Living in different places has been a natural part of my life. Born in the north of Brazil, I had lived in three cities before I turned 18. Even though they were in the same state, each of them had a unique culture and socioeconomic context. Those experiences shaped my view of the world as a diverse place and planted the seed of excitement about discovering what else is out there.
Later, I moved to Rio de Janeiro for college and to São Paulo for work. One cannot guess how much novelty you can find within your own country! My first trip abroad was to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and a few others followed. And finally, I moved to California to get a master’s degree. This time, actually living in another country totally blew my mind. Even though North American culture seems so ubiquitous, I can guarantee it feels very different from the inside.
That’s when I became truly fascinated with the idea of living in as many different countries as I could—as a way to break free from the limitations and biases of any single place or culture.
In 2022, I decided to become a full-time traveler. I’ve been to 19 countries since then, plus a few new places within Brazil. But this isn’t about quantity: I stay at least one month in each place, and even longer if the visa allows. I can tell you—my mind and soul keep expanding, and I know there’s still so much more out there.
I’m not saying you should spend your entire life moving around. And I know not everyone has the same privileges or circumstances. But in my opinion, you absolutely shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to live abroad at least once in your life. And I mean actually live, not just visit or seek entertainment.
Here’s why:
It Makes You Humble
It’s easy to believe you’re the center of the universe when you’ have no idea of how large the universe really is. In my experience, by immersing in different cultures we learn how many of our convictions were nothing but a result of our environment, not universal truths. All the effort you put into building status and reputation disappears when you are far away. That is when you can find who you really are under all those covers.
It Makes You More Creative
In his book Originals, Adam Grant explains how living abroad fuels creativity and innovation. According to him, by exposing yourself to different perspectives, you learn to think more flexibly and make unconventional connections. He references research from INSEAD and Duke University that shows that people who spend meaningful time abroad—entrepreneurs, scientists, artists—tend to produce more original work.
But the key is deep cultural immersion (typically 1–3 years), because it’s not just exposure, but active adaptation that truly expands your mind.
It Makes You Wiser
I often compare living abroad to higher education. These days, many people are questioning the value of a college education since it does not necessarily translate into better employability—a fair discussion if you consider how expensive education has become in some countries. And not to mention how elitist it can be. But if you were privileged enough to have access to it, you know college can be an opportunity to be exposed to new realities and ways of thinking. And so is living abroad.
So, if you are not the academic type, maybe consider living in different places. It’s one of the most valuable forms of life education out there.
It Makes You More Resilient
Going to a new place and figuring things out on your own can be scary. But once you realize you can do it, you’ll feel more confident.
You can always start over. You can always meet new people. You can always learn something new. Once you trust yourself and your ability to navigate new environments, you won’t feel the need to stay stuck in something just out of fear.
(Of course, I’m not saying be irresponsible—that’s a whole different story.)
It Deepens Your Spirituality
One of the principles of Buddhism is the acceptance of impermanence. Now, your spiritual beliefs might be different, but there’s one thing we all learn eventually: life follows its own course, and we can’t always control it.
Moving, adapting, and opening yourself to change is an act of spiritual detachment—a reminder that not everything can be controlled, and that’s okay.
It Makes You Happier
Discovering, exploring, seeing how amazingly beautiful this world of ours is: you will be happier, trust me.
So… How Do You Actually Move Abroad?
Ok, but how do you do this? With no intention to be a guide or exhaustive, here are some ideas to find your way to live abroad:
- Studies: Join an exchange program, or pursue college or graduate studies abroad.
- Work: Some companies offer expatriation programs, which are a secure way to live abroad.
- Digital Nomad Life: Find a job you can do remotely and take it on the road.
Now, I know each of these options come with its own complexities, and I’m not pretending it’s easy. But the first step is simply to consider it.
Looking back, choosing to live abroad was one of the most defining decisions I’ve ever made. I hope you feel inspired and start imagining your own first steps toward this journey.
Nice travels ✨