate agents could not charge admin fees. Not knowing that cost me £400+.

How is the social scene? What was your experience making friends?

I feel like the first year I was just trying to get myself settled. I travel a bit for work, which made making new friends a bit difficult, plus I was exploring a new relationship so I can’t say it was my initial focus. Through the friend that moved over a month after me, I met two other incredible women who became apart of my tribe.

Did you date overseas? If so, what was that experience like? Any memorable stories you can share?

Part of the move was to explore a new relationship, and it has been wonderful and totally worth it!

Do you feel your race impacted your experience? If so, how?

Not for me personally.

What has been the most challenging thing about moving abroad?

Not having an established professional network to tap into. I eventually would like to change jobs and London is such competitive job market that “who you know” is important.

What has been the most rewarding?

Getting to really get to know myself away from everything and everyone I know.

Tips & Advice for the Her Expatise Community

What in your experience would you say is the minimum monthly cost of living? Please include the currency symbol. 

£1700/monthly

Any advice on the visa/migrating process that could help someone else’s process go smoother? 

If you are moving to the UK, set up a Monzo bank account. Trying to get a standard bank account is unnecessarily difficult and incredibly stressful!

Any insider tips on a place you enjoy going to or an activity you enjoy doing? 

Get outside of London if you can. The UK is a beautiful place.

Finally, If you could go back in time and give yourself one piece of advice before you got on that plane to move abroad, what would it be? 

Don’t be afraid to continue to jump and take risks. This is just the beginning!

3 Useful Items For Your Move Abroad

Ok so my job here is to use my own expat experience to help make your transition abroad just a little bit smoother. So as I was brainstorming some content that could be useful to any soon to be expat (not as easy as it sounds), I realised that the admin and prep work before I had even left was one of the main hurdles I had to navigate through. So I thought I’d share 3 useful items that helped make my move abroad that much smoother:

1. Spacesaver Vacuum bags

Ok so picture this, the day before I’m suppose to move my whole life abroad, is the day I discovered these Spacesaver vacum bags. I had literally tried about 5 dfferent ways the day before to get all my ‘essential’ needs from the past 27 years into the two suitcases I was bringing with me (because that’s all I could manage). Then, like wisdom from above, I discovered Spacesavers and I was able to run to my local travel shop to nab some. These made a huuuuge difference in terms of what I could actually fit in my suitcase and made packing for my move abroad so much less stressful! In case you can’t find them in your local shop, like everything else, they are also available on Amazon, so get yourself some and save yourself the headache!

2. File Organiser

Yes, I know it’s not very sexy (unless this is something that you are into… I don’t judge), but having an organised file folder to put all your important documents in is so vital for your move. Honestly, I know everything has gone digital but plenty of global Governments do things in a more traditional (and honestly less efficient) way. From the physical copies of your visa application form to even copies of government letters, it’s so important to have a simple way to organise everything. Trust me this morning I needed to provide a 2017 Notice of Assesment for proof of a tax document and let me tell you how adult I felt when I went to my file folder and pulled it out. It certainly was as one of the highlights of this year, I’m sorry to confess. I myself, like expandable file folders that offer different sections and have a clasp that allows you to keep everything neat and folded (no pun here) away.

3. Small Journal

My mom has probably said the words ‘Write it down’ to me a million times and it’s finally dawned on me how important that is. Yes, it’s great to rely on your phone as one means of taking notes, but phones get lost, they get stolen and due to planned obsolesence, they breakdown. That’s why it’s also so important that on your journey you also carry a physical notebook where you can jot down important thoughts, reminders, and feelings. Actually one of my closest friends moved to Berlin and for her goodbye gift I got her a journal and she was able to record all of her experiences for her first year and send it back to me as a keepsake. I’m not saying you have to do that, but there is something that makes it much more real and special when it’s not just on a phone. So get a small journal that is lightweight and easy to carry around, trust me you won’t regret it when you’re looking back on the thoughts, memories and times you’ve had.

I hope you’ve found this useful and let me know in the comments if there are any other essential items you would add to the list! And if you’re interested in learning about some apps that also helped my journey abroad click HERE. Bye for now!

Two Years Later: Rebuilding A Sense of Home

I was all prepped today to open up my laptop and write a blog post on the top 3 essential items every expat should purchase before leaving home and, although I’m definitely going to post this (I promise it will be a good one), my gut was telling me to go in a different direction. And sometimes you’ve just got to listen to your gut. So here we go! Maybe it’s because I’ve passed my two year mark ( actually this was back in late April, but really who was thinking about semi-important milestones during a global pandemic? ), or maybe it’s because I recently moved to a new flat which feels like the beginning of a new life chapter. Whatever the trigger, it feels like it’s a good time for a quick emotional check-in. This doesn’t mean I’m going to have an emotional breakdown where I check-in with myself btw (although given the state of the current world, I think that’s completely understandable). This just means it’s a good time for me to stop for a second and reflect on the past couple of years.

