Yesterday, I took the FABULOUS bus to the nearest ‘big’ city which is 10 minutes away.  I was craving one of my favorite treats, an open-ended sandwich.  While enjoying my curry chicken and salmon sandwiches, I thought about how blessed I am to be an expat.  (To be honest, I think about this several times a day.)

I first visited Europe 10 years ago and I was immediately bitten by the travel and expat bugs.

The travel part was easy.  I was a flight attendant at the time so I could travel around the world, stay in four star hotels, meet great people, and experience different cultures all on the company’s dime or at least at a discounted price (when I traveled outside of work).  The expat part was much harder…so I thought.

While traveling to the UK, Germany, France and Holland (the airline I worked for has hubs in London, Paris, and Frankfurt) I stumbled across many American expats (mostly employees of the airline); a few African American female expats, as well.  My #1 question was, ”What made you decide to move to Europe?”  The answers usually ranged from marriage and boyfriend to WELL, WHY NOT?.. I hated that response.  At that time, marriage was not an option for me so I wanted to hear serious, heart-felt reasons.  See, back then, I thought of moving to Europe, working for the airline, being based in one of the European hubs.  But I made up so many excuses why I couldn’t do it…”Oh, Americans are not really welcomed outside of the US (Bush was in office then),” ”Oh, my mother will worry (she worries no matter where I live),” ”Oh, I want to marry soon and have kids (there were and still are men in Europe),” ”Oh, I don’t know how they treat blacks in Europe (this was particularly silly because I use to rave about the attention I received in Europe – besides stumbling upon a Nazi rally in Germany ((my public school, college-educated ass thought a free concert was being held across the street from my hotel)) I have never experienced racism in Europe or the US, for that matter- not ‘openly’, anyway),” ”Oh, it’s too expensive (Chicago was an expensive city to live in on my flight attendant’s salary, that didn’t stop me from living there).”  Point is, I made so many excuses to forgo the desire that I had at the time.

I write this all to say…don’t be like me.  Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.  Stop making excuses.  Become an expat NOW!  No, it’s not easy, but you have to try.  Not easy because it requires much research, time and effort, a little money for paperwork (I recommend going the embassy route not a private agent), sweat, and tears. If you are struggling with finding a gig/new gig in the US try looking outside of the states.  Teach English in Asia; develop a new idea in Africa; volunteer in South America; meet your husband in Europe; freeze your ass off in Canada (I read that Canada’s job market is booming).  Apply for positions abroad within your company.  Just do it!

Start by asking questions.  Drop a few, or many, expats a line (on their blogs or via email).  Ask them about their experiences.  Travel to that country as much as you can.  Off peak travel is less expensive and a great way to see the country without fighting other tourists.  Plus, you may experience the not-so-warm weather that country has to offer.  (Sorry, but I’m not a fan of Switzerland’s weather.  The summers may offer warm-hot days, but the mornings are too brisk for me.  And it’s too cloudy; rains more than I am use to from living on the East coast, in the South, and in the Midwest).

If being an expat is not your thing, I recommend traveling.  See, experience, and taste this fabulous world and its many different people.  Three weeks ago, I met a person from Tibet…my first Tibetan (at least from what I can recall).  I had to throw this in there. But seriously, if you have a desire to follow in the fabulous footsteps of other American expats…I say, ”Do it.  Why not?!”

Sounds like sound advice to me To hear more about Kiya’s adventures, check out her blog Kiki in Switzerland.

