{"id":13919,"date":"2017-09-11T02:32:31","date_gmt":"2017-09-11T06:32:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/?p=13919"},"modified":"2021-06-30T06:43:20","modified_gmt":"2021-06-30T11:43:20","slug":"ready-live-overseas-take-quiz-find-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/blog\/ready-live-overseas-take-quiz-find-today\/","title":{"rendered":"Are You Ready to Live Overseas? Take the Quiz and Find Out Today"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many people think that they\u2019d love to live overseas. It\u2019s a great dream, a life\u2019s goal for many. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For others it\u2019s a passionate pursuit – a quest to find a better way of life, perhaps a simpler way of life, a higher quality of life, and one that almost always costs far, far less.<\/p>\n

I should know. \u00a0I\u2019ve enjoyed living in Nicaragua for 14 years. \u00a0Raised a family there. We drank the Kool-Aid, as they say. \u00a0And it\u2019s awesome…for us.<\/p>\n

But how about you? \u00a0\u00a0Wouldn\u2019t you like to know ahead of time if things will work out well? \u00a0\u00a0Or maybe how well it will work out? \u00a0Life overseas is bound to be different after all.<\/p>\n

Enjoying a life overseas requires some personal characteristics that seem to be common throughout the folks that do it well. \u00a0These traits can be teased out if we know where to look. \u00a0And, believe it or not, there\u2019s a short quiz that will let you quickly find out. It gets to the heart of personality, the bedrock of success or failure as an expat. So today we\u2019ll look at why this expat lifestyle is so awesome for some – and at the other end of the spectrum, simply miserable for others.<\/p>\n

By the way, this is a great topic, even for people strictly looking at investment overseas. \u00a0The investor who understands who comes and who stays is in a much better position to make wise investment selections. \u00a0Especially as it relates to long term rental properties.<\/p>\n

For those looking to move overseas, being ready means many things. \u00a0Are you emotionally, financially, intellectually, spiritually, and practically ready to move overseas? \u00a0Each of these factors is an article or more. \u00a0\u00a0So, at least the next couple articles will be about discovery. Self-discovery, as we examine if we ourselves are ready to live overseas. Practical discovery, as we look at countries, climates, and the various geographies available to us.<\/p>\n

\"Live<\/p>\n

Tropical Highlands<\/p>\n

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Vineyard Estates<\/p>\n

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Grand Baymen Belize<\/p>\n

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Gran Pacifica Nicaragua<\/p>\n

And because of the breadth and importance of this subject, there will likely be many more articles about this topic in the months to come. Right now, we\u2019ll tackle a fundamental reality directly associated with a decision to move overseas, perhaps the most fundamental for an enjoyable life…your personality.<\/p>\n

Remember the saying, \u201cNo matter where I go, there I am.\u201d \u00a0It applies here perfectly. Some people see expatriating as an escape. However, if the situation you are trying to escape from is something between your ears, it will definitely \u201cbe there\u201d when you \u201cget there.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Most people, however, are running toward something, perhaps a higher quality of life, a lower cost of living, better weather. \u00a0No matter what your reasons for looking overseas are, if you have certain and very specific personality characteristics, then you have the foundation for a high-quality, fun, and successful life abroad.<\/p>\n

Granted, no quick thumbnail quiz is going to be definitive, but the quiz below is one of the best 15-question, quick to take, and fun self-examinations that seems to be, surprisingly, fairly accurate. If you take the short quiz below, you\u2019ll certainly come away with a good sense about your chances of success as a satisfied, happy expat overseas \u00a0There are some common traits that ring true for people who can transition to life overseas, because living abroad certainly requires some adjustments.<\/p>\n

Let’s start with Culture Shock. The world\u2019s a big place with many options and numerous places to live. Each of these locations will have a different culture, and in some cases, a radically different culture. \u00a0But in all cases, how we interact with the culture is what matters for our happiness.<\/p>\n

Truth be told, in some ways, it\u2019s probably easier to adjust to the bigger things. They demand a frontal assault of your attention. You learn what they are, pay attention to them, and adjust consciously. But the ankle biters? These are the things that got to the Cobb family.<\/p>\n

Take my wife, Carol, for instance. \u00a0Her pet peeve is the parking attendants found in just about every parking lot around Managua, quite common in the developing world. \u00a0These attendants work mostly as security for the cars. \u00a0Along the streets, the unemployed take up the role. In many cases, they will buy an official looking \u201cuniform\u201d to serve as the role of parking attendant.<\/p>\n