Reflection is something I love to do, I’ve always been a bit of a daydreamer and I feel that reflecting on where you are and where you’ve been can provide some real therapeutic value – especially as an expat. One thought that came to my mind during this reflection period, was around what happens when you move on to the next stage of your expat journey. Just to give you some context on my own journey, I originally came to the UK on a two-year visa and before my visa started I was thinking about everything through the lense of two-year increments. Asking myself questions such as: what were the next two years going to look like? What people would I meet? What life lessons would I gain and what struggles would I have to endure? I framed every thought with with the two year running time in mind. Now, I’ve made it to the other side. Those two years have come to an end. I’m at the point where I’ve made the decision to stay in London and I’m rebuilding my life here forreal. I say this because I think it’s important to nuture and be honest about all the different stages of the expat experience you will go through.

We talk alot about the beginning stages of moving to a new country: building a social circle, finding a job, a flat, a partner, but today I really recognised a new stage in the moving abroad journey. The stage after your Visa has come to an end and you need to make a decision to either stay, go home or begin a new journey elsewhere. And if you decide to stay, it’s then the process of building your life, your future and your everyday routine in a place that is still somewhat foreign; familiar, yet unfamilair at the same time. That’s what came to my mind today when I was at home by myself washing some dishes. I thought, although I’m in my own space where I can, to some degree, replicate the life I had back home. At the same time, it’s such a new and different feeling and on top of that I’ve grown so much in the past two years, so even if everything felt the same, it wouldn’t be the same. There is an element where you need to reconnect with your old ‘self’, while also making space to understand your ‘new’ self. So, to anyone else who is going through this phase of their expat journey, I think the answer is to embrace and acknowledge the full breadth of your feelings. Take the time to get to know the person you are today while still acknowledging the past person who brought you to this place.

Take comfort in this: Everything you feel makes sense (well I’ll say atleast the majority, we all have our crazy days) and although it may take time, you will build a sense of home again.

From China to NZ: Expat Experiences amidst COVID

“I would say the most rewarding thing has been seeing myself grow so much as a person. Sounds super cliche but moving abroad can change your whole perspective on life.”

Jenna, Age 22

Let’s start at the beginning: Where are you originally from? When did you move abroad and where did you move abroad to?

I am originally from London in the UK. I first moved abroad to Melbourne, Australia in 2018 for several months between my second and final year of university. Upon graduating, I moved to Shenzhen, China in August 2019 with the plan to live there for a year, but due to COVID I only ended up living there for 5 months. I’m now living in New Zealand and have been here since February 2020.

How were you able to migrate? (Job, Visa, Spouse, Family or another channel?)

My first live abroad experience in Australia was through an internship program. I moved to China through an agency teaching English as a foreign language and moved to New Zealand due to my partner who I met in China being a New Zealander.

Why did you decide to move and did you know anyone there?

I moved to Australia and China to travel and gain independence. I had always lived at home with my family in the UK as a student which I enjoyed, but I felt it was time to spread my wings. I initially came to New Zealand for a holiday, thinking I would be returning to China after the virus uncertainty there, however I loved it here so much and ended up staying.

How did you find the job searching process? Was there anything about working overseas that surprised you?

Going through an internship then a teaching program, finding a job was relatively easy because an agency helps you navigate getting a visa, paperwork and actually placing you with a company or school. Finding a job myself in New Zealand, was much like looking for a job back in the UK. However, on a Working Holiday Visa currently, my options are a bit more limited. I have thoroughly enjoyed working overseas, learning about different cultures and meeting cool new people.

How was the experience finding a new home?

Through an agency, a lot of the process in China was done for me. I was presented with a few apartment options that were located within my school district and all I had to do was select which one I wanted. In New Zealand, we used TradeMe which I found to be a really positive experience. We viewed the apartment on Saturday and moved in on the following Wednesday.

How is the social scene? What was your experience making friends?

It varies from place to place. In Shenzhen, there is a thriving expat community. Making friends was easy during my internship program and teaching abroad as I lived in the same accommodation as the other interns, and before finding my apartment in China, I also lived in the same hotel as the other new teachers. Living in New Zealand, so not through some sort of program, it was more gradual, meeting people here and there, but Kiwis are really friendly and I have also made friends with other expats here.

Did you date overseas? If so, what was that experience like? Any memorable stories you can share?

I met my boyfriend in China through our teaching agency as we both moved to China to teach English as a foreign language. We were just friends to begin and it just organically developed into more. It was super fun getting to explore Shenzhen and go on dates there, such a crazy adventure.

Do you feel your race impacted your experience? If so, how?

