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Pompouy

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Along with working as coach for global nomads living around the world, I also post an Interview Series on this website where I share the stories of global nomads who have moved abroad, are traveling the globe, or are transitioning to life back at home. Today's interview with Berta Torras, who's sharing what she's learned through her time outside of her home country, is sure to provide you with some inspiration to live abroad. Berta, who is originally from Barcelona, blurred the idea of "home" when she first started traveling when she was 18. However, she has always considered Catalonia her emotional base. She spent three summers in Ireland, an experience that awoke her passion for discovering other countries and which led her to find studying opportunities abroad. With that aim she managed to spend one more summer in Toronto and another one in New York. She did a Masters in the UK and afterwards moved to Indonesia to work as a teacher in Java. After that, she went back to the UK to finish her PhD in Education. Now back in her home country, she currently works as a teacher trainer in different higher education institutions, in addition to starting her own educational project. Her passions include travel, reading, hiking, practicing yoga and writing and sharing what she has learned (and what she continues learning) with her local community. She's also the creator of the website and blog L' Escola del Mon.
When was the first time you left your home country? What was your life like before that?

The first time I went abroad by myself, and for a relatively long period of time, was when I was 18. I decided I wanted to spend nearly 3 months in Ireland to work as an au pair. It was a perfect chance to go abroad and work on my English. To be honest, when I was considering this opportunity I felt both excitement and vertigo. I was a rather family-oriented girl and I had never traveled alone! Let alone 3 whole months in a country where they spoke a different language, and where I would live with a family with whom I had to get on really well! But there was something inside of me that was telling me that it was the best decision I could make at that time. Even though I was a rather reserved girl I had known I wanted to go see the world and take chances long before that. I couldn't wait to get out of my hometown and experience adventures! I recall feeling down... everyone my age was studying at university. I had also started a degree in Politics, but I quit the course 4 months after, as I really didn't like my choice of degree. I thought the world was over! Can you imagine? I was doing things a bit differently, and I thought that was totally wrong... I didn't fit in. Ireland helped me to understand that the world is huge and that decisions are always infinite, just like perspectives and paths.

What was your own inspiration to live abroad or travel?

At 18, I envisioned life options, paths and opportunities that I had considered impossible until then. Actually, I couldn't even imagine all those options... How incredible the role of imagination is in our decision-making! Visualizing possibilities is what leads you to take action! And that is exactly what happened to me in Ireland. After spending 3 more summers in this wonderful country, sharing life and experiences with my beloved Irish family and the friends that I made, summers in Canada and New York followed.

Although I love the tiny country where I come from, its culture and traditions, I have always been very aware that it is just a tiny piece of this magical puzzle we call the world. After having visualized the big picture, I've never wanted to lose touch with this image in my mind. Never. As I was forming my professional identity in the education field, I felt eager to keep enriching myself on a personal level around the world. After New York, I moved to UK for a year and a half, where I completed a masters. After that, I moved to Indonesia to work as a teacher.

What inspires you to leave your comfort zone?

What has always inspired me to leave my comfort zone is the desire to learn and an endless curiosity. Once you know there is something you feel passionate about, once you know what it can offer you... once you know it's there... It's like an addiction! You need to keep nourishing yourself with what it gives you to keep growing as a person. I can't imagine life without these changes of setting and these vital learning opportunities afforded by long-term travel opportunities and experiences abroad in general.

What's the most difficult part about travel or living outside of your home country?

There are always quite a few things you need to learn to manage. And it becomes simpler as you mature. If I had to mention the most difficult one, I'd definitely say the adaptation. Transitory periods between one reality and another. To me this was what I found the most difficult. Also, living immersed in your own culture gives you common ground. There are so many things, situations and realities that people take for granted. Ways of thinking, of understanding life... Ways of living! And this has both a positive and a negative side. The good side is precisely what makes it hard to move abroad. For instance, at a linguistic level, I am an extreme perfectionist. I love expressing myself by using the most appropriate words, talking about feelings, having deep conversations... And it has always been difficult for me to show that part of me whenever I was abroad. It frustrates me to think that I am not being 100% myself when I do not speak my mother tongue. Actually, I've had countless conversations on this one topic with my international friends! They keep telling me that my true self does actually get through and that they totally feel I'm me all the time, but I guess there's always that "something!". Packing is always chaotic, too. Not only because of the logistics, but because packing equals putting pieces of your life, or a period of your life, into a suitcase. It involves learning to let go.

