Overseas Exile: The Four Stages of Expat Life

Overseas Exile: The Four Stages of Expat Life

Excellent article from overseas-exile about what emotions you can go through when first you move to a new country. I find that I can experience all 4 stages in a day, actually most days depending on what's happening and that's after six years. I do agree it probably depends on why you move abroad. We personally were fed up with the UK,especially the weather, so sold up, packed our bags and flew to Brazil. We travelled around South America for a bit then ended up exactly where we started, Saquarema, near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Calm safe little coastal town in the Brazilian lake district, we live on a small fruit farm about 10 minutes from town but it could be another planet as its so far removed from the global image of Brazil. Of course we have the best of both worlds as Rio is only 100km away. I have to say luckily I have never brushed my teeth with anything but toothpaste. Though it is crazy the strange mistakes you can make, and the fun you can have making them. So many times I've ordered something in a cafe or bar and its been so far removed from what I imagined I'd ordered, mostly good mistakes,