I am half English and half Moroccan. I wouldn’t say my race has really impacted my experience living abroad.

What has been the most challenging thing about moving abroad?

It’s an obvious one, but just missing friends and family back in the UK. The time difference at the moment is 11 hours but I’ve got in the swing of it now, making calls in the morning and later in the evening.

What has been the most rewarding?

I would say the most rewarding thing has been seeing myself grow so much as a person. Sounds super cliche but moving abroad can change your whole perspective on life.

Tips and advice for the Her Expatise Community

What in your experience would you say is the minimum monthly cost of living?

$1700 (NZD)

Any advice on the visa/migrating process that could help someone else’s process go smoother? 

If you are teaching abroad or completing an internship, definitely consider going through an agency as it makes things so much easier. If you are doing it alone, make checklists and tick things off as you go, it’s super satisfying and helps you stay organised.

Any insider tips on a place you enjoy going to or an activity you enjoy doing? 

If you ever visit New Zealand, try out a luge! Super fun, I went to the one in Rotorua and will definitely be going back.

Finally, If you could go back in time and give yourself one piece of advice before you got on that plane to move abroad, what would it be? 

Don’t stress about every little detail so much. It’s great to plan but not everything will go to plan and that’s ok.

Finding A Sense of Home, Abroad

Vanessa shares her journey migrating to the UK, the struggles she’s overcomed and her process for building stability overseas.

“The most rewarding thing for me is just being in the city that I’ve always wanted to live in. No matter how hard life gets, sometimes I stop and look around at the city I’ve chosen to call home and I feel so grateful to be here.”

Let’s start at the beginning: Where are you originally from? When did you move abroad and where did you move abroad to?

I’m originally from Philadelphia, PA. I moved to Toronto, Canada at the age of 8. I left Canada at 18 to go to university in New York State, where I attended Syracuse University. After university, I moved back to Canada for two months and then left again to start my journalism career at a small news station in Scranton, PA in upstate Pennsylvania. Following that, I moved to New York City where I lived until 2016. That year I moved to London, England where I have been ever since.

How were you able to migrate? (Job, Visa, Spouse, Family or another channel?)

I was able to migrate back down to the US from Canada originally as I have citizenship by birth in the US. I moved from the US to the UK on a Tier 4 Student visa and after 18 months was sponsored by my current employer on a Tier 2 visa, with a right to remain after 5 years.

Why did you decide to move and did you know anyone there?

I had always been in love with the UK, from the first time I studied abroad there for a semester in fall 2009. I knew I wanted to come back and spend some time here but was never sure what would be the route that I would take in order to get here. I had almost abandoned my goal of coming to the UK in 2015, but by January 2016, I was laid off from my job at Al Jazeera America in New York City and decided to finally go back and get my masters degree. I had wanted to pursue a masters degree in public policy after having done shadow stints for congressional comms director roles for two different congressmen in Washington D.C. during my few weeks on the Hill in 2015, I realised I needed an advanced degree but didn’t know how I would be able to get it as I was already in debt from my undergrad program at Syracuse. I decided to try and apply for universities in the UK, which were cheaper to attend, once I was laid off. When I got accepted into a program in London, I then made an effort to connect with my boss at my current job to see if I could work part-time. She said yes and the rest was history. I arrived in London knowing a handful of people – a childhood best friend from Toronto who had migrated a year before me, a few friends of family and some extended family in the Midlands.

How did you find the job searching process? Was there anything about working overseas that surprised you?

I never had a proper job searching process. I met my boss through an old colleague at Al Jazeera America who had known of my interest in living in the UK and had recently returned from 17 years in the UK. She connected me with my current employer and we met for lunch on a routine visit of mine to London in summer 2015. She told me that she could not sponsor me at the time because her business was so small and didn’t have the accreditation to do so. When I got my student visa to start studying at King’s College in in 2016, it permitted me to work half of the week and so my boss took me on on a part-time basis. I didn’t realise she was actually testing me to take me on full time, as her company was getting bigger. I led my own projects while also studying my masters degree full time.

My first year I didn’t work in a normal environment as my team was very small and I was out of the office often but once I was sponsored to go full time I started to see the differences in working overseas. The one thing that surprised me the most was how personal everyone was with their colleagues. In North America, there is often a clear separation between your professional life and your personal life. Here in the UK, I found that people were all too willing to share and that sometimes blurred the lines of professionally. I also found Brits to be a little less work-crazy compared to New Yorkers, which was refreshing at times. The one thing that has really irked me however is the fact that there is often a lack of directness between colleagues and you never know where you stand some times with your senior managers or clients, whereas in North America, you will know your place very quickly in a work setting.

How was the experience finding a new home?