How do you overcome these difficulties?

Lately, however, I experience those transitional periods I was mentioning before in a very different way. I look at changes as constant enrichments, as if life was a wheel that never stops rotating. I love feeling grateful for what I've already experienced and accomplished, just as much as I love dreaming of what's awaiting me in the future. But I definitely admit that sometimes your mind can play real tricks on you: Have you made the right decision? Should you have chosen a different path? The adaptation processes happened to be a bit painful at times, and you just need to learn to calm yourself down and tell yourself that it all counts. Decisions are never irreversible or irrevocable. I believe our generation had to learn that change is the only constant. Especially those people who have studied or lived immersed in various cultural and linguistic environments.

What's the best part about travel or living outside of your home country?

Everything becomes simpler. A lot simpler! You become a much more well-rounded person. You realize that the ability to adapt is infinite if you respect, value, listen and observe. You discover that there are way more things that unite us than things that set us apart. And that is priceless ... You become a more human person precisely because you learn to connect with the core of human existence. This is what definitely happened to me in Indonesia. Boy, that was a massive culture shock! But right there, in that place where I felt so out of place, I also made friends for a lifetime, and I ended up realizing that in the end we all pursue the same things in life: to be happy, to love and to be loved. As simple as that. I expanded my horizons in so many ways, I overcame a huge culture shock and I'm no longer afraid of it, as I'm more aware of what I might encounter.

Living abroad and traveling helps you learn to see things with new eyes... You learn, unlearn, compare, reorder ... You also know people from all over the world with very similar scale of values ​​. In fact, the majority of my closest friendships have been forged during some of my experiences abroad. When you take risks and go to the other side of the world all by yourself, you create very strong ties with people who are going through exactly the same. And the adventures you share are definitely memories for a lifetime! You live life to its fullest! Nothing is taken for granted. And that captivates me beyond words. It has often been difficult for me to re-establish myself at home, because I found it hard to find people with similar personal stories. This is a struggle that I believe will last forever! Taking risks always has a negative side... You're not 100% comfortable anywhere because you always miss something or someone. But I love seeing the word too much! And I am willing to continue doing so. What I gain is priceless ☺

What experience have you had abroad that you want everyone to know about?

Living in England was the most transformative experience of my life. I worked a lot, but it was also one of the happiest years of my life. I created friendships that will last a lifetime, I travelled a lot around the UK, I had incredible conversations and I grew a lot on a personal level. When you study abroad, you gain such enriching perspectives and professional ideas. Before England, I thought there was a single path for everything: what everyone was doing. While studying there, I talked to people who did incredible things in Africa, future entrepreneurs who wanted to make their dreams come true, people who told me about the natural wonders of their countries of origin ... All those conversations and exchanges of ideas are engraved in my heart forever and will always be a source of inspiration.

Living abroad and traveling taught me to love life. You realize that the world is huge and that we, human beings, are just some of its tiny pieces. We only get one life and we have to make the most of it! Everything takes a different scale. Friendships, family, love ... When distance comes into play, things are either real or nonexistent. Either you value them or you don't. Everything becomes more obvious and clearer than ever. Realizing this helped me a great deal to be grateful for every single thing or person I have in my life. You also realize that distance may be huge, but, at the same time, it is nothing. Those who love you are always there to support your decisions and that is an incalculable treasure. I've never felt lonely traveling or living far from home. And I have my people at home and friends all over to feel thankful for.

Also, getting out of my comfort zone taught me to be intense in every small step that I take in life. We can choose to live with intensity and with passion whenever we want and wherever we want. What a valuable lesson!

What are 3 things on your bucket list?

