Life Abroad Will Test You!

One time our neighborhood lost power all night – they’re pretty normal throughout the continent, depending on where you live.

So we enjoyed the ocean breeze (no power means no AC) on the steps as the sun went down.

We’d already had pizza for dinner and the day was cooling outside. We got together with some friends in our front yard and they brought their kids.

My dad and I took out the flashlights on our phones and we challenged the kids to foot races.

And you know what? We had a blast!

Racing along the quiet (safe) road under the moon and stars and hanging out with friends just making the most of an annoying situation.

We forgot we didn’t even have power anymore because we were having so much fun, and eventually the power came back on early the next morning.

Crises big and small happen, whether living abroad or in your home country.

So, How Will You Deal With It?

Recently, my family and I shared mental health tips with a group about planning their move abroad.

The Tips:

1. Make a vision board
2. Repeat affirmations
3. Have a theme song

(We love Unstoppable by Sia and The Man by Aloe Blacc)

For instance, revisiting your vision board once you’re on the other side of the world can bring back the excitement you had planning this amazing change, and it can refocus your attention on everything that’s going well for you.

We should always be grateful.

Sometimes life gets overwhelming no matter what you’re doing, whether it’s planning a major move across the world or picking a new route to work.

Life can be overwhelming.

Life tests your patience.

Life does the most.

Life be lifin’!

But, it’s all in how we handle these situations. And specifically when living abroad, crises of even the smallest scale can show you who you really are.

And you might not always like what you see.

I have had to take a closer look at how I express my anger in the face of difficulty navigating East African culture in a variety of ways.

Especially since being cool, calm, and collected is seen as a strength here.

Can you guess what the opposite means here?

I thought I was a calm person, and in a way I still am, but I’ve got some work to do when processing anger when things don’t go the way that I think they should.

Here’s a list of even more challenges we’ve faced as a family after 2 years of living abroad: 

• Power outages up to 24 hours
• Up-charging 
• Very slow customer service
• Water outages
• Lack of familiar brand foods we love
• Much slower transportation services
• Half-truths to outright lies

Africa Won’t Always Be Easy

And often times it’s the little fires that have the most impact. There have been days when we are so weary from problem-solving that we don’t even leave the house.

Sometimes, we just need a break.

So I’m learning to be patient with myself during this transition. I’m giving myself the grace to change for the better when these challenges test me.

I’m more attentive to what I’m focusing on during these tests.

So, how do we deal?

• Writing
• My parents do Yoga
• Talking as a family
• Taking walks  
• Reading
• Beach days
• Listening to/playing music (Dad bought a guitar and piano)
• Visits with neighbors
• Sitting on the porch at sunset

Find a creative outlet before you get to Africa, and have mental health tools in place to help you when days abroad get challenging and test your resolve.

These good habits will serve you for the rest of your life abroad.

They have definitely helped us!

Have a great weekend fellow Visionaries!

• Josiah & the Bradley Family.