I started off in tiny student housing at King’s – it was VERY uncomfortable and claustrophobic, sitting right over the rail lines leading into Stratford train station on the Central Line in East London. When I could no longer afford that housing, I lived in a friend’s garage for two months before moving into a flat that my cousin got for us in Kilburn (because I had no credit at the time) where I would live for 3 years until moving to South London in summer 2020. I ended up alone for awhile there, and it was very expensive and draining on me financially. Eventually I had to find a replacement for my cousin to help me afford rent and took in a stranger for 2 years, which proved to be an unpleasant situation. So while I wouldn’t say finding a home was difficult for me, but it was not always comfortable, ideal living situations until recently.

How is the social scene? What was your experience making friends?

I made friends easily through my graduate program but they were all international students. I have kept in touch with the ones who remained in the UK and they have gone on to become some of my closest friends here. I also made close friends through my extended family’s network of friends. I am also lucky that I was able to have friends from my childhood here and then other friends from my life in the US and Canada had moved over here so I have created a familial network, but it took time nonetheless.

Did you date overseas? If so, what was that experience like? Any memorable stories you can share?

Although I am single at the moment, I have dated the most ever in my life during my time in the UK. I’ve had the best and most lasting experiences in dating here than I’ve ever had in any country that I have lived in.

Do you feel your race impacted your experience? If so, how?

I think that my race had an impact on my longest lasting relationship, but then I think class may have had more to do with the struggles and issues that we faced. At times, when around my partner’s friends, my working class, immigrant background made me feel like an outcast and someone who could never fit in because of my look and my upbringing regardless of my education and all that I had achieved on my own. I felt sometimes like trying to fit in upper middle class British society was completely unattainable to me which made me bitter and resentful in my relationship, because I didn’t feel I would ever be accepted truly.

What has been the most challenging thing about moving abroad?

I think the most challenging thing is not being close to family and not being able to watch your nieces and nephews grow up. You are now just a distant family who dips in and out of their lives whenever you are home to visit and at first, for someone like me who helped raise my niece back in New York City, it’s hard to come to terms with that but eventually you get over it. In the beginning, you may miss not having a base to sometimes just go and receive spiritual nourishment, like at a parent or a sibling’s house, but eventually you create your foundation just as in your previous location. The challenge in that however, is that creating that foundation sometimes takes longer than expected when looking to replicate a level of comfort akin to ‘back home’.

What has been the most rewarding?

The most rewarding thing for me is just being in the city that I’ve always wanted to live in. No matter how hard life gets, sometimes I stop and look around at the city I’ve chosen to call home and I feel so grateful to be here. Four years later, I am still so in love with London and still get just as excited as a tourist at all the endless places to discover and explore, but then also at all the opportunities this city has to offer an expat like me.

Tips & Advice for the Her Expatise Community

What in your experience would you say is the minimum monthly cost of living? 

£2200

Any advice on the visa/migrating process that could help someone else’s process go smoother? 

I got my visa while on a different visa so it was a very smooth process for me, I was able to transfer visas from my student one to a Tier 2 one while the time was winding down on the Tier 4. It was a quick process because my company did it with the help of an immigration lawyer. I think the best advice is when you get here, don’t compare costs to your cost of living back in your home country. Everything is relative. What is £1 here is $1 in the US. Just immerse yourself in being in a new place.

If you know you want to be here for awhile, start trying to lay down some minimal roots so that you can lead as comfortable a life while still retaining a level of transiency. Get advice from locals on things like bank accounts, travel costs, etc., but also just explore on your own and figure out things for yourself. A lot of things, like haircare, I just figured out alone without the help of anyone. A lot of things were trial and error. And if something doesn’t work out the first time, don’t be so quick to compare things to your home country.

Any insider tips on a place you enjoy going to or an activity you enjoy doing? 

I love to walk. I have walked out this city many times over, from West to East and North South. The best way to know London is to put on your trainers on and go walking. I have winded down little alleyways and sat in big green heath’s by myself and enjoyed it. You can walk alone or with a friend but to me that is the only way you will ever truly learn the ins and outs of your new city.

Finally, If you could go back in time and give yourself one piece of advice before you got on that plane to move abroad, what would it be? 

I’d tell myself that things aren’t going to come together so quickly and that’s OK. You’re migrating to a new country, some people may settle down and have security quicker than you and while that is scary, just know that you’ll find that stability at some point too. Four years later, I am still not as stable and secure here in the UK as I’d like to be but I am trying to come to terms with the fact there is no timeline to when you completely lay roots and settle down in your new country. If it feels like home, it is home, because home is where the heart is!

Living Out Loud: A Truly Expat Experience

Sharifa has travelled and lived all over the world from the Outback of Australia to Africa, Latin America & Europe! Read as she shares her life lessons and memorable experiences as an expat.