I used to have endless bucket lists, but I've somehow managed to go with the flow a bit. If you plan too much and overthink, nothing happens. I was taken aback by how much life can surprise you when you least expect it. I even learned that sometimes last minute decisions are the best! But I have to name a few goals I have at the moment, I would definitely like to follow the steps of some of the friends I have around the world. On a professional level, some of them have taught me that work can be adaptable to our life priorities. And I'm currently working hard to achieve this goal. This would be one of my main objectives at the moment: to work on what I truly love and, at the same time, to blur the barrier between what society describes as "personal" and "professional".

Regarding travel destinations ... wow! There are so many places I want to experience! Whenever friends tell me about a place they have just visited, I would answer ... "I would love to go there!" Now I basically say "I WILL go" ☺ I'm really looking forward to going to Africa. I've only been to Morocco, and I would love to see other countries on this continent. I also want to go to Japan (I'm saving it for when one of my best friends can show me around!). Oh! and I'll always be ready to return to Canada (I'm in love with this country!).

What advice do you have for people who are considering traveling or relocating to a new country, but are feeling doubtful?

I strongly believe that big decisions like traveling alone, traveling long-term, relocating or moving back home (whether it is for good or for a certain amount of time) are always extremely difficult to make. Especially if you leave behind things that define you or that you're passionate about (family, friendships, relationships, personal projects ...). But these are the same decisions that, once they have been made, make you feel so proud of yourself and give you a sense of achievement that could not be paid with all the money in this world! Huge life changes help you to evolve and grow. They help you to become a person who is constantly changing and learning. And there is nothing more amazing than feeling you are learning and becoming a better and more complete human being. Choosing always involves giving up on something. Having said that, I think it is all about perspectives: you can either choose to think you are losing things, or you can feel you accumulate, you add up to your life, you make it more complete, interesting and enriching. So yes, try and channel all messy feelings in an encouraging way. I always say that if you manage to stand on your own two feet when the ground is shaking, it, you've earned the world!

What has it been like to return home after being abroad and what advice would you give other people who are returning to their home country?

I would advise them to feel proud of what they've achieved. I'd suggest to them to compare who they are right now to the person they used to be when they first left their home country. Looking back has always helped me to understand that life is an ongoing process and that it never ceases to amaze you!

I would also advise them not to feel that they are taking a step backwards for whatever reasons. We're always moving forward! We are never the person we were yesterday. Being home again has motivated me to create "L'escola del món" project. I want to share what traveling and living abroad has taught me. I want to spread ideas and I want to help my local community. Without a doubt, this project has helped me to unite my two worlds (the local and the international one), as I've turned them into one. What a personal success that is for me!

Do you have a favorite quote, book, movie, TED Talk, etc?

I love this quote by Cesare Pavese:

"Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things: air, sleep, dreams, sea, the sky - all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it."

It beautifully describes everything which hides behind the idea of traveling. My idea of traveling totally fits into this description, in that to me traveling means daring, breaking chains that restrict us (whether we talk about jobs we hate, relationships, routines, boredom...). As you get used to this feeling of "off balance" you become such a strong person!

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself before starting this journey?

I would advise myself to "take it easy and breathe". Decisions are never permanent. They are small steps of a path that never ends. I used to find life changes so difficult when I was younger. Now I seize them, I chase them and I thank them. Letting go of things is the most beautiful thing we can do. Detachment makes you free. To put it short, I guess it all comes down to not taking life too seriously.

What do you hope people say about you on your 70th birthday?

I hope I can be a healthy and happy 70-year-old woman. I hope people think that I was kind and understanding and that I respected others as well as myself. Also, that I stayed true to what I believe in and to my set of values. There's always purpose in trying to live your own life, being kind, and pursuing happiness. There is nothing as respectable as that.
Thanks so much Berta for sharing your story with us. I'm sure many readers will benefit from the wisdom you've shared and hopefully have found some inspiration to live abroad themselves. If you want to connect with Berta you can find her on her website

