Wise Words on Life Abroad
10 Quotes That Say It Best
The day I arrived in Japan at 21, I dropped my suitcase, looked around my tiny Tokyo apartment — and burst into tears.
This wasn’t homesickness. It was a wave of panic. What the hell had I done?
Since then, I’ve moved to Italy, Dubai, and now New York and every single time I land in a new country, the initial thrill is quickly followed by overwhelm. The excitement of a fresh start collides with the reality of not knowing how anything works — from opening a bank account in a foreign language to finding toothpaste that feels familiar.
And always, in those first days, I ask myself the same question: Was this a mistake?
Living abroad can be extraordinary and a huge privilege. But what no one tells you is how many tiny daily challenges you’ll need to solve before it starts to feel like home.
Your body stays in a constant state of alert — scanning, decoding, adapting. You’ll feel lonely, unsure, and completely out of your depth.
But you’ll also discover resilience you didn’t know you had. You’ll learn to trust your instincts. You’ll find friends in unexpected places. And eventually, you’ll find versions of yourself you never could have met by staying home.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes that I often turn to, reflecting the highs and lows of life in a different country.
Whether you’re already living abroad, considering a move, or dreaming of a different kind of life, I hope their words inspire you and give you courage for this different path.
“When abroad, boredom, routine and ‘normal’ cease to exist. And all that’s left is the thrill and challenge of uncertainty.”
— Reannon Muth
“Loving life is easy when you are abroad. Where no one knows you and you hold your life in your hands all alone, you are more master of yourself than at any other time.”
— Hannah Arendt
“Our homes are not defined by geography or one particular location, but by memories, events, people, and places that span the globe.”
— Marilyn Gardner
“Homesickness doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong. It means you’re human. And feeling this way is part of the process of building something new.”
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“The ideal place for me is the one in which it is most natural to live as a foreigner.”
— Italo Calvino
“When you move from one country to another you have to accept that there are some things that are better and some things that are worse, and there is nothing you can do about it.”
— Bill Bryson
“Travel early and travel often. Live abroad, if you can. Understand cultures other than your own. As your understanding of other cultures increases, your understanding of yourself and your own culture will increase exponentially.”
— Tom Freston
“Maybe you had to leave in order to really miss a place; maybe you had to travel to figure out how beloved your starting point was.”
— Jodi Picoult
“When setting out on a journey, do not seek advice from those who have never left home.”
— Rumi
“That’s the thing about fast-formed friendships abroad. They burn bright. Sometimes they last. Sometimes they’re just a flash.”
at💬 If you could choose anywhere to live, where would it be and why?
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Omg you're so right about ALL of this. I'm about to move to Spain and I am freaking the f out, really hope I don't get super panicked upon arrival but helpful reminder to be aware that I may!