thrive WHEREVER YOU ARE

LESSONS TOP TIPS BEST FRIEND'S

LEARNT ADVICE

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READ, PAGE 3
A NOTE FROM LUCY

TRAVEL, PAGE 8
WHAT'S YOUR WHY

BECOME. PAGE 11
SHIFT YOUR MINDSET

PAGE 15
DO YOUR HOMEWORK

PAGE 17
INTEGRATE OR NOT

PAGE 20
WHEN LONELINESS STRIKES

PAGE 24
THE TRADE-OFF

PAGE 28
THRIVE ABROAD SELF-MASTERY
COACHING PROGRAMME

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LUCY'S
NOTE

I'm a long-term expat & a nomad (depends on how you look at it). Also a coach,
passionate marathoner, yogi, salsa dancer, mom, wife and a sister to 6!

I’ve been on the road for 20 years, lived in 18 cities and moved 29 times. I know the
good and the bad about the on-the-go lifestyle. You may have to prepare for
uprootedness and accept that you will no longer belong anywhere. On the other
hand, you may feel at your best wherever you go. So what does it depend on?

Throughout my expat and nomad journey, I've been very lucky to follow my
passion of unlocking people's potential as a coach, talent manager, L&D partner,
performance consultant, corporate trainer, lecturer and a teacher.

It is my firm belief that with the right tools and support any stay can be a great stay!
With Self-mastery Coaching you will not only manage but thrive wherever you are:
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BELOW
YOU'LL FIND
A WORD FOR WORD
ACCOUNT
ACTUAL QUOTES
VERABATIM COMMENTS
TOP TIPS
BEST FRIEND'S ADVICE
LESSONS LEARNT
DOS & DON'TS
FROM
EXPATS & NOMADS
AROUND THE WORLD

NOT
ALL
WHO
WANDER
ARE
33  |  [Link]

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LOST
 WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUR BEST FRIEND IF THEY
WANTED TO BECOME AN EXPAT / A NOMAD?

A survey I’ve conducted among expats and The common challenges identified are:
nomads confirmed that living abroad will managing constant ambiguity when it's not
change your life forever, it’ll open up your
the fuel but a block?
mind and broaden your horizons, it'll be the
finding balance, stay on track and
best lesson about the world and yourself!
accountable in all that freedom?
Exciting as it is however, it doesn’t come
taking responsible decisions amongst all
without challenges. Feeling confused and out
of place can be emotionally draining or those choices?
striving to belong but not knowing which way regaining focus and clarity in the midst of the
is home. I know this feeling too well, as I've ever changing status quo?
been an expat myself for 20 years. choosing a direction when there’s no final
Off the back of the survey, I've collected pages destination?
and pages of advice about moving and living finding a meaning in the leaving and
abroad from expats and nomads around the coming?
world. I've included it in this guide WORD FOR
learning to connect when loneliness hits
WORD so enjoy it and share with anyone who
hardest?
you think can benefit from it.
unlocking potential instead of doing what’s
nomad/expat friendly?
finding the motivation to grow?
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 WORDS OF WISDOM
It’s a great adventure AND a great
adjustment!

Once you move, the world seems very small

and full of possibilities.

Moving to another country is intimidating

but it will boost your self-esteem.

You'll never regret having gone and lived

abroad, but if you don't, you'll definitely
regret it later in life. Do it! YOU ARE BRAVER
than you think you are.

Give yourself the space to explore, discover,

fail, recover. Experiment and thrive. There's
NO RUSH at mastering living abroad.

The moment you move abroad you will

become a stranger in both (new and old)
places. This in itself is not negative, it just is.

Accept that you will never fully fit in. You are
likely to always have an accent, no matter
how fluent you become. You may or may
not look different from the locals. This is
totally okay. It is part of who YOU are and it
makes you SPECIAL in that context!

Give yourself grace because the small,

difficult things are magnified & those are
the moments that will test you, but push
through and REMEMBER YOU ARE.

It takes a year to adjust. So you only start

enjoying the second year and knowing the
third might be your last one, SAVOUR
EVERY MOMENT.

