Living Abroad…A Post-Grad Perspective

As second semester college seniors, my friends and I have all come to the realization that following graduation there is no longer a set path. For the first twenty years of our lives, we have had an idea of what the coming year would bring. Although many consider this transition period into the “real world” to be daunting, I am excited about the endless possibilities.

As twenty-two year olds, this is the time in our lives when we have absolutely no extra baggage. What I mean by this is that we have the ability to pick-up and move, live, and work anywhere in the world because we are not yet providing for a family or have a career. We are all seeking entry-level positions, so why not start somewhere new for one to two years? And why not have that somewhere be in Vietnam, or New Zealand, or Argentina, or Tanzania? In comparison to our lifetimes, one to two years is almost nothing.

Peak of Mt. Toubkal

Those few years can change the course of your life; especially if you place yourself in a situation outside of your comfort zone. As cheesy at it may sound, my greatest periods of growth have all come from situations that were at first rather uncomfortable. Experiences such as going to overnight camp without knowing anyone, living on a kibbutz in Israel for five months while in high school, or spending a semester of college living with a host-family in Morocco, a country where I did not know the language, history, or culture before going, have all shaped my life and perspective. By no means were these situations easy: logistical and linguistic challenges arose every day in Morocco, but the experiential learning that I gained from these immersive experiences is invaluable.

My Moroccan Family

In Morocco, I developed a greater appreciation for languages. I was amazed to learn that most Moroccans speak five to six languages. Before my time abroad, I viewed Spanish as a requirement, but while there it became my lifeline. My host family spoke no English, and I was not versed in Arabic or French, so we relied on Spanish to communicate, their fifth language. While many miscommunications ensued, the ability to communicate through words strengthened our relationship and allowed us to get a real sense of each others’ personalities. When I left for Morocco, I had decided to stop taking Spanish because I had finished the requirement, but upon enrollment it was the first class I registered for.

Living abroad you also gain and learn the value of two very important qualities: patience and the ability to laugh at yourself. You are going to make many mistakes while abroad, and will need to be able to at times embrace these situations with laughter to push through. You will not pick-up everything, and you will appreciate the people who grant you patience the most. My mistakes, mostly due to language, have gotten me lost, but they have also led me to ordering foods I thought I would never try, and on a jeep tour that I will never forget.

Currently, I am exploring various fellowships and opportunities abroad for next year. In fact, I found United Planet through my search of such programs. United Planet offers 6-12 month volunteer programs in over 30 countries. I encourage you to consider it as a viable option. You’ll be surprised to see what happens when you go outside your comfort zone.