Why my life sucked when I first moved overseas

Expat community is my biggest disappointment with moving to Thailand. I thought that the community would be like me, well traveled and exploring new cultures. Nope vast majority just moved to Thailand and never been anywhere else. Most are bitter and complain about everything.

11:22 This tip was huge for us. Researching, reading about, and looking forward to the adventure ahead was what kept us going. It makes being stuck at airports for delays and long layovers a lot more bearable ❤ - Whoever is reading this, don’t give up. You are doing great! The world is your oyster.

Interesting. I’m not a traveler. However, I am a retired trucker in the States. Your experience with expats continually complaining parallels my experience with truckers in many truck stops doing the same thing. Hanging with them is a fast track to a rotten attitude. I avoid negative people like the plague.

Good topic. One of the mental frames I used in adapting to Middle Eastern/Muslim culture was "how does this work for them [the host country's citizens and residents]?" That frame enabled me to see how a different way of doing things (from my US/Western experience) worked. I concluded that Arabs and Muslims had a lot of good ideas!

I love your delectable choice of words, Dan, when it comes to explaining a point. For instance, 'I think it is better to be a student of new world than to be a teacher of the old world.' You are both a logical and courageous man, which is a rare combination

I'm not going to avoid the ex-pats in Guatemala but I'm kinda leaving the U.S.partly because I'm over the soul-eating existence of living amongst sheeple, and want to discover a new beginning.

I have been living abroad for more than 22 years. The largest downfall IMHO is if you compare your current country/lifestyle you are living with where you came from. Try to see everything through your "honeymoon phase" glasses and you won't fall into a deep depression. I have seen that so many times from other Expats. Here is another one: You won't survive in a foreign country if you don't have your finances under 100% control. This happens to many Expats in their first year.

Great info Dan. I needed this. I’m a solo female living in Playa del Carmen Mexico for over a year now. I’ve noticed most expats act pretty standoffish and cold 🥶 I live far north of the tourist side of town but can’t stop thinking about moving to a quieter town where I can grow my own food and be far away from tourism.

I had honeymoon for the first year, then homesickness/frustration in months 13-18. Fortunately I hung on. It's a good thing to have a tough beginning, provided you survive it: then everything becomes playing with house money. Patience is required.

My first assignment overseas in 91 was at the US Embassy in Manila and I experienced exactly what you described. I am getting ready to start traveling overseas again, this time on my own dime. I needed to remember this, thanks for the great video.

You have a rare insight into these issues. A wholeee lot of people talk about this stuff on YT but you’re the real deal 👍

I somehow missed all these phases. I moved to Thailand from the San Francisco Bay Area 6 years ago and never looked back. I just returned from a US visit. It was great to catch up with family & friends but 2 weeks was more than enough and I returned home (to Thailand) with no interest in living in the US. I've also met a terrific bunch of expats here. Much more interesting people than I was meeting in the US. I've always kept an open mind about my new and different living environment. Very few frustrations. I just go with the flow. I was ready to be someplace else and now here I am.

A very needed video for those wanting to live the overseas life! Great tips on adapting. Love your channel - it's always an adventure.

I agree with you 💯 I've been living in Vietnam for 4 years now and it definitely took time

Thank you Dan. This information is really helpful to reflect on. Tapping into my curiosity, my daily learning really does help me open up to the new places, new faces, and a universe of the unknown. I really relate to that frustration you spoke about, and the oddness of returning to my home and feeling blank. I appreciate the framework this video provides. Thanks again. Stan

This is exactly right. You are spot on with your explanation and the phases. I experienced this myself living in Russia in the 90s. Once you get the travel bug it never leaves your soul even if you “settle down” in one place for a long time. Learning to navigate thru these phases is a great skill to learn.

Why would I move to a different country and then hang out with people who are from my home country? I want to get away from the old rut and meet new people and a new culture

Thank you for this thoughtful discussion. It is really helpful to consider these topics, and settle our noisy mind a bit. 🎉

Great video, one of your best ever. Really appreciate the thought you placed in this video. I was a walking example, this happened to me!!

Speaking with a relaxed tone while the rooster going non-stop. Yea, Dan made it......