Growing up Expat – The Gains of Living Overseas

There are always 2 sides of a coin. I wrote about the sacrifices that we make while living overseas, but I really wanted to spend these last few weeks before we head home for summer talking about what the gains of living overseas. There are many and it doesn’t take long to appreciate all you have been through, challenges included, that have given you a positive perspective on this entire experience.

Being Happy with Less

While not trying to get too philosophical just yet, I, plain and simple, just mean we live with less amenities than were available to us before.  We can’t run to Target for “anything”, no bathtubs or library story-times, and we often wait weeks for our favorite snacks or supplies to get shipped to us.  We have learned patience with the process and to make do with “good enough” substitutes.

All the things that were difficult in the beginning have become normal to us now. We are no less happy than before, we have just truly come to appreciate life’s simple pleasures and conveniences. Learning to plan ahead for any particular shipments is always a good idea. But really, a good latte and a beach day can really go a long way for me. Except for visitors, we still need more visitors.

Perspective on Wealth

While we live in a wealthy part of town, we regularly see those who have much less in life than we do. We have driven by the barrios where there are barely walls on the homes, no sanitation services, and families walking around barefoot. I have never been more aware of what I spend on “luxuries” and what that money could do for another family.  

We donate a lot, we have been able to participate in many charity opportunities, but it hardly seems like enough. We have never been exposed to poverty in this way before and I hope that my children continue to understand what it means to have a philanthropic heart. Many of our opportunities in life have been provided to us purely because we were born in America, and I don’t want my children to forget that many privileges in life do not extend to everyone.

Being Okay with Being Different

No matter how well we learn Spanish or dress like the locals, we will always look, speak, act and be different.  We stick out, and that’s okay.  We have learned to be comfortable with the stares and the questions.  

Many people mistake us for tourists and they are shocked to learn that we live in Cartagena. I think there is an ease about not having to fit in, as long as you do not self-induce any pressure to conform.   You do occasionally find yourself adapting to different cultural standards. Many of the women here dress to the nines everyday. I do not. We are a more casual family and we come from a relaxed West Coast lifestyle.

I have found myself on occasion dressing up to attend school functions and then I ask myself why? Am I paying respect to their culture or do we all just want to fit in?  Either way, I am aware that being confident in being different is a life skill… one I hope my children will continue to develop as our time here continues.

Quality of Life

Cost of living here is much cheaper and therefore, we live a life we could never afford in the States. Pedicure’s are $7.50, a dinner out is $35, and the movies are $5 a ticket. We have a beautiful apartment with amazing views.  

We have someone come to our home 2 sometimes 3 times per week and help with the cleaning, some errands and some baby-sitting. Let me just say it here, I do not take this for granted, it is a LUXURY! I feel spoiled in a major way, and I will probably devote a whole post to the topic of hired help and how we have adjusted to this cultural element.  

My children go to an international school and are so lucky to be exposed to the cross-cultural elements that come with friends from all over the world. Celebrating new holidays, finding enjoyment in new foods and traditions, all of which create a very rich experience.

Final Thoughts

We gave up a lot of “normal” life to be here and I try to remind myself that these are some of the reasons why. We don’t often appreciate these moments as they are happening, as many times they come in the form of challenges. When we take the time to really examine our takeaways from our first time living overseas, we find that the positives far outweigh the negatives.