“For me, when life becomes too routine I start planning my next escape. There is always an adventure on the horizon.“

Let’s start at the beginning: Where are you originally from? When did you move abroad and where did you move abroad to?

I’m originally from Toronto, Canada and I first moved aboard when I was 17. I attended an American University on a soccer scholarship. I started working seasonally on a cruise ship when I was 21 for a number of years. I moved aboard again to live in Spain when I was 23. Then again when I was 27, I moved to Australia. From Australia I moved to the UK when I was 29.

How were you able to migrate? (Job, Visa, Spouse, Family or another channel?)

• Europe, Oceania, Africa, Caribbean, Latin America – Job (Cruise Ship)
• Madrid, Spain – Job
• Gold Coast/ Northern Territory Australia – Job
• Youth Mobility Visa London, UK – Tier 5 visa

Why did you decide to move and did you know anyone there?

Adventure! I did not know anyone when I moved to any other country but the UK. The UK was the only location that I had family or friends.

How did you find the job searching process? Was there anything about working overseas that surprised you?

The job searching process was good for every location but the UK. Australia I found a part time job right away and a full time job within a month in the Gold Coast and in Darwin. Not too much surprised me about working overseas. The one thing that I did notice is that if you are good at your job, people make special rules for you.

How was the experience finding a new home?

In the US, everything was pre-arranged for me because I was a student athlete. In Australia and Spain, I stayed in a hostel when I first arrived. It took me about a month each time to find a new home. Spain it was difficult because I did not speak Spanish and did not know many people who spoke English. I would literally dial a number say ‘hello, do you speak English?’ If no, I would hang up the phone and dial another number. I didn’t have many friends that spoke Spanish when I was looking for a place. Luckily I was able to find a flatmate that spoke English. We were in a tiny 3 bedroom and my other roommate did not speak English.

The experience in Australia was easy, everyone spoke English and I got a lovely flat across the street from the beach. When I moved to the Outback, my boyfriend’s friend found a place for us. In each scenario I had a local flatmate. Moving to the UK was by far the hardest because we didn’t want to live with flatmates and we wanted to live close to the city. In order to get a flat, you needed a job making 3x yearly rent. I was having a difficult time finding a job. It took us 3 months to find a flat. We stayed with friends and at AirBnBs until i was offered a job and moved into our flat. The documentation was easy to obtain once I had a job.

How is the social scene? What was your experience making friends?

In USA it was tough because I was a student athlete. I practiced everyday and traveled on weekends. My team were my friends. But their style of partying didn’t appeal to me, at the time. I didn’t make friends until the end of my first semester. Once I had friends it was lit! I miss those days. Cruise ships are amazing! The social scene is so much fun. Work hard, party hard. It was fantastic working seasonally, I came on board for 2 weeks to 3 months, and I had a fabulous time each time. I highly recommend it. Post-Covid, of course.

Spain was easy because I was working as an English teacher. There were other English teachers my age from all around the world. The teachers at my school were lovely. It was hard to make friends with locals because I didn’t speak much Spanish, but I did get a chance to make a few. Madrid is an amazing city. The night life is so much fun. Every night there was something to do, but I wasn’t making much money and I wanted to travel so my social scene was reserved for the weekend and a cheeky Sunday sesh. Australia was weird and fun at first. As mentioned I was staying at a hostel when I first arrived in the Gold Coast. The Gold Coast is like Miami, USA (but with only white people). People just come to party. The hostel had a lot of younger travelers so I was like the old lady. But I still partied and made friends lol, Once I moved out of the hostel, I partied with my flatmate, my boyfriend and my work colleges. I made lots of friends through work. People that I really enjoyed spending my time with.

When we moved to Darwin, it was a completely different feel. It was a small town, lots of pubs and live music. I made some really good friends in Darwin. Mostly through work, some through my partner. Some of the people that I met there will be invited to my future wedding. I miss them dearly. It was a small but dynamic group. We always had a lot of fun. Australia is a great place to live. I got to visit, all over. Aussie’s love a good time.

For the UK, I think it’s also great! After coming from a small town, with a main street with like 6 bars and 2 clubs, it feels like there are endless things to do. It took us a while to get on our feet and then Covid happened so I feel like we haven’t had an opportunity to enjoy as much as we should have. What is nice, is my partner and I both have friends here. I haven’t had to make too many friends to feel loved. I do not have a lot of English friends. The English friends I have, I met in Australia. The other ones, I have made through work.

Did you date overseas? If so, what was that experience like? Any memorable stories you can share?

Yes. It was great! I love international men. I’ve only dated a few Canadian men. My first kiss was an American boy and that was enough to turn me away from Canadian men for life lol. Memorable stories: I once dated a guy for almost 3 weeks (seeing him multiple times) and he didn’t speak any English. My Spanish was terrible, we just got along with gestures and Google translate. He was lovely and super sweet. He was a police officer and just wanted to hang out with a Canadian girl. It was fun.