I moved from Seattle (USA) to Madrid, Spain in 2009 in order to work as an English teacher for a year. I soon discovered that when you accept the invitation to become a global nomad, life may take you in unexpected directions! This one year abroad turned into ten, and during that time I earned my master's degree and PhD in Clinical & Health Psychology, lived in both Spain and the Netherlands, became fluent in Spanish, Interested in learning more about my coaching services for global nomads? I offer a free 30-minute consultation for potential clients so that you can see if my coaching services are a good fit for you: transitioned from an accidental to an intentional expat, and met my future husband, a fellow global nomad. I recently relocated back to Seattle and provide online coaching for global nomads, If you're a global nomad yourself and want to be featured in a future interview, please get in touch! "L'escola del món" where she provides information, geared towards the parents in her community, about multilingualism and offers music workshops in English. You can also find her on , where she shares inspiring thoughts, quotes and ideas, together with her travel photos.

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Inspiration to Live Abroad: Berta's Story of Living & Studying Abroad

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Along with working as coach for global nomads living around the world, I also post an Interview Series on this website where I share the stories of global nomads who have moved abroad, are traveling the globe, or are transitioning to life back at home.

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Why did you move abroad?

The reason I moved abroad is long, but let's make the story simple. I met a very handsome and lovely German man while Europe travelling in 2012. After travelling Europe, I knew that I was meant to come back, and he was a good catalyst to make the move. Don't worry, I didn't drop my whole life and move here, I actually did study abroad in Cologne and finished my degree there. After 'testing' the waters I came back after graduating in Canada To hear my whole juicy love story you can go here.**

Is it hard to be an expat?

Being an expat is hard, and it was very hard for me to adjust to the new environment. When I first arrived in Germany, I thought to myself "Am I really here?" "Did I really do this?" "This is Europe?" "I live in Europe!?"I would question myself every day about what on earth did I did and if this was a mistake. I felt a million miles away from my family and friends. When my boyfriend would go out and do his hobbies or hang out with his friends, I would feel homesick and lonely. I felt like he was my only source of happiness. When I moved to Cologne to study, I found my independence as I was only able to see him on the weekends in Hamburg. I was completely alone and lived in shared flat with strangers. I remember leaving my new flat for the first time, trying to navigate the bus system and asking strangers where to get off - I was terrified, but I made it. It was rough the first weeks, but eventually, I made friends, found a rhythm in Cologne, studied hard and had a great time there enjoying a lovely German city. The second time I moved to Germany (to Hamburg) I already had a job lined up, but it took a whole year till I had an actual social life and felt comfortable, as I was focussed on my job first. My time alone in Cologne did make me more independent in Germany, as I learned to manage myself and make international friends. However, to this day I can't say being an expat is easy, I am very frustrated by the different mannerism people to have, how I never feel like I fit in, and how some things which are done here just don't make sense to me. I don't think being an expat will ever be easy, unless you conform yourself to be completely like the people born in the country you live in, but who wants to be "just like them"?

How do you find a job abroad?

There are lots of ways to find jobs abroad, the best one is to subscribe to several job posting websites like Indeed, StepStone etc and enter your chosen keywords to receive daily emails of new job postings. Don't be too specific with your keywords, and be sure to write 'English' in not only English but the destination language as well. Mother-tongue English can actually help you get some jobs, as international companies need to hire people with this skill for some positions. Make sure your LinkedIn or 'Xing' profile is up-to-date, everything is filled in and you are active on the platform. There are tons of international companies searching for candidates on LinkedIn, and there are many job postings posted exclusively there. Most international companies are happy to do a telephone or skype interview. It's also good to seek expat friends who have good jobs, as they usually have connections to international companies, and, perhaps, can recommend you.

I found my first job in Hamburg through my university in Cologne where I studied abroad. They had a job posting board and I checked it often. I saved the companies that posted there, and when I knew I was returning to Hamburg, I applied. I had a few Skype interviews and then I got the internship. After starting that position I was promoted, within a month, to a full-time management position! This happened quickly because of the skills from my degree, and the skills I gained from previous positions in Canada. My past experience helped me shine. I was purposefully assertive and said I was worth more. You have to be courageous, a bit annoying and not be afraid of hearing 'no' to make it anywhere while you live in a different country, otherwise, people will easily take advantage of you.