\"Live<\/p>\n

Note: \u00a0\u00a0Along the street, this service is more like \u201cprotection\u201d in the old mob sense. \u00a0I highly recommend that you let them know you\u2019ll pay them a tip upon return. \u00a0Then your car does well. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ignore them at your peril. \u00a0This is not true in the parking lots of the mall or a restaurant, where they do watch the cars and expect no tip.<\/p>\n

But back to the parking attendants themselves. \u00a0It\u2019s not the car watching that gets to my wife. \u00a0\u00a0It\u2019s the whistle. \u00a0All these guys have whistles. \u00a0And they love to use them. \u00a0They absolutely believe it is their mission to \u201chelp you\u201d park your car. \u00a0They feel the need to direct you into a parking spot big enough for a Mack Truck in many cases. They do this with a dedication that borders on fanatical. \u00a0Hands waving, whistle blowing, blocking an oncoming car that has already stopped to let you park.<\/p>\n

The reality is that 99% of these guys have never driven a car. They don\u2019t have a clue how to park a car other than from watching people do it all day long. \u00a0And they do love to use that whistle.<\/p>\n

Carol and I have a saying: When you want to run down the parking attendant, it\u2019s time for a trip to the States. Ankle biter for sure. But also, a canary in a coal mine when a break from the fun is needed.<\/p>\n

But ankle biters aside, because they exist everywhere, the benefits of international living are numerous and largely phenomenal. \u00a0Our family enjoys life with a maid and gardener. This means no chores ever. It means time to read, play games, and make weekend trips to the beaches in Nicaragua. \u00a0Time with family is priceless, yet in much of the developing world, it can be enjoyed affordably.<\/p>\n

\"Live<\/p>\n

\"Live<\/p>\n

The Cobbs Enjoying Asuchillo Beach at Gran Pacifica<\/p>\n

We also have a huge bag of organic fruit and vegetables delivered to our home every Tuesday morning. \u00a0\u00a0Delivered for $8.00. \u00a0\u00a0We add organic eggs and cheese to the order for a few dollars more. I have no idea what this would cost at Whole (paycheck) Foods up north. \u00a0Our family eats well and healthy for pennies on the dollar.<\/p>\n

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Goods in our Delivery<\/p>\n

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Whole Foods \/ whole paycheck<\/p>\n

We also enjoy the more common elements of a North American life. \u00a0We go to the movies for a couple bucks or sit in a lazy-boy and have food delivered seat-side for $6.50. First-run Hollywood movies in a great multiplex movie theatre like any you are familiar with. If we want Quiznos subs, Pizza Hut, or BK, they are available. But so are fine dining establishments of every variety. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A world-class, 3-course meal prepared by a Cordon Bleu chef who married a Nicaraguan woman and moved back home with her is $25-$30 a person. \u00a0Add the $1000 bottle of wine if you\u2019d like.<\/p>\n

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VIP Theatre<\/p>\n

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Casa de los Nogueras<\/p>\n

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Nogueras Seafood<\/p>\n

Life overseas can be great, and it is for many. \u00a0With 14 years living as an expat, and a total of 24 years working overseas, I have stayed consciously aware of the expat experience as I lived it and worked within it. \u00a0Over the years, I have seen many people transition well to the lifestyle, but I\u2019ve also some respond not so well.<\/p>\n

Who stays and who leaves? \u00a0This was always something that intrigued me. Why do some people transition well and adjust to a new home overseas? Why do others leave and go back? What are the characteristics that make this transition easy for the people who do stay? \u00a0These are great questions and there\u2019s actually a simple way to scratch the surface and find out.<\/p>\n

Take the simple and easy quiz. 15 questions that tell you enough about yourself that you\u2019ll know whether this will be an easy transition to a life overseas, or one that will require a bit of work and change on your part. You rank each characteristic on a scale of 1-3, where \u201c1\u201d is not so much like you, and \u201c3\u201d describes you very well. \u00a0In the end, you add up the points. The various ranges of scores from the scoring sheet give you an idea of how easy or how challenging a move and life overseas will be.<\/p>\n

Here are the first 3 questions to give you an idea of how easy this is. Despite the simple format, the results are incredibly accurate.<\/p>\n