Lost, Found, and Free: My Journey Moving Abroad Alone
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Moving abroad has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life. My journey began in October 2024, shortly after quitting my retail manager job. I felt utterly lost until one late night, when I came across RVF during a panic and uncertainty. That discovery became the spark that set everything in motion and led me to Spain nearly a year later.
Moving abroad was both an investment and a leap of faith. While the legal steps went smoothly thanks to RVF’s guidance and my determination, the emotional journey was much more challenging. Leaving behind my family, friends, and comfort zone brought moments of doubt, guilt, and fear.
The day of my flight was a test of patience and faith: delays, missed connections, and lost luggage all in one day. I arrived in Spain without belongings, but that experience taught me my first major lesson in resilience. When everything feels out of control, your mindset becomes your greatest strength.
Once I settled in, things started to align beautifully. Within weeks, I had my Spanish phone number, transportation card, and bank account set up. I found an apartment 20 minutes from my school in a lovely town outside Madrid, where I now live with my dream roommate. My school welcomed me with open arms, and soon I began tutoring students after hours, turning my passion into extra income.
Despite the beauty of this new chapter, I’ve had moments of discomfort and self-doubt. At times, it felt like I was starting from zero or falling behind compared to others back home. But I understood that discomfort is often a sign of growth, not failure.
Living abroad has shown me the value of slowing down, embracing uncertainty, and trusting that everything unfolds at the right time.
For anyone preparing to move abroad, here’s my advice:
Expect challenges; they’ll build your resilience.
Stay organized and proactive with your paperwork.
Be open to connection, community is everything when you’re far from home.
Give yourself grace; growth often feels uncomfortable at first.
Moving abroad isn’t just about changing countries; it’s about changing perspective. It’s trading comfort for courage and discovering a stronger, braver version of yourself.
As someone who has experienced the transition firsthand, I would like to offer a small suggestion to make the experience even more impactful for future participants. Organizing meet-and-greet events in person or virtually might be valuable so participants from the same areas can connect before or after arrival.
Having a space to meet others going through similar experiences would help foster connection, relatability, and a stronger sense of community, especially for those moving abroad alone. Building those relationships early can make the adjustment period smoother and create lasting support networks abroad.
Once again, thank you for the incredible opportunity to grow, learn, and build a new life abroad. I’m genuinely grateful for your work in making these experiences possible and meaningful for many people worldwide.
With gratitude,
Jasmine
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