Don't forget to learn the LANGUAGE: it's

literally as free as the air but worth actual
money when you do go eventually home.

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[Link]'S YOUR WHY?

KNOW YOURSELF FIRST AND WHY YOU

WANT TO MOVE

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Moving abroad is starting a new journey Seriously, have a plan or at least an idea
that will never end so make sure you why such a move is worth considering. It
consider your why and give it some careful can be overwhelming but goals and plans
thought. Are you chasing a better life, a should be able to evolve at each stage of
dream job, love? the process.

Are you running away from life’s problems Follow your own happiness - if your family
to start over somewhere else? Whatever is telling you to stay in your home country
you're carrying, it'll come with you so don't and you want to leave, leave. Create your
be fooled that leaving will solve own life and be unapologetically selfish.
everything. Nobody is worth sacrificing your mental
health and if your home country makes you
Be honest as to why you leave the place depressed, just go and find a life
you are in now and what you expect from somewhere else.
the place you move to. Go back home
once and remember why you left in the Keep calm, even if it doesn't work out (at
first place. Know yourself first and why you the beginning) how you expected it. Don't
want to move. Extroverts are feeling such overthink things, be prepared for cultural,
move differently than introverts. If you societal, bureaucratic differences. If you
have kids, find out if the education system have no common sense and you aren't
works for you. resourceful then give up.

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We travel not
to escape life,
but for life not
to escape us.

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 FIRST AND FOREMOST
BE READY TO GET OUT OF YOUR
COMFORT ZONE

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 When you physically leave your country of birth, try not to leave your
heart and soul behind. Your whole 'being' needs to make that move.
Leaving part of yourself behind makes it really hard to find your feet then
in a new country.

Jump with both feet in and identify the Be patient with the paperwork. Be
new country as your new home. Let go of prepared for it to take longer than the
potential prejudice and right ways of ‘average time’. Learn to be flexible
doing things. Don't be ethnocentric. It'll because things will go differently than
help you integrate better and also enjoy planned. And SOME DAYS WILL BE
the experience more. Always move with HARD.
an OPEN MIND and see the upside: you
will be exploring a new city and culture. Also keep yourself authentic BEING
It’s another tick in a box! OPEN TO CHANGE. Your values must
be the same but your answer to certain
Have fun and ENJOY EVERY MOMENT as new behaviors from others need to be
not many people are given the same reasoned.
opportunity being abroad and to
experience it like you will. Always be polite to everyone. Let them
have a good impression of the people
from your country.

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Prepare to feel like everything and Don't expect it to be like your home
everyone is working against you. Like country in all aspects.... it won't be.
you are swimming up stream with Avoid making unfavourable
zero breaks. Everything will be an comparisons between your home
effort for a while, even going to the country and your new country. Do
post office. Just know you will get some research and EMBRACE THE
the hang of it but it takes time and CULTURE for what it is rather than
BE GENTLE TO YOURSELF! what it isn't.

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 EVERYONE
WANTS TO LIVE
ON TOP OF
THE MOUNTAIN
BUT ALL THE
HAPPINESS AND
GROWTH OCCURS
WHILE YOU'RE
CLIMBING IT.

Enjoy the journey

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 3. DO YOUR
HOMEWORK

HAVE DIFFERENT PLANS IN YOUR

MIND. ONE CAN DEFINITELY FAIL!
PLAN B IS “A MUST”

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Write A GAME PLAN about what Also, it's nice to have some friends
you need to do and in what order. before the arrival, so join some local
Register where you can. facebook expat/nomad groups or ones
Research the average rent prices, related to your hobbies and interests so
best neighbourhoods to stay in, you will have people to hang out when
how to set up the phone, bank you get there and won't get stuck and
account, insurance, school and lonely.
other boring administrative stuff.

Do some research on the things Learn the basics of the language before
which MAKE YOU HAPPY and arriving and continue MAKING AN
fulfilled - like where to practice EFFORT to learn and communicate in
your hobby. Check in advance the native language. Consult facebook
where to buy your favourite special groups before you move. You’ll find
food, tea or toiletries that you useful information about things to
absolutely can't live without. If not consider.
available, plan accordingly.

