Thinking of moving abroad? Know your “why.”

I will make the assumption that you have recently heard about thousands of Americans moving abroad for one reason or another. Of the thousands that have already emigrated, there is a group of women that people are beginning to highlight within this exodus of sorts: Black American women. I am thrilled to see more Black women waking up to the fact that there are other ways of life, other languages and customs to embrace where they will be appreciated and where their skills and expertise will serve them well in a new marketplace. I left the U.S. in the early 90s, and it changed my life in ways that I still marvel over. It was not trendy then to move abroad, and you rarely heard of anyone doing so. There was no social media in 1990, but I digress.

If you are thinking about moving abroad, please, PLEASE do not do it because everyone else seems to be doing it and certainly not because of how “cheap” some say it is. I beg of you, do not make this mistake. You can pay attention to trends, but in the end, do not follow them mindlessly.  The “move abroad trend” will you have selling your home, leaving your family and friends, quitting your job, only to “find yourself” in a country whose language you do not speak, where immigration twists you like a pretzel and you find yourself praying to the gods to help you find  a crappy studio apartment that costs double your mortgage back home. Be honest with yourself and ask what you hope to gain–as well as give–if you do decide to take the leap and live in another country.

I love helping people. As someone who’s lived abroad for many years (I’m currently back in the U.S.), I do not like what I’m seeing these days: I see some amazing Black women following a trend and not really asking themselves WHY they want to live and thrive abroad. Let me help you. If you need clarity on how to move abroad with purpose, I’m the perfect person to ask.

Know your why.  Are you moving abroad for better job opportunities? If so, know that you’ll be competing with the citizens of that country. Perhaps you have created your own company (the best solution, in my opinion). My recent move to China in 2019 was possible because my skills as a French language teacher and native speaker of English were needed for a top high school in a dynamic city. But my why, my reason for choosing to move to Beijing was that I grew increasingly weary of teaching in public schools in the States. I feared for my safety in the classroom and it was taking a toll on me mentally. I was exhausted and could not see a future as a teacher here in the U.S.  I said yes to the two-year contract in Beijing, China. My housing and flights were all paid for as was the case when I had gone to teach in South Korea years before. My purpose for moving abroad has always been for my own personal growth and for incredible professional opportunities. What is yours? Let me know down in the comment section.