My first love was a fun, crazy, adventurous Spanish man. We dated for like 5 months. He was a computer engineer that was writing a book. He loved to travel and loved to party. The day before I left Spain to go back to Toronto, he said he loved me. Although I was madly in love with him I never told him that I loved him too. To this day, I still dont know why.

Do you feel your race impacted your experience? If so, how?

Yes, it impacted it. Many people assume I’m American, they are not used to meeting Black Canadians. Sometimes it was great! Men being super nice to you because you are foreign and exotic. My cousin was living in France when I was living in Spain and we would sometimes meet up to travel and we were THE MOST popular ladies in bars and clubs. So many people trying to talk to us, buy us drinks. But on the flip side, sometimes when we were walking down certain streets in France/ Spain, some men would be inappropriate because they thought we were classy prostitutes. As the black women they usually see in that area were prostitutes. At times, people would say stupid things…but nothing crazy, usually after they got rejected. But I took that as being a part of the experience. I thought Spain was going to be bad for racism because of what you see at football matched but I didn’t have many negative experiences.

In Australia there is casual racism. Black people weren’t legally allowed to migrate to Australia until 1980! My mentor warned me about it before I went. She had worked on an event there and had a few encounters. I was happy that she prepped me for it. I heard people in authority say racist things. Not to me but about Pakistani and Aboriginal people. I was told that I was ‘safe’, because ‘black people’ are cool, like trendy. Black culture ‘hip hop’ culture makes us cool. I’m really happy that I had an opportunity to live in the Northern Territory (Outback) of Australia. If I hadn’t I wouldn’t have been able to witness the complex relationships between the various vibrant cultures.

In the Gold Coast I wouldn’t see another black person for days. At times, I felt people staring at me, but I had blonde hair at the time so I chalked it up to that. The United States is probably where I felt that race impacted me the most. I felt like I was put into a little box of ‘black people’. By both black people and white people. I was told by a few black friends that I ‘speak white.’ But I was able to get away with a lot because I was Canadian and I was a student athlete.

Growing up in Toronto, I always had a multicultural friend group. In the US is the first time that I had white friends (soccer team mates) and my black friends seperate. It felt very divided, like I would walk into some parties with my team mates and be the only black person. A lot of times, there were only a couple white people at some of the parties we attended. Syracuse is the first time I heard white people use the word NIGGER. And it was the first time that I felt race. Living in Toronto, I never felt race like that. Syracuse was definitely the most racially charged place. I learned a lot about myself and African Americans. Although it was tough at times, trying to navigate it all. I loved my time at Syracuse, I wouldn’t change it for the world.

What has been the most challenging thing about moving abroad?

Coming back home! I found that each time I have changed so much, met all these wonderful people, had all these wonderful experiences and then I come back home and nobody cares. Of course your friends and your family do. But they ask you a couple questions, you summarize your time over a cup of coffee and then it feels like you are never to speak of it again. It is difficult to go back to normal. But you do, you pick up a routine, a hobby and a new job and live your life… For me, when life becomes too routine I start planning my next escape. There is always an adventure on the horizon.

What has been the most rewarding?

Having an opportunity to build my career while travelling. I remember when I was 21 I was interning for a charity and this girl was 26, had traveled the world. I mean Asia, Oceania, Africa, South America, she had touched almost every continent. But she had no skills, no job experience and was having to start from scratch interning for free, like me, fresh out of uni. I didn’t want that to be me. From the time I started working on Cruise Ships I realized that you could travel and work. I made that my mission to travel and find opportunities that enhanced my resume. When I needed to develop my professional experience, I took time away from traveling and got full-time roles. I completed my Masters in something that was flexible so that I could continue to travel and work. I built traveling into my full-time work vacations or between contracts. But I developed my career along the way. I dont feel like I had to sacrifice professional development to travel.

Tips & Advice for the Her Expatise Community

What in your experience would you say is the minimum monthly cost of living? *

1800

Any advice on the visa/migrating process that could help someone else’s process go smoother? 

Take advantage of the work mobility visas. You can travel to heaps of different countries and live and work before the age of 30 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_holiday_visa I reference this site often and then check the official government website

Any insider tips on a place you enjoy going to or an activity you enjoy doing? 

A stroll through Hyde Park is delightful

Finally, If you could go back in time and give yourself one piece of advice before you got on that plane to move abroad, what would it be? 

Invest your savings.

Summers in Italy to Volunteering in South America

Palak shares her expat life takeaways from her time spent in Italy and South America

“Language can be a barrier, but everywhere I went people were so friendly. They would try and help out when they could and invite me to social gatherings with their local groups. I always felt welcomed.“

Let’s start at the beginning: Where are you originally from? When did you move abroad and where did you move abroad to?

