International living is an adventure that most of us have on our bucket list. Choosing to live overseas, either short or long term, is a huge adventure: and those who’ve done it usually say it was the best thing they’ve ever done.

Not only does becoming an expat open your mind to more of what the world has to offer, it can also remind you about the most important things in life.

The benefits of international living are wide and varied. If you’re thinking about making a big move overseas, some of our favorite expat benefits might encourage you to take the plunge.

The chance to start afresh

One of the things that attracts people to the idea of moving overseas is the chance it offers to start afresh. Many people give up stressful jobs, huge social networks, and large expenses when they leave the U.S., and giving up all these things is a brilliant opportunity to simplify your life.

Becoming an expat gives you the chance to get back to basics and really learn what’s important to you. Often, expats find that they get to know themselves better in the first year they spend abroad than they did in a whole lifetime of living at home.

The chance to own less and do more

When you live in the U.S. it’s so easy to get caught up in a cycle of endless bills. Things like gym memberships, cable subscriptions, and active credit cards seem like vital parts of life: but they don’t have to be. Moving overseas breaks the cycle of these bills, and gives you a new way to spend your money.

Expats tend to travel, explore and do so much more than the rest of us. They know that in the long run, experiences are much more valuable than belongings, and they remember this as they trek through the jungle, visit ancient ruins, and take part in exotic celebrations.

The chance to learn new things

When you live internationally, learning new things becomes a key part of everyday life. It’s likely that there will be huge differences between your home country and the country you decide to emigrate to. Holidays, celebrations, behavior, social customs, and language will all be different, and learning about and experiencing all those differences can be great fun.

Learning these new things can also be one of the more challenging parts of international living. Settling into a new lifestyle can take time, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. You may also find that you’re much stronger and more capable than you thought.

The chance to get inspired

When you move overseas, you can expect to open yourself up to all sorts of new opportunities. Doing this is always incredibly inspiring. If you are a creative, the benefits of being inspired in this way will be immediate. Seeing and learning new things on a daily basis will encourage you to create like you have never created before!

If you’re not a creative, you’ll still find this kind of inspiration valuable. You probably won’t be tempted to start a blog or pick up your camera… but you might find yourself dreaming up new business ideas or trying your hand at a new hobby.

Is there a downside to expat life?

Of course, even the most wonderful adventures aren’t wonderful all the time. There are some downsides to expat living, and it’s important to weigh these up against the positives and decide if it is really right for you.

• When you decide to emigrate overseas, you will be opening yourself up to exciting new adventures; but you’ll also be missing things back home. Expats sometimes find it hard to spend long periods of time away from friends and family. It can also be hard to return home after a prolonged period overseas, as it can be hard to adjust to the changes that have occurred while you were away.
• The constant flow of new things and opportunities you will face as an expat can be exhilarating, but it can also be frightening. Living a successful life overseas will involve conquering that fear!
• Holidays that you are used to at home may not be celebrated in your chosen country, or they may be celebrated in a very different way. This can result in some interesting new experiences, but missing out on your favorite holiday the way you are used to it can make you feel homesick.

Is international living for you?

Of course, there are downsides to the expat life, but for most people they are well outnumbered by the positives. Cheaper and more regular flights as well as the growth of the internet and services like Skype have made communicating with people back home much easier.

If you’re hungry for a new adventure, moving overseas could be the right choice for you. Becoming an expat is likely to change your whole perspective on life for the better. It can enable you to reduce your spending habits, embrace change and really get back to basics.

The biggest benefit of international living and the expat life is that you never know where it might take you.

Living in Central and South America is a dream many Northerners hold but simply do not know how to make a reality. Financially supporting your life and travel abroad in Latin America is surprisingly simple and actually common among many travelers. You do not need a work visa and you do not need a resume. Get savvy and explore these options, which offer valuable work and life experience while funding your time abroad.

Live for Free in a Hostel

Hostels all over provide free food and lodging for volunteers who contribute to the upkeep of hostels. Meet other travelers and get a taste of what it would be like to own and run your own. Consider where you would like to live, then contact hostels with good reviews on sites like TripAdvisor or Hostel World. Better yet, build relationships while backpacking and circle back to the hostels that made you feel at home.

Work in a Local Café

Expat-owned cafes tend to hire foreigners who can speak English fluently with tourists. Wages tend to be low but if you work in places frequented by North Americans you will likely make enough in tips to get by. This is an excellent experience in learning what it takes to run a café in a developing country.

