Has living abroad helped you become a better person?

169POSTS

6 years ago

finnbo wrote:
Of course! You pull yourself out from the root and plant yourself again in a different soil, that's what basically living abroad is. Now the quality of your harvest or the outcome of you depends on what kind of soil you have chosen to plant yourself. Sometimes the soil you choose is better and sometimes not. And sometimes even harder the plant and the soil don't match which can lead to a very vulnerable plant.

Why do I have a sudden craving for tomatoes?

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Cynic UK/Netherlands Expert

8196POSTS

6 years ago

#42

Khalida.UNC wrote:
finnbo wrote:
Of course! You pull yourself out from the root and plant yourself again in a different soil, that's what basically living abroad is. Now the quality of your harvest or the outcome of you depends on what kind of soil you have chosen to plant yourself. Sometimes the soil you choose is better and sometimes not. And sometimes even harder the plant and the soil don't match which can lead to a very vulnerable plant.

Why do I have a sudden craving for tomatoes?

OMG, why did you do that, I haven't finished breakfast yet and I have a sudden craving for a tomato, onion and cucumber salad (with a bit of garlic and olive oil of course). Suddenly my cornflakes look a bit boring.

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guestposter15352 Guest

0POSTS

6 years ago

#43

Khalida.UNC wrote:
finnbo wrote:
Of course! You pull yourself out from the root and plant yourself again in a different soil, that's what basically living abroad is. Now the quality of your harvest or the outcome of you depends on what kind of soil you have chosen to plant yourself. Sometimes the soil you choose is better and sometimes not. And sometimes even harder the plant and the soil don't match which can lead to a very vulnerable plant.

Why do I have a sudden craving for tomatoes?

Oh sweet Israeli chutzpah love it

Well allow me to suggest for both of you Khalida and Cynic to start new expat custom, to grow own tomatoes!

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Cynic UK/Netherlands Expert

8196POSTS

6 years ago

#44

finnbo wrote:
Khalida.UNC wrote:
finnbo wrote:
Of course! You pull yourself out from the root and plant yourself again in a different soil, that's what basically living abroad is. Now the quality of your harvest or the outcome of you depends on what kind of soil you have chosen to plant yourself. Sometimes the soil you choose is better and sometimes not. And sometimes even harder the plant and the soil don't match which can lead to a very vulnerable plant.

Why do I have a sudden craving for tomatoes?

Oh sweet Israeli chutzpah love it

Well allow me to suggest for both of you Khalida and Cynic to start new expat custom, to grow own tomatoes!

Tried it, crashed and burned. Thank goodness for grocery shops.

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Fred Indonesia Expert

30862POSTS

6 years ago

#45

I've been pondering a little more on this question, realizing the vast majority of my pre-expat disgustingly fun behaviour was really very naughty indeed - Much of that was down to imbibing vast quantities of beer and meeting girls with really cute bums that also happened to be biker chicks with a lot of enthusiasm for being a lot like nuns aren't.
No booze means I no longer suffer hangovers that feel like a large digger is sitting on my body with it's main scoop digging out my brain, and the rashes I used to get are no longer an issue.
However, I still miss the soothing creams.

Since I'm now a Muslim expat, all those pleasures have been defenistrated, just as water flowed under hardy's three bridges and disappeared as surely as Michael Henchard's good life as mayor did when his wife returned.

Khalida.UNC Contributor

169POSTS

6 years ago

#46

Cynic wrote:
Khalida.UNC wrote:
finnbo wrote:
Of course! You pull yourself out from the root and plant yourself again in a different soil, that's what basically living abroad is. Now the quality of your harvest or the outcome of you depends on what kind of soil you have chosen to plant yourself. Sometimes the soil you choose is better and sometimes not. And sometimes even harder the plant and the soil don't match which can lead to a very vulnerable plant.

Why do I have a sudden craving for tomatoes?

OMG, why did you do that, I haven't finished breakfast yet and I have a sudden craving for a tomato, onion and cucumber salad (with a bit of garlic and olive oil of course). Suddenly my cornflakes look a bit boring.

