If you moved abroad

[supercee]

How did you manage it? Was it through a relationship? Work?

I'm late 30's, single, childless. I'm so so so fed up with life. I'm constantly frustratedly. I long to live somewhere else for a bit, ideally France, meet new people, experience a different culture.

Other than a lottery win, this dream is impossible. I can't speak another language for a start, I don't have a degree, my jobs have been one administration job to the next.

Please let me live vicariously through you.

Do Duolingo.
Get a remote admin job in the UK, move to Paris or Lyon. Once you are there apply for admin jobs at one of the UN organizations based there.

I've lapsed a bit on the old Duolingo, need to get back into that.

Remote admin job sounds ideal, I haven't seen many advertised though, maybe I'm looking in the wrong areas.

My son has just done this. Worked really hard for last 18 months saving up, learning Spanish and doing up a camper van. Prior to that he learned skills so he can be a ' digital nomad' ie work freelance in a few skills. He knows he won't have much money but he believes his quality of life will be better.
So I would say a mixture of preparation, an optimism in life and being a bit of a risk taker. Only you know if you have anything really to lose.

Are you even allowed now to move anywhere in the EU? I've lost the will to follow what's going on with Brexit now sorry.

I moved to the UK as dh is from the EU. We arrived with a backpack each and a suitcase. We stayed 10 years, bought a house, had 2 DC and now back home in Australia.

It's possible to do it (I've also lived in Canada, Ireland and NZ) but it is hard work doing it on your own.

I never had a job before I arrived in any country, but also never did it during a pandemic 🤐

Qualify to teach English as a foreign language - I worked in Germany for two years doing this. I do speak German also though. You can learn a language to sufficient a level to move there easy enough with dedication and consistency. I personally don’t find Duolingo good, but that’s just my experience.

VAs are in huge demand at the moment and admin skills can be a big part of that. A friend did a course with this woman and got up and running pretty quick .

If you can get a remote job working online you can live anywhere. I did it for 9 years and lived all over the world.

Saved a tonne of money by housesitting instead of paying rent – I stayed in some very fancy houses in some very cool places in return for feeding cats and watering plants. So I was earning a reasonable salary, but had virtually no outgoings except food and flights when it was time to move on. Sometimes I used websites like HelpX and Workaway to find work exchange jobs too.

It's not an impossible thing to do at all, and it's actually financially pretty smart, if you're able to let go of the usual 'rules' we're taught about what life's meant to look like.

Do think about the difference between moving abroad and spending some time abroad, though – they're not the same thing and have very different challenges.

Yes we moved to a different continent where we didn't speak the language - we got on fine (with partner) but both of us had family deaths whilst away, and we weren't prepared for reverse culture shock moving back to England.

Just do your research very carefully but it might be amazing.

I live abroad at the moment, it's been easier because the language is the same but the culture is very different, we are moving again soon. Ido the same job as I did before and will carry on doing that when we move.

I moved abroad in my early 20s - also single and childless, without a degree. I worked my way up at work and got offered an overseas role. It was epic.

English as a foreign language seems to be the most common route to go, does that interest you?

Some great suggestions, thanks all. Yes I'm also done with all things pandemic and Brexit. Ignoring those aspects for now!

Love the idea of a remote admin job so will be cracking on looking at that. I have tonnes of admin experience and currently earn a not too bad wage for what I do (and starting to get savings) but it's shifts and they are slowly killing me and due to being in a team of two, there's no scope to change this.

Also my co-worker's little quirks are also adding to the finish me off pile. I can't continue like this.

I just do Duolingo on and off but I definitely need to ramp it up or do a serious course if I want to make this slightly easier on myself.

I looked into teaching English as a foreign language a few years ago but thought you needed a degree to do a CELTA course? I've started a couple of degrees. Never finished them though 🙄.

I’ve lived in 3 countries. Currently in England (I’m from abroad). Even if you learn just the basics, you can always try au pairing or working in a shop/factory/as a waitress etc You’d just need to look into the legalities of employment in different countries.

When I first arrived in England, U didn’t know anyone but managed to find accommodation in student halls which were rented out in summer. Once I found a job, I was able to move into a long term house share.

2 of my friends moved abroad, one to France and the other to America as nannies. They both applied through an online au pair agency who sorted out all of the legalities/paperwork for them. I don’t think the work paid amazing but obviously there was no rent as they lived with the families and they didn’t need any prior experience. It might be worth looking into something like that so you can get a feel for what it’s like living abroad before deciding to make a permanent move or not. It might be worth mentioning though that both said friends actually ended up hating living abroad and they are now back over here!

I looked online (have no idea where actually, probably a jobs site related to my field), found a job, and the job provided housing. So just packed up my flat, put things in storage with family, and went with just one big suitcase.

I had no language skills though it is a country that also speaks English, so I was generally able to get by knowing just enough words and phrases in the local language.

It didn’t cost me anything other than the plane ticket, though I did eventually get my own flat with a friend (living in work housing was a bit like boarding school, we had like house staff who made sure we were in by curfew, no alcohol, etc - and my 28 hold self was too grown for sneaking in drunk late at night!!).

I truly was the best thing I had done in my life up to that point. I had a blast and I met dh who was also working there.

I have lived all over europe and US and a bit in HK. You should totally do it, Maybe you can teach English or go for studying? Or you can emigrate to canada or US or oz?

We moved to Australia (13 years ago now) by just looking up jobs on their local recruitment agency pages and applying. Husband got a job first so we moved out, then I got a job when we got here. On a bit of a whim really after a particularly rainy summer .

A friend did a CELTA course, she maybe has 1 O-level.

I did TEFL but never used it. She's teaching in it.

I left the UK in 1995, lived in Dublin for 12 years and will have been in Portugal for 14 years in March. Would possibly go back to Ireland one day (I have an Irish passport now) but would NEVER go back the UK.