Experiencing the size of the world
Being aware of cultural differences
Connecting with people easily
Critical thinking
Not being afraid of change
Dear Reader,
If you do not know this about me yet, I have lived abroad for most of the time since the age of 13. Since the 8th grade, I was surrounded by a different culture, traditions and people different from me. I am not complaining though. Growing up the way I did was the best thing that ever happened to me. There are some of the benefits of growing up abroad that will help you or your children, especially in todays global world.
Experiencing the size of the world
When you are a kid, the world is made up of your house, the school, and the house of your friends. You cannot imagine that there are other cities out there, other families living completely different lives is unimaginable. Growing up abroad your world is bigger. You have your home, and then the home of your family. These two might be in different countries, different continents, with kilometers in between. You learn that the world is not just what you see, but so much more.
On the other hand, you learn that while the world is waste, it tends to bring the same people together. I have meet so many of my friends at different points in time, at completely different places in the world. I have just published a post about how small the world is that you can find here, if you want to hear about my funny stories. So even if you have to say goodbye to your friends, know that the world will probably bring you back together eventually.
Being aware of cultural differences
There are so many different cultures around the world, which are all interesting and special in their own way. Normally you are only aware of your own culture, especially growing up. You learn your values and beliefs and cannot imagine that someone has different ones. Growing up abroad I have learned that this idea is not right. Everybody has their own ideas and values and they are all equally valid. You cannot say yours are the right one, and everyone else is wrong. Spending time with people from different cultures from an early age will help you deal with these differences and learn to listen to others and not just dismiss them. Since globalization is such a big topic today, knowing how to deal with people from different cultures and work in cross-cultural teams is a highly valued skill. It will also help you when you travel, since you can adjust to these different circumstances easier than people who are so set in their culture.
If you have grown up abroad, you probably don't know exactly what your culture is. You are most likely a TCK (third Culture Kid), who doesn't belong anywhere. If you feel this way, know you are not alone. There is a great book called Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds by David C. Pollock and Ruth E. Van Reken. They do a great job at explaining what it feels like, and everything about it. I would definitely suggest you read it.
Connecting with people easily
When you live abroad as a child, most of us go to an international school. This means constantly changing people and everything always being new. Every year half the class leaves and you have new classmates. Many of your teachers are not the same ones they were last year. Through this process you learn how to connect with new people constantly. While you might not become best friends, you can make friends that you can talk to in school and maybe go for coffee and study together. Since today's world is becoming more and more international and you might be asked to relocate. In this case, this skill will become very useful. You will not spend all your time at home, but find a way to make friends with work colleagues and enjoy the new city from the beginning on.