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4. INTEGRATE OR NOT

TRY NEW THINGS WITHOUT

JUDGEMENT

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 Accept that you will never
fully fit in. You are likely
to always have an accent
no matter how fluent you
become. You may or may
not look different from the
locals.

It takes a year to adjust, the second

year you enjoy and knowing the third
might be your last (or at least in my
case), you savour every moment.
Enjoy your stay!

Learn the language, at least the

basics. I would recommend to get to
know the local culture, meet a whole
new type of people (good AND bad),
experience new foods, pick up some
language, learn about how you differ
from others and vice versa. Try to
make friends by joining a sport
centre or activities group.

This is totally okay. It's

part of who YOU are and it
makes you SPECIAL in
that context!
Get out and enjoy the city and learn
the local traditions. Give some of
your time to outreach programmes.
Meeting people, local and expats can
make your expat experience
extremely rich. Don't be the expat
that's always complaining or knows
everything better.

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 Don't expect it to be like Quickly learn how your host country
your home country in all lives. Don't be an outsider. Observe how
things are done and assimilate. Respect
aspects... your host country and its customs and
culture and stay out of politics.
Also don’t go find the community
of your original country right Don't forget to learn the language: it's
after you move (connect with literally as free as the air but worth
them later). They would be too actual money when you do go
much of a comfort zone that you eventually home.
may not make friends with the
locals. If the language is new you Give yourself a year to settle in and
won’t practice it as much and make your new country your home. No
you’ll experience the new country matter how difficult it may be at times,
through their eyes instead of give it a year where you really do your
yours. best. If it doesn’t work, you can always
go home knowing you tried. Nothing
...it won't. ventured nothing gained.

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ÉCHAPPER | 03
5. WHEN LONELINESS
STRIKES

BE READY TO BE SICK AS A DOG

WITH HOMESICKNESS. IT’S FINE
AND IT'LL BE OKAY IN THE END

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 SUMMER ESCAPADES

I’VE MOVED COUNTRIES 3 TIMES IN MY

LIFE AND IT’S INCREDIBLE TO DEVELOP
THIS WAY, BUT THERE’S NOTHING LIKE A
GOOD LONG STAY WITH FAMILY. MAKE
SURE THAT IF YOU’RE WITH A PARTNER
THAT THEY’RE THE EMOTIONALLY
AVAILABLE TYPE. IF THEY AREN’T, IT
AMPLIFIES THE HOMESICKNESS.
Things take a while. You have to be patient. Be ready to be apart from your dearest
In your first 6 months you might feel lonely family and friends. The internet makes
and wonder if you should have moved in staying in touch so much easier these
the first place. You will spend weekends days but still. Distance will definitely
alone and that's ok. Itll take some time to make the heart grow fonder. Stay in
make friends, maybe way longer than in touch, nurture friendships and be open
your home country but it will happen. Rely to the new. Join Facebook groups to
on yourself. Make a list with things you develop friendships and get
wanted to do on your own so you can go recommendations (everything from
back to it on a "rainy" weekend. which doctor to see, which energy
provider to use and good day trips to
take outside the city).

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BE OPEN MINDED
THE WORLD AWAITS YOU

The world isn't going to come to you. You are the one
who has to make an effort to connect with people
from the new culture and with other expats and
nomads. Prepare yourself for being alone
(temporarily) and in the right time you'll have a whole
new environment of new friends and people that love
you. Just keep in mind that isn't going to be built on
its own and overnight. You've got to go outside.
Friends won't come while you're sitting on your
couch. But they'll come and it'll all pay off.

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GIVE
You might have to sacrifice
the standards of your life.
Try not to compare your
country to the new one.

YOURSELF Each country has good and

bad aspects.

Wherever you are in the

GRACE world, if you're lucky

enough to have a space,
have no shame in making
it your own. This is my
mantra when I feel a bit
anxious from missing
home comforts so I go
home and bask in my
space inspired by my
favourite places in the
world... Mainly the snack
cupboard but it's my
space.

