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

A friend is one with whom you are comfortable, to whom you are loyal, through whom you are blessed, and for whom you are grateful.
- William Arthur Ward

Throughout my three decades on this planet, I’ve had the opportunity to meet some incredible people. I can still remember who my best friend was in the first grade (kindergarten was in iffy year ), so little things leave a lasting impression with me. No two friends that I made during childhood were the same in terms of background, family or interests. I simply wanted someone who could keep up with my on the monkey bars – I could have competed professionally ’cause I was that good

Then of course as I got older, my friends looked more like me and we had a lot more in common. The funny thing was that didn’t necessarily make me more comfortable. Even though my older sister helped break down some barriers, my family was still very traditional. This meant that I couldn’t go out on dates or go out and simply be home by curfew. Everything that I did had to be pre-approved by the Family Council of 5 uncles and then approved by the Grand Poobah, otherwise known as my mother. Sometimes I didn’t even bother asking for permission to do things just to avoid the pomp and circumstance. So, this could sometimes make for uncomfortable situations with friends who didn’t understand that I really did want to hang out – it just wasn’t gonna happen.

Then I started to become the person who chose the road less traveled, so that took me away from familiar people and I had no choice but to try and make new friends. I soon realized that friendships are like romantic relationships, you have to work to maintain them or else they end. I may have learned the lesson after letting a few fantastic people walk out of my life, but it definitely stuck. Now that I’ve chosen to live like a gypsy, my friendships are what keep me tethered to some semblance of normalcy. It would be so easy to fall out of touch with the people who I’ve gotten to know and love, but I don’t know where I would be without them.

These are the people who may not hear from me every day, but know that they are always in my thoughts. These are the people who know that after a two-month hiatus, I will call them and continue the conversation we were having the last time we spoke as if no time has elapsed. These are the people who when I tell them about my next adventure will not laugh or think I’m crazy, but instead start telling me all the things they are going to do to help make it happen. Yes, amazing people they are, indeed.

So, to all my peeps past and present, here’s to you!

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.

For me, it stands out here mostly when I decide to venture out by myself. If I choose to stop at a cafe and have a cup of tea, within minutes I can see that I am the only person sitting alone. Maybe it’s the combination of being in a foreign culture and not speaking the language, but it does get to me. I watch the other people engaged in what looks like very interesting conversations. Most of all, they look happy.

When I think about why it bothers me here more so than the States, it’s because I would not be the only one eating alone there. Of course there are always people eating lunch together, but it’s also common for people to eat alone.

So, the question is – am I lonelier there or do I prefer the solitude. I think because it’s the way of life, I am fine with being alone. In the States, I go the movies alone, go shopping alone and eat out alone. And not because I don’t have a choice, I actually prefer it.

For those of you abroad, do you notice this difference, too? If you live in the States, do you ever feel like the culture forces solitude?

This is quite a predicament for a foreigner with limited Spanish, but if you can’t guide the taxi driver to where you´re headed, you’re not going to get there. What’s strange is that you would think they would at least know landmarks since there’s usually only one of “X” in the whole city; however, for the amount of work you do to guide them, you get the feeling that this is their first day in Caracas.

After almost six months here, I think I have at least figured out the “why”. Most taxi drivers in Caracas are not from here. And, from the looks of things, there is no taxi driver training that teaches what I thought was Rule #1 – know your territory.

While a few drivers have actually declined serving me because they didn’t know where I wanted to go, a lot of them will say “Vamos!” (after I’ve negotiated down the price) and work with my limited Spanish. From there, I basically guide them with “a la derecha/izquierda” until we reach the destination. For those who turn down the business, I wonder what they are doing in this profession – obviously, it isn’t to make money.

Then again, I wonder if I’m not coming from the American place of efficiency and if this is a common occurrence in other places…do you have a similar experience?