Have you ever read a celebrity profile or looked at the short biography for the writer of a book you’re reading and seen something like she divides her time between Paris and Los Angeles? And dream of an international lifestyle. Did you think something like that must be nice and assume that they were born with a silver spoon? Or maybe you’ve dreamed of seeing the world yourself but it seems impossible given the cost of international airfares and a mere two weeks of vacation each year. In fact, you can lead an international lifestyle without the advantage of wealth. It just takes some planning.
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Learn a Language
Something you can do right now is start learning a language. There are plenty of language learning apps, videos, and other free resources online that can get you started as soon as you finish reading this article. You don’t have to learn another language to live abroad, and of course, you might end up in another English-speaking country. But learning a language broadens your horizons. It gives you a little bit of insight into another culture. It shows your respect for those who speak it. If you do end up visiting or living in the country where the language that you learn is spoken, you will have a richer experience.
Get Your Degree
If you’re going to live internationally without wealth, you will need to work, and you can’t just turn up in another country and apply for a job waiting tables or answering phones. Essentially, with the exception of a few places that are looking for people with strong trade skills, you will need a bachelor’s degree at minimum. A college education can open up many doorways for you, but you may feel as though the costs of college is a barrier. However, you may be eligible for student loans as well as grants and scholarships.
Choose Your Work
When it comes to living an international lifestyle and working around the world, you have a number of different options. One is to get a job with a company in the United States that transfers people abroad and work to become one of those people. Another is to apply to work for the U.S. Foreign Service, which staffs American embassies around the world. You could also teach in an international school or teach English as a foreign language. In some countries, you might be able to get a job on U.S. military bases. A handful of countries offer residence visas for freelancers and self-employed people, or you could also travel and work remotely as long as you do not violate any local visa laws.
These are the Ways to Live an International Lifestyle
There are advantages and disadvantages to all of these options. Some things to consider are how long you want to remain abroad, whether you want to bring your family, how much money you want to make, how much control you want over where you are placed and whether you want the experience of living in several different countries or just one. Learn a little bit about flexible travel planning in advance of making formal decisions so that you understand all the angles and challenges you might face in advance.