After staying there for almost 3 years, I knew I needed to change my game and 'level up', even though I had a great position, the benefits and company structure was not serving my career ambitions I soon found my second job abroad in Hamburg through a daily job email to my inbox and applied as soon as I saw it - within a month I had a new job. Both of my job achievements were because I saw an open opportunity and did not hesitate to pursue it.

Are you working in your field?

I have a degree in Tourism Management and, luckily, I have so far, only ever worked in my chosen discipline abroad. For the first 3 years, I was employed by one of the largest cruise bookings websites in Europe, managing their content platform for three websites. Now, I am working in Events & Marketing where I plan, organize and market events globally. My early career dream was to work in event planning, and I made that wish come true! However, in any case, you must be open when looking for positions, as it is likely that you won't be able to find a job in your field right away. Keep in mind the skills you have gained from previous positions, and be confidently open to new ideas. Be aware that certain types of jobs, like working in the government, won't be so easily attainable while in a new country. By having patience, keeping an open mind, being assertive, positive and confident so that when you see an interesting opportunity - you don't let it pass by!

How do you advance your career abroad?

You know those awesome job postings for interesting positions where you match almost all of the skills, except for the part where they ask for '10' years of experience?! These kind of job postings are not so common here in Europe, as job postings are based mostly on the skills & personality you bring and not about your years of experience. If you move to an international city, there are many big companies & startups who want English speaking people, and offer sophisticated, challenging positions with a high level of responsibility. These jobs are a mega boost to your CV, and usually, they don't require an extremely long resume/CV, but only that you are the right fit and can bring something that they want to the table.

This is exactly what happened to me, I had good experience from previous jobs in Canada, was able to convince that the skills I gained were valuable for the job, and of course, spoke and wrote English well. I was offered a great job in E-Commerce, and from there was then offered an even more awesome job in Event Marketing at a different company. It's all how you play it, and the drive that you have. The German job market seems a bit easier than at home (in my opinion) and your entry-level job abroad will be more than delivering coffee to your colleagues. The expectations are different here, I don't think I would have ever gotten these jobs without many more years experience at home.

How do you learn a language abroad?

Developing language skills is an ongoing process, and I am still not done. After being here for 4 years I still am not fluent in German and am not completely confident speaking in social group situations or in front of a crowd.

My tips to excel in learning a new language are:

If you have a partner in the destination country, speak their mother-tongue with them first (not English) this will be hard, and it was my biggest mistake! I would be fluent by now if we had started this habit at the onset of our relationship.

Take an intensive language class on arrival for at least 2 months

Find a tandem partner

Watch TV in the language you are learning (with subtitles in English at first, if needed)

Don't let people in the public speak English to you, even if they think it's doing you a favour.

If you are working, take evening language courses to keep improving

Stay active in speaking the language, as it's easy to forget and get behind

How do you make friends abroad and have a social life?

My biggest tip about how to make friends abroad is to join Facebook groups for internationals, English speakers and expats in the country you are moving or have moved to. Attend fun events hosted by the groups and be open to meeting people from all over the world. You are going to have to 'friend date' until you find the perfect match and connections. Create the time to go on 1 on 1 dates with new people, and see if you can 'click'. Yes, this sounds like finding a partner, but finding new friends in a new city is about the same - except you can have more than one! Bring your favourite friends together and see if they all click, this will be a process, but eventually, you will find the perfect 'squad'. It was very intimidating at first for me to find new friends, but once I put in the time and effort, my life abroad approved drastically and I finally felt happier. Expat friends usually have the same motives as you did to have moved abroad, and this made my connections with friends here very strong. Also, exploring what a new city has to offer, learning a new culture and getting through the small expat struggles together is much better with friends! Just get off Netflix and get out there :)

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My Story - Women Who Moved Abroad Series: Stories on How they Improved Their Career & Life - Hannah Teslin

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Being an expat is challenging, however with challenge comes reward. I am often asked by new female expats the same questions, "How did you find a job?" " Do you know German?" " How do you have so many friends?" etc.