Toronto, Canada – lived in Sienna, Italy for a Summer and also in South America for a few months.

How were you able to migrate? (Job, Visa, Spouse, Family or another channel?)

School, and a temporary volunteer opportunity.

Why did you decide to move there?

I wanted to explore more of the world, learn about other cultures and how people live.

Was there anything about how people looked at work and careers overseas that surprised you?

Different cultures have different traditions and a way of doing things. For example, in South America during my time volunteering, things were so much more relaxed and slower paced than Toronto. People wanted to get to know me as a person outside of my career first vs. that being the focus. It was a pleasant surprise and really gave me a new outlook.

How is the social scene? What was your experience making friends?

Language can be a barrier, but everywhere I went people were so friendly. They would try and help out when they could and invite me to social gatherings with their local groups. I always felt welcomed.

Do you feel your race impacted your experience? If so, how?

I definitely think it played a role. In parts of Italy I was always asked where I was from, and many people assumed Southern Italy because of the colour of my skin. In south america, whichever country I would be in, they assumed I was from another country within SA (for example in Argentina, they would ask if I was from Brazil). I actually think that helped them feel more connected to me in a way.

What has been the most challenging thing about moving abroad?

Language barrier or not having the luxuries you’re used to at home that we sometimes take for granted – like clean accessible water everywhere, hot showers, clean streets, comfy beds, etc.

What has been the most rewarding?

The exposure to a completely different way of life. I loved discovering how the locals lived, what their lifestyles were like, their homes, their day to day. It was also incredible to just explore new cities and places (like what they did for fun or socially, and the natural beauty of each place).

Tips & Advice for the Her Expatise Community

What in your experience would you say is the minimum monthly cost of living? *

3000

Any advice on the visa/migrating process that could help someone else’s process go smoother? *

There are lots of options for people under 35 or 30 so look into what your country offers and specifically what agreements they might have abroad.

Any insider tips on a place you enjoy going to or an activity you enjoy doing? 

Visit Sienna, a small town in Italy. Grab a cheap bottle of wine (they’ll all be good), and some paninis to go from a local shop, and sit on the floor of the main piazza. It’s pure bliss!

Finally, If you could go back in time and give yourself one piece of advice before you got on that plane to move abroad, what would it be? 

Go into it with a completely open mind so that you can soak up as much of this incredible new experience as possible!

Stepping Outside of the Norm.

Marquita shares her vast moving abroad experiences and the top places she loved.

I would say the most challenging thing about moving abroad is getting settled in. You are so ready to experience the culture that you want to knock the logistics out of the way so you can start to explore.

Let’s start at the beginning: Where are you originally from? When did you move abroad and where did you move abroad to?

I am from North Carolina and moved abroad in 2016.

How were you able to migrate? (Job, Visa, Spouse, Family or another channel?)

Through my job.

Why did you decide to move and did you know anyone there?

I volunteered for a job overseas because I wanted a different experience. I wanted a chance to explore different cultures and step outside of my norm.

How did you find the job searching process? Was there anything about working overseas that surprised you?

The job search was easy because I am military. The only thing that surprises you is the convenience. Being from the US, we are used to having things here and now. Most countries are family/relationship oriented.

How was the experience finding a new home?

The experience was tedious because you have to search around moving season.

How is the social scene? What was your experience making friends?

The social scene is slightly different. I didn’t notice a huge difference because most try to adapt to American “culture”. Making friends wasn’t difficult.

Did you date overseas? If so, what was that experience like? Any memorable stories you can share?

Yes, but he was American so they it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary.

Do you feel your race impacted your experience? If so, how?

Yes! Absolutely. I have always felt uneasy around other races from different cultures especially because of the perception they have of black people based on what they see on TV. Most of the people (especially men) look at you like the elephant in the room. The men look at you as a fetish which can be very uneasy.

What has been the most challenging thing about moving abroad?

I would say the most challenging thing about moving abroad is getting settled in. You are so ready to experience the culture that you want to knock the logistics out of the way so you can start to explore.

What has been the most rewarding?

The most rewarding experience has been the opportunity to be where I am. Not a lot of people get this chance and it is humbling.

Tips & Advice for the Her Expatise Community

What in your experience would you say is the minimum monthly cost of living? 

250 USD

Any advice on the visa/migrating process that could help someone else’s process go smoother? 

I didn’t have that issue because I a military. However, I would say have patience and adapt and overcome.

Any insider tips on a place you enjoy going to or an activity you enjoy doing? 

I loved Africa, Croatia, Split, Belgium, Mallorca. I love the sun.

Finally, If you could go back in time and give yourself one piece of advice before you got on that plane to move abroad, what would it be? 

GO FOR IT!! Nothing is holding you back.