Give yourself grace because

the “small”, difficult things
are magnified and those
are the moments that will
test you, but push through
and remember you are.

Don’t try to go back home.

Stay there or move to yet
another place. If you return
to where you came from
initially, you will notice
that you have changed -
your people haven’t (at
least not to the same
extent). The moment you
move abroad you will
become a stranger in both
(new and old) places. This
in itself is not negative, it
just is.

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 P A T I E N C E
IT TAKES TIME

From life-long experience in I was told that the first 3

seven countries: only become an months are the hardest. If you
immigrant/expat if you are truly make it to 6 months you start
prepared to accept that you will feeling settled and after a year
no longer belong anywhere. It’s you are probably good. I found
incredibly enriching but you will that to be true. After six months
never be truly integrated in your I decided I didn’t want to go
new home (even if everyone back. You may never feel fully
accepts you, you will always feel integrated and I don’t fit in my
different), and yet you will never home country anymore. I enjoy
be able to truly integrate back the expat life and feel guilty
into your home country. You sometimes that I don’t miss my
won’t belong there either. old life in the US. Only other
People will have had collective expats understand how you feel
experiences you will not have in this process so that can feel a
shared, the jargon and language bit lonely if you don’t know
and systems will have moved on, other expats.
you won’t know the politics or
the tv shows, etc. Your struggle might be
I think in their own ways people adapting to a new culture, a
warned me that it would take new environment, being away
time, you know: "there are from your family.
stages", but indeed my advice
would be to be patient. It takes Moving to another country is
time to build your life in a new intimidating but it will boost
country. It takes time to build your self-esteem.
up a network, to learn the
language & culture, to figure out
where you can best buy what,
etc. It takes time!

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 GURU WISDOM

IF YOU’RE TWENTY-TWO,
PHYSICALLY FIT, HUNGRY
TO LEARN AND BE
BETTER, I URGE YOU TO
TRAVEL – AS FAR AND AS
WIDELY AS POSSIBLE.
SLEEP ON FLOORS IF YOU
HAVE TO. FIND OUT HOW
OTHER PEOPLE LIVE AND
EAT AND COOK. LEARN
FROM THEM – WHEREVER
YOU GO.

Anthony Bourdain

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 THRIVE ABROAD
SELF-MASTERY
1:1 COACHING
PROGRAMME
A holistic 5-step solution to navigating
challenges wherever you are so you can
focus on what matters most.

Unlock your potential in the new normal

and beyond!

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Why thrive?
Because the cost of not thriving is: being
A Danish entrepreneur in France
emotionally drained, stuck, depressed,
I contacted Lucy when I was feeling stressed
isolated, underperforming at work, losing and needed help to form an overview of several
interest in social interactions, resentful life choices. With her positive and holistic
approach, Lucy provided guidance, support and
about missed opportunities, regretful about
tools so that I could navigate in the right
not living your potential. direction. I can only highly recommend Lucy as
a coach to anyone who feels they need help
Thriving is when despite all the uncertainty finding their way.

and ambiguity, you’re clear about what you

want and you’re confident about how to
achieve it.

When you thrive, you’ve replaced

overwhelm and confusion with meaning
and direction.

A Portuguese nurse in England

You've strengthened mental resilience so She makes every interaction an enlightening
when struggling you know not just how to discovery about yourself and your best ability!
bounce back but how to bounce forward. She is empathetic but professional and
committed to helping you achieve your goals.
Thank you for making me feel empowered at
With my Thrive Abroad Self-Mastery every single session.
Coaching you’ll be in the driver’s seat of
your life and make the best of what you are
best at, using your potential to turn
challenges into opportunities.

Book your complimentary discovery session

and let’s start your transformational journey.

A Taiwanese project manager in

Germany
My life was in chaos. I lacked energy and
Book Now focus. Was full of fears and anxiety. Lucy
gave me mental strength and
empowerment.

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Thrive Abroad Self-Mastery Coaching
A holistic solution to navigating challenges wherever you are so you can focus
on what matters most. Align with your purpose and unleash your potential
with my 1:1 Coaching Programme available in English, Spanish, German,
French and Polish.

Lucy Bolin

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