What I've Learned While Living Abroad in India

I’ve been living abroad in India now for two months.

The time has gone by in a blur, and yet, I have experienced so much and seen so many new things. I’ve also had time to think about my life back home.

It’s funny how sometimes you need to take a step away from your normal routine to see the big picture. It’s like that saying, ‘You can’t see the forest for the trees.’ This statement makes so much more sense to me now that I’m living abroad in Chennai, India.

I am grateful for the new perspective I have gained about life and I want to share what I’ve learned with you in the hopes that some of these insights resonate with you as well.

And just a note before I share my impressions.

I am aware that I write this post from a place of privilege. I know I am very lucky to be able to take time off to live in and explore another part of the world. Many people can’t think and/or daydream about these things because they are too busy trying to earn a living for their families.

So the bottom line is, I’m very grateful for this opportunity.

Everyone Should Get the Opportunity to Live Abroad

Part of the reason my husband and I are spending time abroad is circumstance. There are family matters that we must attend too. But we have always flirted with the idea of living overseas, so we decided to make the best of this life change. And while I will soon be back in NY, living my old life, this time away has been a wonderful gift.

Living in India has shown me that there is so much more to the world than our insular lives and daily routines. Having time to just think and ‘try on’ a different way of living has taught me about what is really important, and what I truly need to live an engaged and happy life.

I’ve also made this realization. No matter where you are, life is life. It’s full of ups and downs, happy and sad moments, triumphs and tragedies. You can change the landscape, scenery, and language, but the rhythms remain the same.

I am humbled by how vast and big this world is, but how similar the human experience is. We are all just trying to figure it out and we are all struggling to answer the bigger questions about life. Living abroad has given me this more inclusive perspective. I know this universal truth will be so helpful when I return to my familiar life in NYC. I hope this idea helps you too.

The Consumer Culture of the United States Has to Change

I didn’t realize how much I was bombarded with messaging to buy more and more stuff until I left the United States. It’s not that there is no consumer culture here in India. With a billion-plus people, of course, there is. The difference is I’m not as in-tune with this culture and what I should and shouldn’t be buying. I’m also not trying to furnish a home or keep up with the latest fashion and beauty trends. Instead, I’m pretty much living out of one suitcase, and I’m loving it! There is something very freeing about having fewer choices and decisions to make.

I now get why Marie Kondo has become so popular. The less stuff we have, the less time and energy we need to spend taking care of our things. That in turn, frees us up to think about and focus on the things that are truly important to us. It wasn’t until I was able to step away from my New York life that I realized how much pressure our culture puts on us to constantly buy and consume more.

Selfishly, I want to change my consumer tendencies because I want more time to focus on what really matters to me. But there’s also global warming and climate change. Every day, the warnings are direr.

I know there is only so much we can do individually. But what would happen if we all stopped buying so much stuff? (I know I’m guilty of this.) If we stopped consuming so much, don’t you think companies would have to pivot? If people are buying less, they will be forced to make less or make products that are more sustainable. Honestly, I don’t think we’ll feel less happy with fewer things in our lives. If anything, it might be the opposite.

So when I head back to the States, I am going to try to implement some big changes in my life to live more sustainably and consume less. (I’ll be documenting my process on the blog, so please follow along and share your tips!) It’s the least I can do for the planet and future generations.

Don’t Live Your Life According to Somebody Else’s Playbook

If this time away has taught me anything, it’s this. We need to give ourselves permission to live the life we want to live, even if it’s not what’s dictated by our culture or expected of us by our family and peers. This is your life. You should get to choose how you live it. Don’t give that power to anyone else.

There are endless opportunities and paths out there for us. The problem is we get so caught up in our daily lives – and the culture we are a part of – that it can feel like there is no way out or no other options. But if you want to make a change badly enough, you will figure out how to do it. As Marie Forleo says, everything is figureoutable.

Now, because of technology, we have the opportunity to break free from a normal 9 to 5 job and pursue something different. If you have a laptop and wifi, you pretty much have the world at your fingertips. So don’t live by somebody else’s playbook. Re-write the rules and live a life that sets you free.

My Wanderlust Has No End

My husband and I have this joke now…I always say to him, ‘I promise, this will be the last trip I take for a while. I just want to see this one new place and then I’ll be satisfied.’

And then when I return from my trip, I’m already planning the next one. What I’ve realized is the more I get to see and experience the world, the more it inspires me to see and do even more!

Do you feel the same way? Does your wanderlust and passion for travel spark the desire to explore even more? I guess there are worse problems we could have!

I thought once I got a taste of India and Asia, I would be satiated.

Nope.

Not even a little bit.

Now that I’ve seen some of India, I want to see ALL of India. Now that I’ve had the chance to travel to Hong Kong and Singapore, I want to see Bangkok, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, and Hanoi. I want to frolic on the beaches of Thailand and trek in Bhutan. I want to give alms to the Buddhist monks in Laos and pay my respects at the temples in Myanmar. The more I see on my bucket list, the more it grows.

But more than ticking off destinations on a bucket list, I know 100% that travel is what makes me happy, so it is something I will do for the rest of my life.

How Can My Insights from Living Abroad Help You?

I know that many of you can’t take a couple of months off from your life to travel, live abroad, or ‘find yourself’. But that doesn’t mean you can’t build in time for yourself during your daily schedule to start asking questions.

Are you happy and content? If you are not feeling this at least some of the time, then what can you do to change that?

What are the core values that are truly important to you? Are you mostly living by them? If not, what shifts do you need to make to feel more aligned with your values and goals?

When I return to my life in New York City, I will be asking myself all of these questions. I don’t have the answers yet, and I’m sure I’ll be surprised by some of what I discover.

But this time abroad has given me the courage to know that whatever the answers are, I have the power to make the changes I need to live a more fulfilled and content life. And so do you. We all have the power to change so we can live our best and most fulfilling lives.

And if you’re like me, that might involve a lot of travel! 🙂