Where to begin?

Where to begin?

Most people start their international journey with a country already in mind.
"I've always loved Spain."
"I think Dubai would suit me."

Usually, there is a reason behind it. Something about that place speaks to us. Maybe it feels safer, more exciting, more open, more stable, more ambitious or simply more aligned with the life we imagine for ourselves.

The interesting thing is that once we become attached to that idea, our research often becomes surprisingly selective. We look for the things that confirm what attracted us in the first place: the salaries, the lifestyle, the weather, the opportunities…

And somewhere in the background, we quietly assume that whatever challenges come with it will somehow be worth it. And.. sometimes they are; but some other, they aren't.

I like to see countries as complete ecosystems with advantages, frustrations, trade-offs and ways of doing things that only become visible once you are living them.

The question, then, is perhaps not "which country should I choose?", but "what problem am I trying to solve?"

The clearer we become about what is missing in our current setup, the easier it becomes to recognise the environments that might genuinely help us find it.

“Am I looking for more professional opportunities? More security? More adventure? A different pace of life? A sense of belonging? More time? More freedom?”


The answer could be a new country, but could also be a second market, a new network or a different way of working.

Sometimes it is a much smaller change than we originally imagined and clarity tends to produce better decisions than excitement alone.

Perhaps the first step is not researching countries, but understanding the question we are hoping another country will answer.