Top 6 reasons why expats move abroad

The main reason people decide to leave their home country is the desire to improve their lives. This includes not only the financial aspect, but also access to better facilities, more opportunities, better education, and overall a higher standard of living.

Ravinesh, one of our Expat Heroes, was born in Fiji and decided to move to New Zealand for a “better life, education, and greater opportunities”. Lee Schultz moved from USA to Panama because of cheaper living expenses and better government retirement programs for expats. Angelica Virgen is an American who left the States for Spain for the lifestyle differences of Europe versus suburban America.

Jobs are another good reason for immigrants to relocate. This is valid for people who have a hard time getting employed in their own country, for those who find a better job in a foreign country , or for the ones whose current jobs require relocating abroad.

Valiant Riggi is an ecological operator and he moved from Italy to Belgium because he couldn’t find a job in his home country. Mohammad Moniruzzaman Hawlader, a KeepCalling.com customer from Bangladesh, moved to USA for training purposes. He works in the military field and the United States offered him better conditions to grow professionally.

A famous quote says that “Love is the engine that keeps us in motion”. This holds true especially when talking about love as the reason to follow a loved one in a foreign country. Whether it is a husband, parents, or children, love and family ties can always bring such significant changes in our lives as changing our location for a certain amount of time or even for good.

Karin Hiort is a Swedish teacher who left everything behind to follow her husband to USA, where he was relocated by his employers. Several other Expat Heroes, all women as well, moved away from their homes because they got married and their husbands lived in different countries. The idea of gender equality we’ve all been fighting for still seems to be a challenge in this department. 😉

Studying in another country is becoming more and more popular. Whether it’s for a full school programme of a few years or only for an exchange of a few months, studying abroad is always an enriching experience that leaves behind many wonderful memories.

Saul Lema, our Expat Hero from Ecuador, left his native land to pursue a PhD in Barcelona, Spain. Nikolaos Kritikos moved from Greece to the States to study Engineering. He then got a good job in USA and decided to stay. Like him, many of the people who emigrate to study never go back home because they find all the opportunities they need in their adoptive countries.

Some choose to move away from their home country for the thrill of the adventure. They are interested in meeting new people, seeing new places, and experiencing new cultures. Plus, a fresh start in life is always exciting.

Erika Oliver’s example fits this description very well. She wanted to learn English and have the experience of living and working abroad for one year, so she moved from Germany to Florida, USA. She loved her new life so much she didn’t want to go back home. Like her, Stefano Pelinga, a famous pool player, moved from Italy to the US because he needed a change in his life and Gurpreet Singh left India for Canada because he wanted to see the world and everything it has to offer, both good and bad.

Other factors that drive people to move to another country are mainly better retirement or political conditions. In the latter case, emigration is more than just a choice; it may be the only option for a normal, safe  life.

Mung Je Awng is a refugee who uses KeepCalling.com services to keep in touch with his loved ones who are still at home. He had to move from Myanmar to San Diego, California because of the tough regime in his homeland. Carlos Eduardo is another KeepCalling.com customer who moved from Venezuela to Calgary, Canada because of the political and social problems in his home country.