6 Harsh Truths Aspiring Expats Can’t Afford To Ignore Before Leaving Home!

Before the Leap: The Unspoken Realities Every Future Expat Must Face

Thinking of moving abroad? Here’s what no one warns you about: the hidden struggles, the cultural landmines, and the harsh realities that could derail your dream life.

So, you’ve scrolled past the Instagram reels of sunlit beaches, European cafés, and expats sipping wine with smug smiles.

Looks like a dream, right?

Well, strap in, because I’m here to tell you that living abroad isn’t just your own Pinterest board come to life, it’s also figuring out why your toilet flushes sideways and negotiating rent with someone who doesn’t speak your language.

Ready to burst the bubble?

Let’s do it!

1. Not All That Glitters is Poori: The Reality of Moving Abroad

I thought moving to Tbilisi, Georgia, would be easy.

After 20 years in Ukraine, speaking decent Russian, booking an Airbnb for my first week beforehand and picking up a local SIM card at the airport upon arrival, I thought I had hit the ground running.

But then came the bread shops.

Tbilisi’s bakeries? Often just windows in walls, tempted me with the smell of fresh “poori”.

The catch? 

Everything was written in Georgian, and most shopkeepers only spoke it.

My first attempt was a pantomime disaster until I remembered the one word I’d Googled: “poori.”

Bread secured, but dignity wobbly.

Even with experience, Tbilisi wasn’t Kyiv.

Google Maps turned alleyways into obstacle courses, and directions from locals involved landmarks I couldn’t place.

No matter how ready you think you are, moving abroad is all about embracing the unexpected.

But, that’s where the fun begins.

2. Emotional Resilience: The Key to Thriving: More Than Just Homesickness

When I moved to Kyiv in 1999 to be with my ex-girlfriend, I thought I had it under control.

However, this was a time of no smartphones and no Google Maps. It was just me, some Cyrillic street signs, and a lot of misplaced confidence.

Asking for directions often led to a mix of shrugs and wild hand gestures that only made things worse.

Shopping was its own adventure. No supermarkets, just bazaars where I had to master numbers in Russian to avoid paying “foreigner tax.”

After finally saying “пятьдесят” (fifty) without causing a scandal, I practically threw myself a parade.

The holidays hit harder though.

Christmas wasn’t a big deal in Ukraine at the time and it’s celebrated in January, not on the 25th of December. The main holiday was all about New Year’s Eve, with trees, gifts, and feasts that felt like Christmas had been rescheduled and supercharged.

Watching the Soviet classic “The Irony of Fate” while longing for my own family traditions was a crash course in cultural dissonance.

What got me through? Humor and small victories.

Each awkward interaction became a win, and before long, Kyiv felt less alien and more like… my awkward, unpredictable new home.

Because moving abroad isn’t about fitting in perfectly, it’s about laughing at the chaos until it feels like yours.

3. Adapting to Cultural Norms: Blending In Without Losing Yourself

Kyiv in 1999 taught me one thing quickly, cultural norms can be subtle, but the fallout isn’t.

Like the time I brought an even-numbered bouquet of flowers to my girlfriend’s grandmother.

Her smile vanished faster than my confidence, it turns out even numbers are strictly for funerals.

Oops.

Then there was the time I asked a friend’s boyfriend about his job.

His curt reply, “None of your business,” was my crash course in post-Soviet privacy rules: small talk here isn’t so small.

Smiling too much? 

Also a rookie mistake, less “friendly” and more like, “Is this guy an idiot or plotting something against me?”

But adapting wasn’t just about avoiding cultural landmines, it was about embracing the quirks.

I toasted new holidays like International Women’s Day with over-the-top enthusiasm and learned that every awkward moment was a chance to get it right the next time.

The secret?

Laugh at yourself and maybe, just maybe, stop asking questions.

4. Practical Realities: What You Didn’t Plan For

Moving to Kyiv in 1999 was like joining a game of logistical roulette. The transport system was a mix of buses, trolleybuses, and marshrutkas (mini-buses) that followed no discernible rules.

My strategy?

Hop on, hope for the best, and jump off if I spotted anything remotely familiar. It wasn’t pretty, but it got me home. Sometimes.

Healthcare was its own thrill ride.

After throwing out my back, I found myself in a freezing Soviet-era clinic, face-to-face with a 70 year old massage therapist who looked like she could bench-press me.

She barked orders, cracked her knuckles, and somehow turned my pain into relief.

It was terrifyingly effective, it was so effective that I made 3 additional repeat visits!

Glutton for punishment? Absolutely!

Then there was money. ATMs existed, but I never used them.

Everything was paid in cash, from rent to groceries to the salary I got teaching English paid in envelopes at the end of the month.

It was like living in a Monopoly game…

No matter how much prep you think you’ve done, the practical realities abroad will throw you off balance.

But you learn to adapt, find shortcuts, and laugh through the chaos, because that’s the only currency that works everywhere.

5. Finding Community Abroad: You Can’t Go It Alone

Back in 1999 Kyiv, my social network consisted of my ex-girlfriend and a few of her friends and family.

It was from them that I learned the quirks of post-Soviet office life, including the art of toasting at every occasion.

My awkward attempts at raising a glass and stringing together a few Russian phrases in a speech always got laughs, though probably not for the reasons I’d hoped.

I quickly learned that if I wanted to avoid talking to myself, I’d need to branch out.

Thankfully, the expat community back then wasn’t just digital nomads Instagramming their breakfast or self-proclaimed political exiles ranting at bars.

It was a mix of people with legitimate businesses, steady jobs, and a shared sense of “What are we all doing here?”

I found my first connections at work, where my new colleagues were going through some of the same struggles as I was, since most were foreigners as well.

Then there was the expat scene. Kyiv’s tight-knit expat community welcomed me with open arms (and plenty of beer).

Within weeks, I had a network of like-minded folks who swapped stories, shared tips, and helped each other navigate life in a city where Cyrillic and chaos reigned supreme.

They also became the unofficial committee for my cultural education, teaching me how to survive local traditions without unintentionally offending anyone. Many had already settled in long before me having local wives or girlfriends (sometimes both), children and in-laws.

Of course, I also tried befriending locals.

This often led to hilarious blunders, like the time I asked someone how they were in Russian, only to accidentally use the overly formal version, making them think I was reciting poetry.

But those mistakes were part of the charm, and the learning curve.

Finding a community abroad is essential, not just for companionship but for survival.

Whether it’s colleagues, expats, or locals, having a support network turns a foreign place into something that feels a little more like home, even if it comes with awkward toasts and the occasional linguistic faux pas.

6. Thriving Through Change: From Survival to Success

When I first moved to Kyiv in 1999, my biggest achievement was managing to buy some groceries without looking like I’d wandered out of a sitcom about lost tourists.

Fast forward a couple of decades, and I’ve since lived in two more countries, reset countless visas, and embraced the nomadic chaos of extended travel.

Somewhere along the way, I went from fumbling through Cyrillic street signs to confidently navigating new cultures, and occasionally even knowing where I was going.

Living abroad will test you, surprise you, and occasionally leave you wondering what on earth you were thinking.

But it will also reward you with resilience, unforgettable experiences, and a life you never imagined.

If you’re ready to embrace the unexpected, the world is waiting.

What’s been your most unexpected challenge while living or traveling abroad?