Expats Find Perspective, Personal Growth Living Abroad

A recent study by Best Places in the World To Retire titled "Expats: Expectations & Reality" asked expats living mostly in Panama, Nicaragua and Belize to report on their lives abroad. Most of the questions asked the expats to select from a list.

To get a better feel for the deeper story of their lives, however, the survey posed the following question for written responses:

"What is the most surprising and/or interesting thing you discovered as an expat?"

The answers described personal growth, a widened perspective and greater appreciation for other cultures. A number of respondents said that they were no longer so focused on materialistic things. One respondent spoke about finding love.

This comes as more people consider different, less stressful and healthier paths.

Personal Growth
A strong theme among the expats was of personal growth, many times out of necessity. One respondent who moved from the U.S. to Belize 10 years ago, said that she had improved her ability to solve problems and be more flexible.

"I am stronger than I thought I was in solving problems, making friends, and being a leader," said the woman. "We have learned that often your first option for doing something will not work, and many times you will have to go to plan B, C, D even E or F. Sometimes it is frustrating; often it is funny."
A young, single female from the U.S. living in Belize for more than 10 years wrote simply, "I have become more tolerant: of others, of time, of myself."