I Moved Abroad 3 Years Ago With No Plan—Here’s What Happened

Hi friends,

On March 18, I celebrated three years since packing my one and only carry-on bag and moving abroad lol. When I first made the decision, I thought it was going to be all about fun, adventure, and new experiences—meeting people, discovering new places, and just living my best life. But the reality? Moving abroad is fun, yes, but it’s also incredibly stressful and lonely.

THE REALITY OF MOVING ABROAD

When I landed in Mexico City in March 2022, I didn’t know the language. I didn’t know anyone. Everything felt so foreign—the food, the culture, the way of life. I remember thinking, Why does everything have limones? (lime 🍋‍🟩 in Spanish). Now? I literally can’t eat food without lime 😅

But beyond the cultural shock, I also faced real struggles—figuring out banking, navigating immigration paperwork, and dealing with financial uncertainty. Those early months were filled with stress. What kept me going was keeping my 'why' in front of me. Why did I decide to move?

One of the biggest surprises? How many people genuinely wanted to help me. Whether it was finding an apartment, sorting out documents, or just adjusting to life here, I met some of the kindest people who went out of their way to make things easier for me. And I’ll be forever grateful for that 🙏🏼

And when things got really hard, I reminded myself: If everything fails, I can always go back. But because I didn’t want to go back, I kept pushing forward and trying every possible solution.

HOW I COPED WITH LONELINESS

In the beginning, I desperately wanted everyone I met to become my best friend. I was lonely, and I thought every new person I met would somehow “save” me from that loneliness. But I’ve learned that true friendships happen naturally when you meet people who share your values.

I won’t go into details because it’s personal, but at the beginning, I really struggled with loneliness. I was not in a good place emotionally or mentally. The only things that helped me were:

→ Therapy (life-changing)
→ Journaling consistently (especially prompts from my therapist)
→ Watching YouTube videos on overcoming loneliness

That was what actually worked. Nothing else really helped.

One of the hardest parts of living abroad is missing family celebrations—birthdays, holidays, New Year's. Flights are expensive, and I can’t always be there. In the beginning, that was incredibly tough. Even now, I still have moments where I experience FOMO.

But I’ve come to terms with the fact that this was my choice. And if I want to see my family, I need to work hard and earn enough to afford those flights.

FINDING A SENSE OF HOME

At first, I felt so disconnected with everything around me because I didn’t speak the language. Language is such a huge part of culture, and without it, I felt like an outsider. But the more I learned Spanish, the more Mexico started to feel like home.

I knew I started the “adapting process” when I traveled to Belize 🇧🇿, and on my way back, I had this overwhelming feeling of coming home. 

There’s so much to love about living in Mexico City—the greenery, the energy, the diversity. This city is a place where something is always happening. When I moved here, I had zero expectations, and I think that helped me form a genuine connection with the place.

A lot of people romanticize being a digital nomad, traveling the world, and living in different places every few months. And while that may be exciting for some, I realized it’s not for me.

During COVID, I was stuck in New York City, and that’s when I truly understood—I love having a home. I love routine, familiarity, and deep connections. Traveling is fun, but I’d rather go on vacation than live out of a suitcase.

BALANCING MY MASCULINE & FEMININE ENERGIES

Moving abroad forced me to be responsible in ways I never had to before. I was the one paying for everything, budgeting carefully, and making sure I could support myself.

It pushed me into a very masculine energy—I had to rely on myself completely. Now, as I’ve built more stability and gotten married, I’m learning to lean into support and my feminine energy more. It’s hard, not going to lie. There’s still a part of me that feels like I always need to be able to provide for myself 100%.

If you’ve ever lived abroad (or are thinking about it), I’d love to hear your thoughts! 💌 

Talk soon,
Veronika 🤍