Common Privileges of Life Abroad for US Citizens

Things US Citizens take for granted when venturing abroad

Often, the questions I get are — ‘How did you survive living abroad this long?’ or ‘When are you coming back home?’ It seems these questions come at least once per month from family, friends, colleagues, or even clients.

As a backdrop, I have lived abroad for twelve years out of the past fourteen years. All expat experiences are different and personal based on the purpose of the move and journey. The journey will have joy and rewards as well as stress and frustration. However, I benefited from three assets during these years, also known as privileges.

My passport

My passport has given me the opportunity to not just travel to 50 countries but also live in seven (7) of them using my career in higher education. A simple stamp or visa on arrival (VOA) to 185+ countries combined gives me many destinations to explore during my lifetime. I take this privilege seriously when entering and exiting the countries I visit.

In recent years, the rank and prestige of the US passport have lost a bit of their luster, as revealed in the recent passport ranking. Whether it is our various stained diplomatic relationships, management of military conflicts, or the international perception of our past pandemic management, US citizens traveling or living abroad have definitely noticed some diminished “treatment.” However, it is still a highly coveted passport for immigration into the country.

But, even as the ranking (Henley 2024 ranking) continues to slip, it does not mean your skills, degrees, or expertise are not wanted or sought after globally. Having that blue passport with the eagle on its cover still opens doors for careers and entrepreneurship equally abroad.

Speaking English

I have learned that my brain is not wired for languages. I learned Spanish in my younger years, and it has become dormant because I have not used it. However, when you travel or move to another country that does not speak English or your native language, do attempt to learn the basic pleasantries, especially when you plan to be in a place for at least one week or more.

Honestly, events can be challenging for me. I am thankful and realize that when I attempt to speak the local language and the response is “Do you speak English?” inside, I am happy but also feel poorly because I know my attempts were not up to par. However, I gladly welcome any level of English as a result of my own deficiencies.

Notwithstanding, I do not take for granted that I can travel to places where I might struggle, especially rural areas or ‘off-the-beaten-path’ tourist areas. I inherently know that there are places in the world where I cannot be guaranteed an English speaker. 

But it certainly helps that English is widely used internationally for business, diplomacy, research, and education. Thus, I can continue to travel and live abroad without any significant worry but also learn some basics of the local language.

Transferable Career/ Skills

I have spent my career in higher education administration. In doing so, I have gained many skills that are adaptable to other careers or entrepreneurship ventures. 

Over the years of working abroad, I have gained more skills in cultural adjustment, adaptation, resilience, and other areas. These new skills give me the flexibility to move and thrive globally.

Education, be it K-12 or higher education, is a career that is valuable and needed worldwide. In developing and emerging nations, improving and growing their educational sector is generally a priority. In my case, I used my higher education administration and management skills to propel my international career.

Additionally, your skills in project management, leadership development, data management, market research, and people and culture management are all vital options to explore internationally. You can use almost any career experience or expertise with us without adjusting your credentials or certification to continue in your existing career or build a service-based business in another country.

Therefore, your skills are needed, or in some cases wanted, in places seeking to increase the development and growth of their economy. Your teaching, management, research, and administrative abilities will have an impact. They can help transform people’s skill sets and improve the infrastructure of these places.

The best advice I can share is to make connections and build a community. Knowing people in the locations you travel to or where you live abroad is the way to leverage your impact and use your privilege.

• Your passport got you there. Now, making some local connections can help you find the best locations for exploring the country, eating, healthcare, and more.
• Be humble, and do not be flashy with your education, funds, or nationality. 
• Stay out of local politics and its relationships with the US.
• Trading language skills no matter your length of time. English is a language many want to learn. So, teaching a few words on your weekend trip to a location or joining a language exchange club are helpful ways to contribute to each other’s language skills.
• Transfer or pivot your skills and talent to another country. Find opportunities to use your skills to enhance a location that needs your expertise. In my case, it’s administration and organization. For you, it might be accounting, construction, business development, healthcare, cybersecurity, information management, and the list goes on.
• Either seek an employment opportunity or create entrepreneurship — help yourself, your employer, or others.

It is easy to ignore your privilege, and by doing so, it does not mean your life abroad is free of frustration or challenges. You will experience struggles, but they are often different from those you have in your place of origin. It also means that these issues you face are mostly unforeseen and beyond your control.

US Laws

Do not be mistaken about the laws and due process protections of US-based laws, as these do not extend beyond US borders and global territories. Once the plane crosses into international airspace, the ship crosses into international water, or the car crosses the borders, you are outside of your protection zone.

‘But we have embassies in so many countries!’ 

Yes, we do, and their primary role is diplomacy. Information and services to US citizens in that country are only a small part of their role. The U.S. Embassy is not designed or set up to help citizens abroad until they are in an actual crisis. To define help, it generally means information that is already posted on the website.

Examples of such crises are breaking the laws of the nation, getting arrested, passing away while abroad, medical evacuation repatriation, or, in some cases, emergency repatriation due to natural disasters, political unrest, or a public health crisis. Even then, the Embassy team still has limitations in how much they can assist based on the level of diplomatic relations of the host country. It is often up to the family and friends to navigate the local laws and regulations with local assistance.

The embassy is not a funding source and will not provide funds for any crisis. In fact, many US citizens who returned home using State Department-chartered flights during the pandemic signed promissory notes as they had to pay the government for bringing them back home. 

While your blue passport can get you into the country of your choice, it cannot save you when you violate their laws. Understand that due process and justice look differently in every country, and they are likely not in your favor.

Here are tips you should consider when visiting any country for any length of time:

• Learn the laws of your host and abide by those laws.
• Research what prescription medications are illegal at your destination, use the original dispensed container, and have a copy of the prescription or doctor’s letter to avoid a drug violation. Do not travel internationally with anything that could be considered an illicit drug.
• Do not sign documents that are solely in a language that you do not read, speak, or understand.
• Have the contact details of the recommended legal and medical professional as part of the emergency list on your phone or ‘walking around’ papers. Generally, the Embassy has a list on its website that you can reference.
• Remember, you are a guest, and you do not have the same rights, privileges, or justice as a citizen.

Final Thoughts

Moving abroad using any or all of these privileges is only a starting point. You must create and establish a mindset that will help you adapt to your new environment. Living abroad should not be about recreating what you have left. Shift your thinking into creating and building new, rewarding, and life-changing experiences.

Let me leave you with another thought — moving, living, and thriving in another country will broaden and deepen your perspective on life. As such, your struggles or achievements are all about your ability to be resilient.

_______________________________

As a 12+ year expat, my journey took planning, and I continue to plan to stay internationally. If you need insights, resources, or one-on-one guidance, explore our website and contact me: www.thecareerexpat.com.