So many of the conversations I’ve had with expat women over the years begin with the hard stuff. The feelings of overwhelm in those first 3-6 months, anxiety and uncertainty about the future, a sense of identity loss, questions about career prospects, and homesickness.

And yes, all of those things are real. I talk about them often, because it’s important we don’t sugarcoat the expat experience for women moving abroad.

But today, I want to flip the script.

Because despite the challenges, there’s a whole other side of expat life that often gets overshadowed: the rewarding personal growth and deeply enriching side. Living abroad can be about stepping into a completely different version of life. One that opens your eyes to new perspective and ways of living and adds layers to you, that you’ve probably never imagined possible.

A Front-Row Seat to Diversity

When we moved to Singapore, I was immediately blown away by the incredible diversity of people and cultures living on the “Little Red Dot,” as it’s affectionately known. An astonishing 6 million people coexist in harmony on this tiny island, living in densely populated high-rises across just 750 square kilometres (290 square miles).

Within just a few blocks of downtown, you’ll find a towering Hindu temple adorned with colourful statues of gods and goddesses, the golden-domed mosque of Arab Street, the vibrant Buddha temples of Chinatown, and the grand Christian and Catholic cathedrals — each a pillar of tradition, spirituality, and community.

What amazed me most wasn’t just the diversity itself, but the genuine public respect people have for one another. Public holidays in Singapore celebrate Muslim, Christian, Chinese, and Indian festivals, and the attitude goes beyond tolerance — it’s a true celebration of cultures. It starts from a young age, with children learning the meaning and traditions of each culture at school, creating a foundation of quiet respect for people’s beliefs, customs, and ways of life.

Having spent most of my life living in Melbourne, Australia and areas the United States, I’ve experienced large cites full of cultural diversity BUT still learning how to embrace true harmony and respect for all beliefs. It was beautiful and humbling to witness. It gave me a new appreciation for how different belief systems and traditions CAN peacefully coexist when mutual respect is at the center.

Let’s Talk About the Food

One of the best parts of being an expat? The food. Full stop.

In Singapore, our weekends (like most people’s!) often revolved around food. Singaporean’s are said to have two main hobbies – eating and shopping – and there is an enormous amount of options if you like both.

When you’re new to a place and don’t know anyone yet, the easiest way to connect with the city is through its food. Coffee is my husband’s addiction, and brunch is my favourite meal so each week we would source a new Sunday brunch spot to try at cafe’s all over the island.

This gave us a) something to look forward to each week b) a tour of Singapore. My husband thankfully soon found Gracie’s Espresso, Toby’s Estate and the Common Man for a taste of Melbourne-like coffee.

But before long, our most-loved meals became shared dinners at the hawker centres — we’d hop on our bikes and ride down the Alexandra Canal, chasing the buzz of local life and incredible asian food options.

Bustling open-air food courts where you could eat some of the best local dishes for just a few dollars. From steaming bowls of laksa and spicy nasi lemak, to Indian biryani, Malay satay, and dim sum—every meal was a chance to try something new.

I’ve also developed a whole new appreciation for chili, that’s for sure! 🌶️

More than the delicious flavors and spices, what really stood out to me is how deeply people valued gathering around a shared meal.

Whether it’s families, friends, or colleagues at lunch, eating together is an important daily tradition — far beyond just convenience. It’s not about grabbing a plate and sitting in front of the TV at home; it’s about connection, conversation, and community.

In Singapore, I saw this everywhere. And it taught me something: you don’t just taste a country’s food — you start to understand its culture. The ingredients, the preparation, the customs of mealtime — they all tell a story. And when you live abroad, those stories begin to weave into your own.

Travel Becomes a Lifestyle

Another massive perk of expat life? Proximity to places you’ve only dreamed of visiting.

Living in Singapore meant we could easily pop over to Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, or Indonesia for a vacation or even a long weekend! Travel became less of a “once-a-year” big event and more of a regular part of life.

You begin to collect life-time experiences, not just the souvenirs. Kayaking in Borneo, learning to surf in Lombok, snorkelling with Turles on Gilli T island, a girls weekend jetskiing around Langkawi, and a slide on the worlds longest waterslide in Penang.

My son’s school camps took him by ferry to islands off the coast of Indonesia, where he helped a local family install water pipes from a newly built well in a community that had never had running water. He also competed in annual swim meets in places like Bangkok, Thailand — where we got to travel and join the experience.