1. You want to be a Friday night regular at your local taverna in Greece

2. You enjoy figuring new things out for yourself

3. You’re addicted to world history

4. You want to speak Portuguese like a native

5. You still have things to learn

6. You want life to be an adventure

7. You want to really understand other types of government

8. You’ve always wanted to run away to a Banana Republic, and write a novel about it

9. You’ve never felt that you truly belonged in the country in which you were born

10. You love to travel, but you want to experience another country as a local

11. You want to prove your belief that people everywhere are more alike than they are different

12. You want to learn how to make the perfect cup of tea in the UK

13. You want to become an expert on the Moscow subway system, especially the ornate architecture of its stations

14. You want to write a book on Barbaresco wine

15. You’ve longed to live the French way of life

16. You love cricket, and you’re an American

17. You want to live in beach hut, and own nothing but swimsuits and sarongs

18. You want to slow down

19. You want to speed up

20. You need a change

21. You want to study Buddhism in Kathmandu

22. You believe absence makes the heart grow fonder

23. You want to volunteer in a country that needs your expertise

24. You want to become an expert on authentic Thai cuisine

25. You want to take advantage of exchange rates to make your money stretch further

26. You want to study the Amazon rain forest

27. You want to be a gaucho on the Pampas

28. You want to be a chocolatier in Belgium

29. You believe working remotely must have more advantages than just working in your pajamas in your bedroom

30. You want to raise global children

31. You intend to write the seminal work on German beer

32. You believe we really are one world and one people

33. You want to prove to yourself that you can

34. Because job opportunities don’t match your skills in your country of birth

35. You’re certain you’ll be the next champion Samba dancer in Brazil

36. You’ve always known that you were meant to live in Barcelona

37. You’ve fallen in love with another country

38. You’ve fallen in love with someone who lives in another country

39. Because time stands still for you in Acqui Terme, Italy

40. You want to hike the Scottish Highlands, over and over again

41. You want to watch the South African wine industry evolve from a front row seat

42. You want to understand why Denmark has the happiest citizens in the world

43. You don’t believe your country of birth does everything best, and you’d like to learn what other countries do better

44. You’ve longed to know the tides off Australia’s coasts as only someone who surfs them everyday can

45. You want to be a shopping guide at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul

46. You want to write a book of poetry in a cottage on the Irish Coast

47. You want to learn to paint with the glorious light in St Ives

48. You want to be a fisherman in a tiny Mexican village on the sea

49. You want the simple life

50. You’d like to watch the sunset every night in Barbados

51. You really love a challenge

52. One word…Provence.

53. You want a fresh perspective

54. You’d like to go to the Saturday morning market every weekend in Saumur, France

55. Because you can

56. Because change is good

57. You’ve run out of reasons not to

58. Because sometimes the grass is greener

59. Because you need to learn how to take life a bit less seriously

60. You’ve grown tired of knowing your life “like the back of your hand”

61. You want to appreciate what you have

62. You want to learn about all that you don’t have

63. You want to see the world through someone else’s eyes

64. You want to cross off number 5 on your “Top 10 Things I Want to Do in My Life” list

65. You want more sunshine

66. You want more snow

67. Because life is more fun when you take a risk or two

68. You want to live in the unspoiled natural beauty of Finland

69. You can’t imagine not living in the warmth of Costa Rica

70. You want to become a karaoke star in Tokyo

71. For the lower cost of living

72. For the higher quality of life

73. You want to study abroad

74. You want to bring what you’ve learned back home

75. You want to be able to say that you did

76. You want to make new friends

77. You want to find the love of your life

78. Because you’re a free spirit

79. You want to jump start your creativity

80. You want your retirement to be more than rocking chairs and “Wheel of Fortune”

81. You want greater economic opportunities

82. You want to be a dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet

83. Because your current plan is to runaway from home when the last kid goes away to college

84. You want to escape urban congestion and traffic

85. You want to make corporate life a distant memory

86. Because there’s a whole, big world out there to explore

87. You want to open up the world to your grandchildren

88. Because you know that you can change your mind and return to your own country if you’re homesick

89. Because you’re more likely to regret the things you don’t do

90. Because it will force you out of your comfort zone

91. Because you can afford to buy your first home in many other countries

92. Because people are friendlier, and take the time to know their neighbours in many other countries

93. Because you want to live in a country that cares about global issues, like New Zealand’s anti-nuclear stance

94. Because there are obvious places to live to pursue your hobbies (Belize for scuba diving, for example)

95. You enjoy the feeling of being so immersed in another culture that you’re almost disoriented

96. You’re looking for a way to get the children and grandchildren to visit more often

97. You can’t imagine a conventional life

98. You want to face your fears

99. You want to create lifelong memories and experiences

100. For reasons only you understand

I will be the first to admit that budgeting was never talked about in my household growing up. I remember as an adult when I asked my mother how she handled money and her answer was “I just made ends meet”. She never saw the utility of budgeting because there were so many non-negotiable items (rent, food, tuition, etc.). In her opinion, budgeting was for people who had extra money to put away.