Everything is better than corn flakes.

Khalida.UNC Contributor

169POSTS

6 years ago

#47

finnbo wrote:
Khalida.UNC wrote:
finnbo wrote:
Of course! You pull yourself out from the root and plant yourself again in a different soil, that's what basically living abroad is. Now the quality of your harvest or the outcome of you depends on what kind of soil you have chosen to plant yourself. Sometimes the soil you choose is better and sometimes not. And sometimes even harder the plant and the soil don't match which can lead to a very vulnerable plant.

Why do I have a sudden craving for tomatoes?

Oh sweet Israeli chutzpah love it

Well allow me to suggest for both of you Khalida and Cynic to start new expat custom, to grow own tomatoes!

I live in an apartment with precious little sunlight and a small laundry balcony. I cannot imagine where I would plant such tomatoes. Rosemary, perhaps, but not tomatoes.

Khalida.UNC Contributor

169POSTS

6 years ago

#48

Willem de S wrote:
Somebody mentioned education or being educated... that's just a proof that you can sufficiently repeat what other people have told you, is it not? It is not necessarily the truth or can even be all lies.

My education is in medical research. If I simply repeated what others have told me, I would be useless. Had I been taught lies, the deaths of my patients would have made those lies obvious.

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Md Ajgor Ali New member

9POSTS

6 years ago

#49

Moderated by Priscilla 6 years ago
Reason : please post in the Romania forum

Travel_n_Hustle Active member

72POSTS

6 years ago

#50

In some ways, yes. It has opened my mind more and definitely made me more tolerant of people who are different than me not only in appearance but also beliefs. It challenged my tendency for solipsism so that's a good thing as well.

Khalida.UNC Contributor

169POSTS

6 years ago

#51

Living abroad has certainly made me a more tired person.

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travellight VIP Member

2460POSTS

6 years ago

#52

Yes, your activity level does ramp up quite a bit doesn't it?

Khalida.UNC Contributor

169POSTS

6 years ago

#53

travellight wrote:
Yes, your activity level does ramp up quite a bit doesn't it?

Especially when working under 60 hours is considered a slow week.

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rtallamraju New member

5POSTS

6 years ago

#54

Not sure if it applies to everyone and there is some subjectivity in definition of "better" - BUT I can vouch that it definitely makes us much more open and broadminded , ready to accept and accommodate many view points and cultures.

Having lived & worked long enough in 4 different countries in 4 different continents ( Asia , Europe, North America and South America) as well as multiple business trips to > 30 countries on regular basis , I can say it did change me for better.

It helped me with more exposure to the world and more open to accept other's view point , develop better understanding on different cultures and made me appreciate the many positive things across the world much better.

Unfortunately, politicians and new media everywhere try to project a very strong stereo types of every culture / country - but in reality, most of us across the world are much more simple at heart, no different from each other & looking for a good life.

I made many great friends in almost all the countries I lived in and truly feel part of all of the communities. I strongly feel it makes us much better human beings and more empathetic to each other.

As I am heading to live in another new country (Italy), I am equally positive and looking forward to generating many new friends and enjoy another lovely country and culture....

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Mr Pontus Member

14POSTS

6 years ago

#55

Currently, open-minded and confident people worldwide are the most likely to choose to become expats. But it is those who are afraid of new people and places that would benefit the most from international and intercultural experiences. Having said that, I believe that change only comes if you allow. Many people will actively fight new impressions to hold on to old perspectives.

If you are open to it, intercultural experiences can blow your mind on a fairly regular basis. And yes, I believe that makes you a better person.

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travellight VIP Member

2460POSTS

6 years ago

#56

Welcome aboard Mr Pontus,

Excellent points. People are often afraid and overwhelmed with all the propaganda about living abroad and they are terrified of change. The what-ifs sometimes outweigh common-sense, research, and just finding out. It leaves them with a very limited viewpoint.

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