156: The European dream: What life abroad is really like
If you are curious about what life abroad is really like, the answer might surprise you.
Most of us start dreaming about moving to Europe because of what we can see. Think beautiful cities, incredible architecture, cozy cafes, sunny beaches, and easy weekend trips. Those things are wonderful. However, the most meaningful benefits often have very little to do with sightseeing.
So what if the best part of moving to Europe is not the weekend trips or the architecture? What if it is the little things that become part of your everyday life? The way you spend your mornings, how you feel in your city, and the experiences that stop feeling like special occasions and start feeling completely normal.
Today I am sharing the unexpected ways living in Europe can enrich your everyday life, change your perspective, and give you a lifestyle you might not realize you are missing.
What Life Abroad Is Really Like Beyond the Highlights
Most people picture the highlights first. Picture a sunset over the Mediterranean. Think of a weekend in Paris. Add a castle on a hill. Those images are part of the dream, and they are real.
But the ordinary parts of life might be where the biggest benefits hide. Imagine walking to your favorite cafe in the morning. Picture picking up fresh food on the way home. Think about meeting a friend for dinner without a big logistical effort because they live down the street. Or consider spending a weekend exploring somewhere new by train.
These are not once-a-year holidays. Instead, they can become part of your normal routine.
The goal is not to live on a permanent vacation. Rather, the goal is to build an everyday life that you genuinely enjoy.
You Might Start Enjoying Your Everyday Life More
One of the best things about moving abroad is that you do not need to wait for a holiday to enjoy your surroundings. Small pleasures become part of life right where you live. Here is what life abroad is really like on an ordinary Tuesday.
The Little Rituals
Think about having a coffee outside at a little table on a quiet street. Maybe you stroll through a beautiful neighborhood full of old Victorian architecture. Perhaps you shop at local markets where the fruit and vegetables come from a farm just outside town. Or you enjoy a leisurely dinner where nobody rushes you out the second you finish eating.
In Europe, you can sit for hours, order another glass of wine, and enjoy the conversation. Small moments like that make an ordinary Tuesday feel more enjoyable.
My own rituals are simple. Every morning I walk 5 minutes to my local coffee shop, where the baristas know my name and my usual order. The same hairdresser has cut my hair since I first moved to London. Walking there used to be my routine, but now I cycle.
A Different Relationship With Your City
When you can walk to shops, parks, restaurants, and friends, your neighborhood becomes part of your lifestyle. It stops being the place you return to after driving everywhere.
For example, I walk to my grocery store when I need eggs or fresh produce. I live close to nature too, so I often take an hour-long walk in the morning with my coffee. Lately I have even gotten into birdwatching. I can now hear a bird and know it is a European Robin. I did not expect that hobby for another few more decades, but here we are!
More Time to Enjoy Your Free Time
Depending on where you live and work, you may find it easier to build enjoyable routines around food, culture, outdoor spaces, and socializing. In the US, many outdoor spaces look out over a busy road or a parking lot. In Europe, you often find parks, garden squares, and outdoor tables right in your neighborhood.
You can find some of this in the US too, of course. However, the feel is different. That is exactly why so many of us want to live abroad rather than just visit.
When I first told my mom I wanted to live in London, she asked why I didn’t just spend my vacation days visiting. I told her I did not want to be a tourist. I wanted to live in and amongst it.
You do not have to spend every weekend traveling to get value from living abroad. Sometimes the biggest lifestyle upgrade is simply enjoying where you live.
Your World Gets Bigger Even When You Are Not Traveling
Moving abroad is not just about seeing more places. It is about living in a way that exposes you to more possibilities.
You might discover interests, hobbies, foods, and cultural traditions that you would never have met at home. You also become more comfortable navigating unfamiliar situations and meeting people from different backgrounds. Meanwhile, traveling to another country turns into an easy weekend option rather than a major annual undertaking. A flight of 1 to 3 hours can put you in a new culture with different food and a different way of life.
Beyond that, you begin to see that there are many ways to organize a life, build a career, and spend your time. Even if you stay in one city, that international perspective becomes part of your everyday life.
So what if moving abroad is not about leaving your old life behind? What if it is about giving yourself access to a much bigger world?
