4 Reasons Why You Need To Move Out The U.S. For A Year

The idea of leaving your country has probably crossed your mind at least once.

This is the moment when you can choose to remain in the depths of an unhappy comfort zone or open your horizons to the possibilities of the world outside.

If there is any time that you will recognize ‘facing your fears’ it will be the nanosecond that you begin looking at going to another country.  You will need to ask yourself the most important questions:

“Will this empower me? Does this enhance my life or take away from it? Does this make me feel alive or dead inside? These open the gates to the big question that you have to be clear with yourself on and that is that you aren’t running away from your problems.  Answering honestly is not only exhilarating, but it creates your first sense of individual freedom.

There have been four crucial lessons that I learned in making my own leap-of-faith in moving outside of the country and accepting a teaching position. These were not just life lessons but they empowered me to build a fearless taste for life. Moving to Abu Dhabi wasn’t just relocating, it was being alive again.

You Don’t Have To Control Everything

If you are like me, you feel comfortable in having certain things that are predictable. When you relocate to another country, you have to relinquish that and for some, that can be frightening, especially because there will probably not be any special treatment, just because you are an ‘American.’

For me, there were papers to turn in at work, to the government, to the bank, to the apartment building, to this or that person. These papers had to be stamped, signed, filed, sent back to me, returned back, and I had no control or say. I had to get medical exams as a new entry in the country, and there was no saying “no”. Things just happened, and the fewer questions I asked, the better I learned.

Learning to trust the process and others is key to any transition and transformation.

Nets Appear When You Least Expect It

From LinkedIn to social media and websites, there are people that will help you and are available to answer questions about their experiences, what to expect and all of the cultural differences to prepare for. You can ‘meet’ people and develop a good relationship before you even leave and once you do arrive, you will find a net of individuals that are willing to share. It doesn’t take long to connect with other like-minded people and enjoy social activities that offer friendship and support.

How To Quiet A Room

As a teacher in Abu Dhabi, I faced cultural differences that were not ‘everyday’ in my upbringing. Some of the challenges that I faced were a bit daunting. Walking into a classroom that held 30, talkative Arab men in long, white kanduras was itself transformative. The school admins were always confused why I didn’t have complaints to file every week like the other teachers. My usual protocol in U.S. schools was to be strict, but I learned how to have a gentler hand. I expanded my personal abilities and I realized that my job was to keep them focused, actively learning, and drawing attention to their needs, rather than my own. I had to be willing to let them be who they were, and see what emerged.

The Unknown Can Inspire Knowing Yourself

When there isn’t any roadmap you are put in a position where you need to find a way to make something happen from nothing. This can inspire you to have a greater vision of yourself and transform from who you are now to being a citizen of the world. Will everything be perfect? No, but you will build an essential skill to thrive in life no matter what the circumstances that few people can muster. Abu Dhabi opened up even more areas of critical thinking as I explored myself at deeper levels and enhanced the relationship I have with the world, which, ultimately, is the one I have with myself.

This was originally published at BlackEnterprise.com.

Originally posted 2021-05-19 08:00:57.