You just know it — that this amazing new country you’ve got all picked out for your new expat life is going to be THE ONE. Heck, you’ve probably done so much research that you’re already visualizing yourself here; walking through the streets, chatting with the locals, trying out your new language skills. You have visited already, to scope out just where you want to land. Ah, you’re in love, and want to share the news with everyone. Now it’s just a matter of time before you get to experience all that wonder firsthand.
But still, you’re no fool. You know that no place is paradise. There have got to be downsides, and you wouldn’t mind getting a sneak-peak in advance. You’ve prepared yourself for the best, so what could be the worst? Well, let’s check a few of those things out.
Con: You really are starting all over
Wrapping up one life and preparing for another one is not an easy task, especially when you’re heading to an entirely different country. The planning stage before you arrive in your new country can be overwhelming at times. Fortunately, there are many things you can do in advance like finding housing, furniture / appliances if you need them, setting up bank and utility accounts, etc. How will it all fall into place?
The pro to know
Despite all the anxiety-producing decisions to make, one of the best parts about making the move to a new country, is that it reaffirms just how capable you are. “At home” these things are just ho-hum, but when you’re getting them done in a foreign environment (and sometimes in a foreign language) you wind up feeling pretty darned proud of yourself!
Con: You’ll feel like a lost child at times
Remember how frustrating as a child that it was to have to depend on others to guide you all the time? Well, that’s often going to be the case, at least for a while, in your new country. It isn’t easy to feel like you know close to nothing about where to go and how to get things done. It’s not at always fun negotiating your way through things you think should be easy and aren’t. It’s definitely a humbling experience.
The pro to know
The awesome part about being a kid is that every day is new, and filled with fresh and exciting wonders. You get to have adventures, learn new things, and grow bigger and better. That’s how expats get to feel, too. Being a kid isn’t all so bad after all!
Con: You’ll be hit upside the head with things you really won’t like
Every country has its beauty, and also its pure ugliness. Things like poverty, shanty housing, etc. can stare you down, making you feel downright uncomfortable. I can still recall crying endlessly at my first sight of the true poverty in Guatemala: at a loss as to why it still existed, and simultaneously feeling guilty for being so fortunate in my own life. There will be far more minor tribulations, too, but tribulations all the same. How can basic electrical and plumbing systems still be so shoddy, or even nonexistent, in this day and age, you may come to ask. In some countries, they truly are. It’s just the way it is.
The pro to know
The expat life is filled with renewed appreciation. It’s not long before you come to realize just how much more opportunity and choice we’ve been given — far beyond what too many in the world will never experience. Even the simple liberty of getting to move away, or travel as we please, can make one grateful for just how significant that freedom is!
Con: Get ready to do a lot of compromising
The truth is, daily life will be different. We’re so used to having access and variety to things like quality tools, kitchen wares, and foods, that we’re often stunned to find how much more limited those things can be in other countries. Unless we learn the arts of compromise and self-denial, we’re definitely apt to get frustrated and downright cranky sometimes.
The pro to know
The more you find yourself letting go of, you’ll be amazed at how much shorter your list of “must-haves” will become. In fact, it can be very freeing to leave much of that material world behind.
Heck, you just may even learn to cook or create things from scratch or with alternative tools! Or, you may go back to making your own broth and soup stock or the “borrowing of a cup of sugar” from your neighbour,! Creating neighborhood and sense of community.
Con: The challenge of clashing values
No matter where we come from, it’s a natural tendency to think that ‘our way’ is the best. Unfortunately, that attitude can get in our way when trying to embrace our new homes. Little by little the less appealing things come out, and some can end up really getting under our skin. Are there things about Costa Rica that I don’t like? Yep. But there are also certainly things I don’t like about my home country, either. I live here now, and despite it not being perfect, I, like many other expats, learn to accept things as they are, and focus on the positive.
The pro to know
By learning to adapt to cultural differences, we learn a lot about ourselves and what matters most to us. While at first, I grew impatient when encountering slow service, I later learned to appreciate the beauty of slowing down and feeling life. Where at the beginning I saw only poverty, I looked closer to see the incredibly rich cohesiveness of family lives. Even when I balked at the loud music, I needed only to stop to see all the fun those around me were having.
So, as you can see, once you land, you’re destined to experience some not-so-wonderful things in your in everyday life as an expat. More than that, though, notice how you’ll likely come to fall right back in love with your new home for those very same reasons.
How great is that?
I am sure you still have many questions… and there are no “wrong” questions!! Getting all the information that you need is very important to making the best decision for YOU.
Do you have questions about this article, or buying property in Costa Rica? Contact us!
