What I Wish I Knew Before Moving Abroad Alone
So, you’re thinking about moving abroad alone for the first time? Or maybe you’ve just arrived in a new country and are wondering what to expect living abroad solo.
Moving to a new country alone is a wild ride. One minute you’re loving the adventure, the next you’re wondering what you’re doing. It’s exciting, overwhelming, and yeah… it can get pretty lonely too.
Looking back, there are so many things I wish someone had told me before I packed my bags and set off on my adventure. In this post, I’m sharing the top lessons I learned moving abroad alone and hopefully, it helps make your journey a bit easier (and less scary!).
1. You will feel out of place — and that’s part of it
Moving abroad can feel confusing and uncertain at times. There will be days you feel lost or question whether you made the right choice. Even after hopping between cities and trying to settle down numerous times, you might still feel like you haven’t found “home” and that’s completely okay.
This is the emotional side of moving abroad that people don’t really talk about enough.The key is to approach living abroad as an ongoing journey that evolves over time, one filled with highs, lows, and a lot of personal growth. Learning to accept the lows is what shapes your experience and makes it so meaningful.
And for all the control freaks (myself included) who prefer a perfectly mapped-out future, sometimes you just have to take each day as it comes, even if it looks nothing like you expected.
2. Life Back Home Goes On Without You
One of the hardest parts of moving abroad alone for the first time is realizing that life back home doesn’t pause just because you left.
Life at home keeps going, your friends will continue making memories, celebrating milestones, and living their lives, even if you’re not there to join them. And even though moving abroad was your choice, it’s hard not to wonder sometimes: Did I make the right decision?
FOMO (fear of missing out) when living abroad is very real. You might often find yourself thinking about what you’re missing, comparing your current reality to the comfort of what you had back home.
If you’re struggling with these feelings, check out my top tips to deal with FOMO while living abroad, that really helped me navigate those moments.
3. Making Friends Abroad Takes Work (But it’s So Worth it)
What really surprised me was that making friends when you move abroad isn’t easy. I’m almost four years in, and I still don’t have a tight friend group like I did back in the UK. Maybe it’s the city I live in, or maybe it’s just harder to make close friends in your twenties. Either way, building long-lasting friendships takes time.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve made some great friends along the way, but many have moved to other cities or continued traveling, so building long-lasting friendships feels tricky.
What’s helped me is joining local Facebook groups and using apps like Bumble BFF to meet new, like-minded people. It might take some effort, but trust me it’s totally worth it.
4. You’ll Start Comparing Everything
Something else I did not expect before moving is that you’ll start comparing everything and I mean everything. In my first year here, I was constantly converting Canadian dollars to British pounds in my head, convinced that everything was basically half price (which, spoiler alert, it’s not!)
But it’s not just the money. You’ll notice yourself comparing words, slang, and even a sense of humour. I often find myself laughing with my UK friends at jokes that just don’t have the same appeal in Canada.
It’s funny how things like grocery stores, weather, driving habits, everyday phrases, and even sports can feel so different when you move abroad. These little differences can be surprising at first but they’re also what makes living abroad so interesting.
If you want to dive deeper into what life is really like living in Canada, check out my other blog post where I break down these cultural differences and share what it’s like to be British in Canada.
Summary
Living abroad alone is honestly one of the most rewarding (and at times challenging) things you’ll ever do. There’s no perfect way to get ready for it, but just knowing that there’ll be highs and lows takes off a bit of the pressure off.
Whether you’re still thinking about making the move or already figuring things out in a new country, just remember moving abroad alone isn’t always easy… but it’s 100% worth it.
Have questions about moving abroad solo? Or want to share your own experience? Drop a comment below or DM me on Instagram @simplysophie07 — I’d love to connect!