Volunteer on a Farm

Contact permaculture and organic farms which usually operate with the help of local and expat volunteers. Learn how to grow your own food while living for free. Some farms may even pay you based on how much you yield. Research areas near National Parks with farming and expat communities. In Costa Rica many opportunities exist on the Osa Peninsula and in the mountainous region of Panama surrounding Boquete.

Become a Divemaster

Providing dive lessons in tourist towns can be lucrative and it’s a great way to dive for free. It takes some investment to get your certification through PADI, but if you love to dive it is an ideal job.

Teach English

It may not be as lucrative as teaching in Japan or Korea, but opportunities exist in Latin American cities for foreigners teaching English. Seek out cities looking for native English speakers.

Give Massages

Many spas in beach and tourist towns all over Latin America employ foreigners certified to practice massage. Prices are geared towards tourists which can offer a pretty decent income. It is also possible to avoid the overhead expense of working in a spa by setting up your own shop on the beach. Be aware that this is often illegal but the law is rarely enforced.

Teach Yoga

Like massage therapists there is a demand for yoga instructors, particularly in Costa Rica which tends to have at least one studio in every town. You can also offer private lessons to tourists in their homes or hotels or teach your own public classes on the beach.

Manage Rental Properties

Many foreigners who own homes abroad choose to live elsewhere for a good part of the year. This is so common that a demand exists for rental agents advertising and managing vacation rentals. If you have a background in real estate or property management this is a great way to make first world wages abroad. It is possible to represent yourself or become part of a local company.

Invest in Your Own Business

This is the most common path expats tend to take when deciding to live abroad. Is there a business you have always dreamed of running? Perhaps a hotel and spa? An organic café? A hip wine bar? A shop selling artisan goods? A tour company showing the best of the country you love? Your options are endless and investment tends to be much less expensive than in Western countries. If your business is geared towards tourists you can charge first world rates and make a good livable income.

Work Online

You can find incredible freedom to live and work anywhere in the world at any given time when you are able to work online. Depending on your skill set you can create a freelance business online likely makes the same wages you made in your home country. Look on job boards for freelance writing opportunities, develop a client base for web and graphic design, or find a way to make your other skills work online. There are Interior Designers, Nutritionists, Project Managers, Marketers, and others who have shifted their careers to be entirely based online.

Get creative and find a way to finance living abroad if you feel called to do so. It is more than possible.

Photo: Sal Falko

There are many factors to consider when visiting or relocating to Latin America.  The question of health insurance is an important one to answer before you get there.

Do I need to purchase private health insurance?

First you’ll need to decide if you even need to purchase private health insurance.  This will depend largely on the length of your proposed stay and the coverage offered by your current health insurance in your home country.  Many U.S. health insurance policies do not cover any medical treatment obtained outside the United States.  However, there are some that do.

Still others may cover only emergency medical treatment or air evacuation back to the U.S.  Even in situations where U.S. policy coverages do extend, the out-of-network rate usually applies.  Plus you’ll likely need to pay the bill yourself up front and then get reimbursed later, which could be a real headache for major expenses.

It’s important to read up on your policy and understand what coverage it provides. Don’t just assume you’re protected once you leave.  Travelers can also obtain temporary health insurance that will help in the event of an emergency while they’re out of the country.

Some countries even offer free emergency health insurance to tourists for a limited time while they’re within the country’s borders.  Panama is one.  The coverage is good for 30 days and is only available to those who enter through Tocumen International Airport.

What if I plan to relocate permanently?

For those who plan to reside extensively or even permanently in another country, you’ll likely need to seek private insurance.  If you already have a policy, start by finding out if it (or another policy with the same company) will be of any assistance.

Be aware that Medicare and many other government programs are not available to those residing outside the U.S.  Nor is medical evacuation back to the States.

There are a few expats who choose not to carry private health insurance for a variety of reasons.  Some countries may have government-sponsored health insurance that is available to foreign residents (although it might not offer patients the same comforts and freedoms of private insurance).

Some expats choose to self-insure their medical expenses.  This is a viable option for many, since the cost of medical treatment in Latin American countries is often a fraction of what the same procedure would cost in the U.S.  However, it’s best reserved for those who are in good health and who also have the financial solvency to bear the burden of any medical expenses should the unthinkable happen.

Where do I go to look for health insurance?

If the extent of your experience with health insurance in your home country was seeing the line item where it was debited from your paycheck each week, you might want to consider the advice of a qualified insurance specialist.  Find an agent in your destination country who represents multiple companies and can research all of them to recommend the policy that is the best fit for your needs.

