I share about life abroad, about taking care of physical and mental health and being a full-time content creator running their own (1 month old) agency
What Nobody tells you about life abroad
This realization hit me in my second year of living in Estonia.
The first year of my life abroad was about survival:
How to get a place?
How to manage expenses?
How to take care of food and eating out?
All of these can be managed. All this needs is some experience and a helping hand.
And then, in the second year things started to shift.
Now that I was settled, at least for survival. I felt lonely.
I had always been an introvert. But I came from an extroverted culture. So making friends was never an issue. Everyone wanted to know about you and your life. (which could become quite annoying I admit)
But coming to Estonia, it was the complete opposite.
Nobody cared about you.
Everyone was busy and occupied in their own life.
This was a very rough period. It first made me bitter and resentful!
How come all these people are so cold and unwelcoming?
Why do they stare at me so much?
Why don't they smile?
It was not a good period and I wasn't my best self.
But it didn't go on for long.
Because being resentful takes a toll on you. It's like living with poison inside you.
So eventually I had this obvious realization:
I can't change a million people.
But I can change myself.
And so it started.
The second epoch of my life in Estonia, where I decided that even if I was an introvert, I would do everything in my power to change myself to be the person that I want.
A confident person who is not afraid to talk to strangers.
A person who can go on stage anytime
A person who can take rejection on the face without being bitter.
A person who can show himself on camera and talk about his struggles openly
A person who never hesitates to say what is on his mind
A person who is comfortable being uncomfortable.
This journey took years, but I am grateful that it happened. It gave me a superpower.
The power to make friends anytime, anywhere.
To never be lonely, even when I am alone.
See that is the realisation:
Making friends outside is the same as making friends with yourself.
It is a journey that goes both inwards and outwards.
But that is a topic for another time.
If you are interested, we will cover this topic in the Wk03 of my Life in Estonia course.
There are still some open spots, and you are welcome to join in. Just reply to this email.
Don't forget, tomorrow (Monday 5th of Feb. 2024) is the deadline. After that we will start our sessions and meet all the wonderful people who signed up on this journey.
Wishing you well.
/Manan.
Manan Anwar
I share about life abroad, about taking care of physical and mental health and being a full-time content creator running their own (1 month old) agency
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