Military Roots: From Bahamas to Panama

Linda shares her expatise experience, working for the military in the Bahamas and St. Croix to her plans for a Panama retirement.

“… although the locals are people of color, the majority of my coworkers were not. The base was known for being the home of the ‘Good Ol’ Boys’ club, so people of color and the locals were not treated fairly.“

Let’s start at the beginning, where are you originally from and when did you leave?

I’m originally from Arkansas, I lived abroad in Bermuda and Sicily during my military years (1981-1992). Outside of the military, I moved abroad to the Bahamas in 2012 for six years. I then moved to St. Croix USVI in 2018. Although this is US territory it is still different from living stateside. I am now in the process of trying to relocate to Panama this year. 

How were you able to migrate? (Job, Visa, Spouse, family another channel?)

I was able to migrate to the Bahamas through a job opportunity. I also migrated to St. Croix through a job opportunity as well. My move to Panama will be for retirement. 

Why did you decide to move and did you know anyone there?

I moved to the Bahamas because I was ready for a change and I was ready to leave my job and Florida. I didn’t know anyone upon my arrival. The person that I knew who helped me get the job had already left. After being there for a few months, I helped my best friend and my brother find a job there as well.

 I decided to move from the Bahamas to St. Croix, Virgin Islands because the island in the Bahamas was very remote and there was nothing to do. The military base I lived on was very small with a lot of restrictions. The food source was limited and very expensive. My working hours were very draining, I worked 7 days a week, 12 hours a day, then off for 7 days. My reason for wanting to relocate again to Panama was because my job in St Croix VI was very stressful, everything is very expensive and limited here as well. Customer service is very poor and business is very slow.  I didn’t actually know anyone personally when I moved here although I knew the brother of the lady that I rented the Airbnb from. One of my brother’s lived in St Croix about 10 years ago and he briefed me about the island.

I resigned from my job in St Croix in December 2019 so my reason for moving to Panama is because of the economy. It’s very affordable and Panama is a beautiful country. I’ve visited there 3 times. I actually do know someone in Panama. Two gentlemen that I worked with in the Bahamas are retired there and I met another friend through them. I also went on Jackie Lange’s Relocation tour in February so I now have a few contacts there from that trip. 

How did you find the job searching process. Was there anything about working overseas that surprised you?

The job search for the job in the Bahamas wasn’t hard since I knew someone that previously worked for the same contractor. I wasn’t surprised by working overseas because of my military background. This was a government job on a military base. 

The process for the job in the Virgin Islands was lengthy, it took a year and a half to get the job after applying. The work ethics in the Virgin Islands is very different from stateside so that was surprising.

How was the experience finding a new home?

Finding a home in the Bahamas was not difficult because housing was provided for us.  I was fortunate to find my housing in St. Croix through facebook.

I’m hoping house hunting in Panama won’t be too hard because of my friends and other people I met on the tour as well as Jackie Lange, whose background was real estate so she has connections. 

How is the social scene? What was your experience making friends?

The social scene in the Bahamas was not a good experience for me. There weren’t  many people of color on base and outside of the base was very remote so there was no social scene really except for a couple of island bars. I didn’t make many friends outside of the ones I already knew. I also would travel back stateside during my off days. 

The social scene in St. Croix was much better, I met most of my friends through my job and through other people.

From my previous trips to Panama, the social scene seems pretty good and I doubt if I will have any problems making friends there. There are a lot of people relocating to Panama so we will all be in the same boat. 

Did you date overseas? If so, what was that experience like, any memorable stories?

I dated someone in the Bahamas for almost a year. That was not a good experience, the base and island was too small therefore everyone was always in our business LOL.  

Do you feel your race impacted your experience? If so, how?

Yes in the Bahamas for sure, although the locals are people of color,  the majority of my coworkers were not. The base was known for being the home of the Good Ol’ Boys club, so people of color and the locals were not treated fairly. In St. Croix, not so much because almost everyone here is a person of color but not being a local has it’s disadvantages. The island is small so almost everyone is related or knows each other’s families. 

What has been the most challenging thing about moving abroad?

Moving abroad wasn’t really challenging for me, it’s just each location is a different experience.

What has been the most rewarding?

Being able to try something new, learning other cultures, trying different foods and learning the history of each place.

Tips & Advice for the Her Expatise Community

What in your experience would you say is the min. monthly cost of living?

$1000 USD

Any advice on the visa/migrating process that could help someone else’s process go smoother?

I didn’t need a visa in the Bahamas because it was a Government job, and St Croix is US Territory. Definitely do get a lawyer if you’re thinking of moving to Panama. If you take Jackie Lange’s Relocation Tour, she will connect you with some lawyers. 

Finally, If you could go back in time and give yourself one piece of advice before you got on that plane, what would it be?

I have no advice, each experience was a learning curve.