In one of my first finance courses in college, I learned the opposite. I then became a fan of Suze Orman and really got the idea of managing my money as opposed to letting the chips fall where they may. In my efforts to stay financially independent, I find that my peers, especially those in the Haitian community, view me as a miser. What I try to convey is that I’m not piling up my money in hopes of becoming rich, I saving money to avoid becoming poor (or in financial trouble).

Basically, I’m convinced that one of the reasons immigrant populations struggle out of poverty is because they are never taught the importance of managing money. There appears to be a misconception that financial management is something rich people do and that’s just wrong. I am already trying to break the cycle with my children who are growing up in the generation of “I want now”. In order to avoid letting money become too important in your life, you have to use it like alcohol: responsibly.

What do you think about immigrants and money? Was/is financial management discussed in your household?

Three months later, Amazon announces that it will reduce the price to $299. Since it was over 30 days since I purchased mine, I wasn’t eligible for a refund of the difference. That was a disappointment. But that’s not all…

About 3 months after that, Amazon announced that it would once AGAIN reduce the price to $259 AND the 2nd Generation Kindles would now include global wireless. Even though I had already thought about not being able to download books while abroad and was perfectly happy with transferring purchases via USB, that irritated me. But they still weren’t finished…

This month, Amazon has unveiled the 3rd generation Kindle at the fabulously low price of $189. This model is not only lighter and includes global wireless, it also comes in two colors –> that’s one more than before . That means a little over a year and my Kindle is no longer an investment, but a liability. In response to my hysterics frustration, some of my friends are telling me I should’ve waited to buy it. Here’s the problem with that.

Being an expat causes temporary moments of insanity. My Kindle has seen me through those moments like a champ. In my opinion, e Readers are the best invention since the iPod. The convenience of the device is simply priceless (I need to remind myself of this often ) So no, I don’t regret making the purchase when I did. I still think it’s one of the best I’ve made ever. No, there’s only one person to blame here and that’s Amazon. I feel like they’ve got me on a Kindle roller coaster, and let me tell you, I want off this ride!

The worst is I know that I’ll probably give in sooner or later and buy the new and improved model. It’s not at all about the nicer design, it actually has functions that my current model doesn’t. And just like the first time, I will be giddy with joy when my sleek black box arrives and I will in essence be getting right back on this ride called Amazon Kindle.

*sigh* I feel much better now. Carry on.

Our friend who recently visited asked me this same question while here and when I thought for a while

and came up with nothing, she said “I’m glad to hear that. That should make it easier to be happy about your decision.”

Not to say there aren’t times when I wished businesses in Caracas functioned with the same efficiency as those in the States. But then I remind myself, I’m not in the States 8). Of course I miss friends and family – but I haven’t lived in the same state as my family for about 10 years. And, with my gadgets and gizmos (love my MagicJack), I talk to most people as often as I did before I headed south.

Okay, okay – so sometimes I daydream about the Super Target that was within walking distance of our house (although I NEVER walked to it). That place was my little paradise; especially on a hot summer day with record South Florida humidity. I would walk in and immediately the aromas from the Starbucks would call to me. After picking up my iced white chocolate mocha, me and my oversized red cart were on our way. I would spend at least an hour buying…oh, I don’t know – STUFF! And sometimes I would go back the next day and buy some more STUFF. No matter how often I went, I was able to shop in anonymity and my hoarding guilt was kept at bay.

Now when I go shopping in Caracas, I go the butcher for meat, a bakery for bread, the open air market for fruits and vegetables, the pharmacy for toiletries and the supermarket for all the rest. To make it worse, there are people at these places who now recognize me and actually want to TALK to me about love, life and loss. So much for anonymity…

What can I say, it’s different. Not better, not worse, just different and I find happiness in both.