Living abroad was never really about travelling or seeing new places. At the start, it was about stepping out of my comfort zone and away from everything that was familiar to me. You begin to realise you have to navigate everything on your own; you’re pushed to limits you didn’t even know you had, and some of the smaller down moments can seem so much bigger than if you were at home. But you learn to deal with it in a way that becomes natural over time. The experience of living abroad reshaped a lot about my independence, really, without realising it was happening, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
Why I Decided to Leave Home
Leaving home wasn’t exactly a new idea for me. I had studied abroad during university in Sevilla and Madrid, and I always knew I wanted to go back – but I had no idea when, where or how. So, I signed up for Meddeas and just hoped for the best.
I knew I wanted to be somewhere new, somewhere I could really experience a different town or city, but I had no clue where I’d end up. Turns out, it was Manresa, a small town just outside of Barcelona – one I had never even heard of. At first, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about it as I’d only lived abroad in bigger cities, so a small town felt like a bit of a risk. But it ended up being amazing. So amazing, that I extended the programme for another year and eventually moved back to Madrid, this time also as a Language Assistant with Meddeas.
Part of me just wanted a change – I was tired of following a path that wasn’t really mine. Moving abroad wasn’t terrifying, exactly, but that mix of excitement and uncertainty – the ‘what ifs’ of where I’d end up or what could happen – never really goes away, no matter how many times you do it.
Navigating a New Culture Alone
Living in a new country by yourself is humbling in ways you don’t expect. There’s no one to lean on when you don’t understand something – it’s just figuring it out as you go along. I remember overthinking the smallest things, like whether I was greeting people properly, if I sounded rude without meaning to, or why everyone seemed to know exactly how things worked except me. Even simple interactions could feel weirdly intense when you’re doing them in another language.
But after a while, you stop caring so much about getting everything perfect. You realise most people aren’t analysing you the way you’re analysing yourself. You make mistakes, you laugh them off, and life just keeps going. And somewhere in between the awkward conversations and the ‘I hope that made sense’ moments, you just start to feel more comfortable – not just because you’ve mastered everything, but because you’ve realised you don’t need to.
Relying on Yourself
One of the biggest changes I noticed was how much I had to rely on myself – entirely. If I got lost, which in Madrid can happen a lot more than once, missed a train, felt sick or just had one of those overwhelming days where everything felt a bit too much, there wasn’t anyone around to automatically step in. No quick drive home, no familiar comfort, no one physically there to sort things out with me. It was just me.
At the start, that felt heavy. You realise how easy it is at home to lean on people without even thinking about it. Abroad, even small problems can feel bigger because you’re the only one dealing with them in real time. I definitely had moments where I thought, «Why am I doing this to myself?» But the funny thing is, you always figure it out. You calm yourself down, retrace your steps, ask awkward questions etc., you just deal with it.
And every time you handle something on your own, even something small, it adds up. You start trusting yourself more, and you’ll stop panicking as quickly. You’ll realise you’re actually a lot more capable than you give yourself credit for. That kind of confidence isn’t loud or obvious, but it sticks.
What No One Tells You
Everyone tells you that living abroad is the best experience of your life. And in so many ways, it is – it’s exciting, freeing and full of moments you know you’ll talk about for years. You grow so much without realising it. You meet people you’d never have crossed paths with otherwise. You build a version of yourself that feels braver and more independent. But what no one really tells you is that something can be the best experience of your life and still be hard. It can be lonely, uncomfortable, and it can make you question yourself. Some days you’ll miss home so much that it feels physical, and other days some things just feel out of sync. And that doesn’t mean you made the wrong decision – it means you’re human.
I think that’s what makes it the best experience, though. Not because it’s perfect, but because it stretches you. It forces you to sit with uncertainty, to back yourself, and to build resilience in ways you wouldn’t if you stayed comfortable. The best experiences aren’t the easiest ones – they’re the ones that change you.
Living abroad didn’t teach me to be independent – it reminded me that I could handle way more than I thought.
I’m still figuring things out after living abroad for 3 years, of course, but now I know I can land somewhere totally new and make it feel like home. And that’s a pretty great feeling.
Author: Ellen F.