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Celebrating 16 years in Spain 
16 life lessons living abroad (thread)
#LessonsLearned #spain #Languages #culture #selfdevelopment #reflections #motivation #growth #networking
16 life lessons living abroad (thread)
#LessonsLearned #spain #Languages #culture #selfdevelopment #reflections #motivation #growth #networking
1. Moving to a new country enriches you as human being, big time.
2. Learning a new culture makes you more critical and more appreciative about your own culture.
3. Start small, do a little pilot.
Before moving to Spain I travelled (interrailed) through the country for 3 weeks, a "safe" / controlled sneak preview and I came out with a clear "hell yeah".
Before moving to Spain I travelled (interrailed) through the country for 3 weeks, a "safe" / controlled sneak preview and I came out with a clear "hell yeah".
4. You have to become uncomfortable to grow: starting a new life in a new country is not easy, not understanding the people well in the beginning can be awkward, culture shock anybody? However persist and you'll come out stronger.
5. Things do not always go as planned and that is ok.
Moving into IT support with a finance background, seriously? I could not even exit the Vim editor lol. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise though.
Moving into IT support with a finance background, seriously? I could not even exit the Vim editor lol. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise though.
6. Surviving in a new country (with little resources) awakes some amazing survival instinct that not only serves you in the moment, it will also propel forward in life.
7. Nourish your network.
My first job was via a contact I kept in touch with during and after my studies.
My first job was via a contact I kept in touch with during and after my studies.
8. Speaking a foreign language fluently feels awesome, it's like this super skill you can tap into (Sense8 style).
9. Also there's no better way to connect with the locals than through their language, learning about their culture.
Always try to speak at least a little bit if you travel abroad, it shows interest, makes you connect with the culture, and it's a great conversation starter.
Always try to speak at least a little bit if you travel abroad, it shows interest, makes you connect with the culture, and it's a great conversation starter.
...
You'll be surprised how helpful people are, just keep it fun. For example by using slang / expressions, people love to teach you those
You'll be surprised how helpful people are, just keep it fun. For example by using slang / expressions, people love to teach you those
10. By adding a second or third language to your arsenal you get a better feel for languages overall and therefor become a better communicator, one of the best skills to have.
11. Don't plan too far ahead, opportunities will reveal themselves as you progress, the key is to take action.
See it as a foggy road, focus on what's immediately visible in front of you, the road (destination) will reveal itself as you go ...
See it as a foggy road, focus on what's immediately visible in front of you, the road (destination) will reveal itself as you go ...
12. Follow your heart.
I literally got into the "go-to-Spain" vibe a boring afternoon at business school, I was not a particular fan of the country before, but then and there it just clicked. Be open to (wild) new ideas.
I literally got into the "go-to-Spain" vibe a boring afternoon at business school, I was not a particular fan of the country before, but then and there it just clicked. Be open to (wild) new ideas.
13. The best way to integrate is to go all out.
Watch movies in the new language (ditching subtitles), read newspapers, speak the whole day (making many mistakes), even change you phone's language, it all adds up (a.k.a. "deliberate practice" which is crucial for coding too!)
Watch movies in the new language (ditching subtitles), read newspapers, speak the whole day (making many mistakes), even change you phone's language, it all adds up (a.k.a. "deliberate practice" which is crucial for coding too!)
14. Closely related to that: don't be afraid of making mistakes.
Because you will! But that will also make you grow quicker. Pay with some pain upfront, don't look for shortcuts, because there are none.
Because you will! But that will also make you grow quicker. Pay with some pain upfront, don't look for shortcuts, because there are none.
15. Having a clear goal is super powerful.
Once I decided to go to Spain, I became laser focused, got my DELE diploma and when I got here I job interviewed within the first week (I had to have it figured out in one month - embrace Parkinson's law!)
Once I decided to go to Spain, I became laser focused, got my DELE diploma and when I got here I job interviewed within the first week (I had to have it figured out in one month - embrace Parkinson's law!)
16. Don't be too hard on yourself and drop perfectionism.
Obviously you won't speak the language fluently in 1-2-3 months, even after 1-2-3 years you still hear new expressions every week.
Obviously you won't speak the language fluently in 1-2-3 months, even after 1-2-3 years you still hear new expressions every week.
...
Fluency in a language takes years of continuous practice. Even then you always have a bit of an accent. Accept it, be pragmatic. Perfectionism is an illusion and will stall your progress, striving for it will make you unhappy.
Fluency in a language takes years of continuous practice. Even then you always have a bit of an accent. Accept it, be pragmatic. Perfectionism is an illusion and will stall your progress, striving for it will make you unhappy.