You Might Discover a Different Definition of Success
Some people move abroad and realize that the things they thought would make them happy are not what they value most.
Maybe you used to measure success through career progression, salary, or how busy you were. Living in a different environment can encourage you to think more about your time, your surroundings, and your relationships. You might also think about the experiences you have outside work. As a result, you may begin to prioritize a lifestyle that feels good day to day rather than one that only looks impressive on paper.
Importantly, you do not have to abandon your ambition. Ambition can simply become one part of a good life instead of the entire definition of it. The most valuable change may be discovering what you want for yourself, apart from the expectations you grew up with.
It will not look the same for everyone. Still, many people find that a new environment gives them permission to ask what they truly want.
You Become More Capable Than You Thought
The confidence you gain from moving abroad is an underrated benefit. I came here wanting a challenge. Many things had come easily to me before, and I wanted to grow in a new way. Whether or not that sounds like you, you will likely realize you are more capable than you thought.
You learn that you can solve problems even when you do not know exactly what you are doing at first. You become more comfortable asking questions, adapting, and figuring things out as you go. Over time, you build confidence in your ability to make big decisions and create a life somewhere new.
Perhaps most importantly, you discover that you do not need to feel completely ready before you take the first step. Those skills carry over into other areas of life too.
So you do not have to be the kind of person who effortlessly moves abroad. Moving abroad can help you become a more confident and resourceful person.
The Best Parts of Life Abroad Might Surprise You
Some of the best parts of moving abroad are the ones nobody mentions. You cannot predict them from a spreadsheet.
For example, the friends you meet may introduce you to an entirely new way of thinking. Local places can become your favorites. The confidence of navigating life independently in a new country starts to build. You also adopt new traditions and create new routines. Along the way, unexpected opportunities appear from living in a more international environment.
Best of all, you might feel the quiet joy of having built a life that once felt out of reach. Something you only imagined on holiday becomes your everyday life. How cool is that?
Of course, there will still be difficult days. However, those days do not erase the value of the life you are building. You can research visas, compare cities, and plan your budget. Even so, you cannot predict every good thing that will come from taking the leap.
Keep the Dream in View
It is easy to fall into the research rabbit hole with a million tabs open. Visas and cities matter, but so does remembering what you are working toward. Picture a morning baguette in Paris, a croissant and espresso at a little cafe table, and a walk to work with the city waking up around you. Visualizing the dream keeps you motivated while you take imperfect steps forward.
You Do Not Need to Be Completely Ready to Start
Inspiration is great, but action matters too. You do not have to make every decision today. Instead, start exploring your options and build a plan over time.
Ask yourself these 3 questions:
- What do I want more of in my everyday life? Think about time outdoors, culture, community, travel, walkability, or a different relationship with work.
- Where could I realistically build that life? Begin researching destinations, visa options, job opportunities, and financial requirements.
- What is one thing I can do this month to make moving abroad more achievable? You could research a visa, narrow down destinations, work out a savings target, or look into a career move.
Final Thoughts on What Life Abroad Is Really Like
When we imagine moving abroad, we often focus on the big exciting things. The countries we will visit, the beautiful places we will see, and the adventures we will have.
Yet one of the most exciting parts is the possibility that your everyday life could become something different from what you know today. You might discover a new favorite neighborhood, make friends from all over the world, or spend more time outside. You might even realize that the things you thought were essential to a happy life are not what matter most.
Nobody can plan for all of that. You can research your visa, figure out your finances, and choose a destination. Still, some of the best parts of moving abroad are things you only discover once you are there.
So if you have been dreaming about moving abroad but have not taken the first step, I hope this encourages you to explore what is possible. You do not have to have everything figured out. You just have to be willing to start.
Because the European dream is not just about visiting beautiful places. It is about the possibility of building a life you love in one of them.
Ready to take your first step? Grab the free guide, the 5 Exact Steps to Move Abroad, at jordangiberson.com/guide
Still figuring out which European city fits your lifestyle and goals? Take the free quiz at jordangiberson.com/quiz
Wondering what your first 30 days abroad will actually look like once you land? Read this next: The First 30 Days Living Abroad: What Nobody Tells You and Exactly What to Do