On the other hand, if you feel like you have a good understanding of how this stuff works, you can also shop and compare on your own.  There are many companies who offer health insurance policies that are tailored for expats.  Some popular choices are  Global Health, Aetna, HCC, Bupa, IMG, and Seven Corners, to name a few.

What factors do I need to consider when shopping for health insurance?

• Cost – While cost is certainly an important thing to compare when shopping for health insurance, make sure you consider all the aspects of it.  Not just the premium.  Look at the cost to benefit ratio, as lower premiums often mean lower limits or higher copayments.  Also find out if it has annual percentage increases or any other hidden costs.

• Coverage Area – Will your new plan cover you if you travel outside your destination country?  Or if you return to the U.S.?  Examine the terms carefully to see where your coverage extends.  There are a lot of worldwide policies available.  For a bit of a savings, you can also find global policies that specifically exclude the U.S.  Because its health care costs are some of the highest in the world.

• Plan Features – Make sure you understand all the ins and outs of your new coverage.  Does it cover only in-network providers, or will you have the freedom to choose?  You’ll want to ensure that the limits are adequate.  They may apply per year or over your lifetime.  There may also be individual limits on specific services such as air evacuation.  See if your policy covers things like repatriation, the return of mortal remains in the event of a person’s death.

• Pre-existing Conditions – If you have any, make sure your new policy will cover them.  It’s not uncommon for certain health problems to be excluded under a new policy or to require additional premiums.

• Payment Format – Many international policies don’t pay via direct billing like they do in the U.S.  Many policies may require you to pay the charges up front and file for reimbursement.

• Fine Print – Read your policy carefully before you sign on the dotted line.  International health insurance can be tricky, and you don’t want to find out the hard way that an expensive procedure you need isn’t covered.  The fine print may spell out details such as when coverage expires, benefits levels that are lowered after a certain age, or situations that might cause your premium to increase (like filing excessive claims).

One ambition that most of us share is to live a long, happy, and fruitful life. The life expectancy of the average U.S. citizen is 78.2 years, and many people hope to spend ten or fifteen years of their life in retirement.

Photo Credit: Sushicam

For a growing group of individuals, living overseas is emerging as an attractive option for this period of their life. Exciting terrains such as Central and Latin America are brilliant options for retired expats, and communities of like-minded individuals are popping up in countries like Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Ecuador.

For many of us, the idea of moving abroad in our twilight years is something that sounds a bit scary. However, there is evidence to suggest that traveling, and even living overseas, could make your brain younger. In other words, taking the plunge and making your expat dreams a reality could turn you into a super ager!

How Can You Become a Super Ager?

Scientific researchers have spent years looking into the secret of a long and active life, and they are starting to make discoveries. Susan Krauss Whitmore, a Professor of Psychology, recently wrote an article for the Huffington Post titled How To Be A 50 Plus Brain ‘SuperAger’.

In the article, Krauss Whitmore writes:

Researchers are well on their way to discovering the elements of what they call successful cognitive aging, in that they stay above the norm on tasks that require memory, planning and general knowledge. They take advantage of what neuroscientists call brain or cognitive “plasticity.”

The idea of brain plasticity is best described as how quickly our brain is able to react and change to new experiences. Every time we experience something new, our brain has to reorganize its neural pathways in order to accommodate the new information it’s gained.

The more easily our brains are able to do this, the more active our brains will be as we get older. However, if our brains are under-stimulated, they lose the ability to create neural pathways as easily, and therefore lose plasticity.

Because of this, there’s an argument that the harder we work our brains, the more prepared they will be to stay active and intelligent as we age. Many older people take steps to do puzzles or mind teaser games to promote this effect, but travel can work just as well – and it’s a lot more fun.

How Does Travel Help?

When we travel, we open ourselves up to many new and diverse experiences. We see new things, learn about new cultures and histories, and taste new types of food. All these things mean that our brains need to retain their plasticity to keep up.

There is also a key argument to say that changing your routine can be very good for maintaining the plasticity of your brain. Instead of staying in the same city and visiting the same places, traveling further afield can provide very valuable mental stimulation.

How far you choose to travel depends on how adventurous you are. Some of us might benefit from spending a weekend break in the next state, whereas others may decide that their retirement is the perfect opportunity to visit the further afield places that they’ve always wanted to see.

If you dream of buying a retirement property in Antigua, Guatemala or Cuenca, Ecuador, you may find that your new life there could make your brain scientifically younger.