3. You Will Stand Out
Speaking of skills, those that you already have will also be worth more once youre abroad. In England, speaking English doesnt count for much, but in Italy its enough to get you a job as an English Language Teacher. Youre no longer competing against thousands of people with similar backgrounds and skill sets to you - you now stand out from the pack, and all you had to do was move country. This doesnt apply only to work, of course. It might sound strange, but youll probably stand out more socially as well. After all, theres bound to be more people like you in your own country than wherever you move to. This can be a negative (it might be a little harder to make friends if no one gets your sense of humour, for example), but generally your individuality will work in your favour. Whether its catching the eye of an exotic stranger, starting up a conversation in a bar or applying for a work placement, to be different is to be valuable.
2. Quality of Life
Love your food? In Granada you can get a meal and a beverage for 2 Euros. In fact every bar in the city will bring you at least a tapa (sometimes an actual meal) whenever you order a beer or soft drink, without you even asking for it. Or how does the notion of 40-60 cent bottles of beer grab you? Try Germany. If you love museums, go to Paris, which has over 150 (including the Louvre). Tuscany has some truly breathtaking scenery, even before you get into Florence. If you feel more daring, going to China and learning Chinese can be an amazing investment for the future, as well as offering a totally different way of life. Or if youre looking to pay off your student debt, Dubai can be extremely lucrative and a fascinating experience of a foreign culture. Whatever your interests are, its extremely unlikely theres nowhere better equipped than your hometown to satisfy them. After all, you wouldnt choose a book because its the first one you see when you walk into a shop so why assume the area you live in is automatically the best one for you? Now, you might see some of those reasons as a cause to visit, rather than live, in another country. And to some extent, they are. But I strongly believe that a week, or even a month long trip isnt enough to integrate yourself in a different culture. Even if you hate the first place you try (which has almost never been the case with the people Ive talked to), youll certainly appreciate your hometown more afterwards. Which is part of what makes living abroad so great; you actually have a basis for comparison. Some things will be better than home, some will be worse you learn what to really appreciate about where you come from, and might enjoy some foreign improvements as well.