There’s something transformative about seeing how other people live, not from a tourist bus, but from a place of real curiosity and presence. You begin to question your assumptions, shift your values, and appreciate things you may have taken for granted back home.

The Opportunities Are Next Level

Not only opportunities for the expat whose career you’ve moved abroad for, but also in some instances once-in-a-lifetime experiences for the whole family.

One of those once-in-a-lifetime moments happened not long after we moved to Florida in 2024. When we were asked to relocate from Singapore to the USA for my husband’s job, we found ourselves in a rare situation — the company gave us the freedom to choose where we lived, as long as it was on the East Coast and within close proximity to an airport.

Let me repeat for any new Expats – this is a VERY RARE occurance! And likely only because my husband’s company has an almost 90% remote workforce.

One of the reasons we decided on the “Sunshine State” of Florida was for the weather (of course!), also for the lower tax bracket (yay!), and because Florida is known for its highly competitive swim programs. The University of Florida’s head swim coach lead the USA’s Men’s Olympic team in Paris 2024, 6 of the 46 swimmers were from Florida, with 4 of those 6 swimmers winning medals (multiple gold’s!) at the games. My son has an aspirations to become a top Breaststroker and attend an Olympic Games one day (we’d love to suppor this dream!).

We knew we made the right choice, when my son joined the local swim club – the very same club where Olympic gold medallist Bobby Finke, trained in his early years, and where his father still coaches. Bobby Finke is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and world champion in distance freestyle, known for his thrilling late-race comebacks.

Incredibly, my son not only got to meet Bobby after the Olympics, but also later got to swim at the SAME local (off-season) meet as Bobby with the legendary Katie Ledecky in attenance too. He was literally on the pool deck with swimming royalty! To be part of a race meet featuring two of the world’s greatest swimmers was an experience beyond anything we could have imagined. Seeing my son watch his heroes compete up close, feeling the energy of the crowd, and witnessing firsthand what’s possible with hard work and dedication — it was a memory we’ll treasure forever. It still makes me teary just thinking about it.

Moments like this remind me why stepping out of our comfort zone and embracing a new chapter can open doors we never EVEN knew existed.

Growth You Can’t Get Anywhere Else

Expat life has a way of growing you from the inside out. You learn to navigate unfamiliar systems, build new relationships from scratch, and find creative ways to communicate when language becomes a barrier.

What I’ve also found is that living abroad often gifts you the time and space to truly get to know yourself on a deeper level. Away from the familiar pace, routine, family commitments and ‘expectations’ back home, you have the chance abroad to pause, reflect, and reconnect with your values.

You build emotional resilience in the face of uncertainty, and you foster even deeper connections with yourself and your immediate family, as you rely on each other like never before.

In a way you become more flexible, and open-minded.

Living abroad gives you perspective. You start to see yourself—not just as a citizen of your country—but as a citizen of the world. I think the biggest lesson for me has been that you learn that there’s no single “right way” to live. You see how other cultures approach family, work, time, health, and community—and it opens the door for you to redefine what matters most in your own life.

The Unexpected Magic

And then there’s the magic you can’t plan for! The surprise expat and local friendships you make, the celebrations and milestones you’re a part of, the quiet contentment of finding your rhythm in a brand-new place.

• The moment you realize the foreign is becoming familiar
• The pride you feel when you can navigate the city on your own
• The beauty of seeing your children thrive in a a new environment
• The growth that happens when you realize—you did this. You built a life abroad!

If you’re considering a move abroad and wondering if it’s worth it—it absolutely is. Not because it’s easy, but because it’s rich.

The experiences you’ll gain, the people you’ll meet, and the perspective you’ll develop will stay with you for a lifetime.

Yes, there will be hard days. But there will also be incredible moments that make you pause, smile, and say:

“Wow… this is my life now!” And that feeling?

That’s the reason why we go.

-Janel Briggs

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About the Author.

Janel Briggs is the founder of the Expat Women’s Collective. Having navigated 4 international moves across 3 different life stages, she understands firsthand the challenges and rewards of expat life and relocating your entire world abroad.

Through her professional career as a Confidence & Mindset Coach (since 2018), Janel has spent many years empowering women with the skills to embrace change, rediscover their identity after big life transitions, navigate uncertainty and anxiety and build more fulfilling wherever they find themselves in the world!

Comments or Questions? Reach out! hello@expatwomenscollective.com