I’m originally from the US, and I have lived and worked in 53 different countries over the course of a few short years.
It is a great way of learning about the local culture by visiting grocery stores or taking cooking classes.
I surprisingly didn’t experience many language barriers — and navigating healthcare was easy.

I was faced with an internal dilemma in 2017, when universal remote working was just a dream.

Is it better to continue working in an advertising industry that I love, or to follow my passion for travel and seeing the world.

I chose to travel, not because I was older than 25 but because I had more energy and no obligations. It was thrilling, but nerve-wracking.

You can see that being a digital nomad, and travelling from one country to the next for two years was not easy. There were many surprises. These are just 14 of the many highlights.

It is not the same thing as traveling.

Although my Instagram might tell a different story than mine, it is true that I was not a digital nomad for two years. “on vacation.”

I stayed in apartments far from the city center, and not in hotels with concierges. My typical day consisted mainly of writing articles within coworking spaces. I did not go on sightseeing tours.

I frequented more coffee shops than museums throughout my nomadic journey — and it was delightful. I was able to live in many cities around the world and enjoy their culture and people more than any vacation.

I was able to plan trips on weekends and enjoy nights at bars and restaurants.

The writer sitting on a chair typing on her laptop and looking at the beach — Although I did not love working abroad much, I spent a lot of time there.

I did not encounter any language barriers

Each country I visited I tried to learn the essential and common phrases of the native language.

Before I went to the US, I was concerned that I wouldn’t have the ability to communicate with everyone in every city I visited. Fortunately, many locals appreciated my effort — and some were excited to practice their English by speaking with me.

In reality, I was struck by the international scale of language in primary school outside the United States. This opened my eyes to the importance of language back at home.

Even though I had taken Spanish classes since I could be 5 years old. It wasn’t until I lived for eight months in South America that my ability to learn the language blossomed.

When you travel abroad, it is easy to find healthcare services.

Access to healthcare was another issue that kept my awake at night prior to leaving for my travels.

I didn’t know what to do in the event of my illness or how I would maintain my 6-month-long dental cleaning schedule. My insurance provider was so helpful that I spent hours talking to him on numerous occasions, explaining my coverage in different countries. It turned out that all the stress was not worth it.

Although it is imperative to have coverage when traveling — I suggest you always get travel health insurance, even for a short trip — the logistics behind locating facilities and pharmacies is easy.

My Chiang Mai dental cleaning was the best that I have ever had. It was also very beautiful. My cleaning, including X-rays, cost only $35.

The writer giving a thumbs up under medical cloth while a dentist sits next ot her — I have received some of my best healthcare services from outside the US.

Grocery shopping can be a great way to discover more about the culture of a place.

To find the heart of a culture, I look at its food.

From the amazing $60 price tag of candy grapes in Japan, to the over 2,000 varieties of potatoes in Peru, we have a very small view of produce and how they are prepared.

My favorite thing about each country was shopping for groceries and cooking them.

The writer in a grocery store smiling — One piece of advice I have for anyone traveling to a new country: Visit your local grocery store.

You can also learn about the country by taking cooking classes at local restaurants

Apart from shopping for new food, spices, and other ingredients, I also wanted to learn how to properly prepare them.

In every country I visited, I tried to take part in a cooking or mixology class.

Each cooking class, regardless of whether you were making goulash or empanadas here in Argentina, led to fascinating discoveries about a region that are not possible with a standard sightseeing tour.

a glass of wine and a plate of food the writer made on a stainless-steel surface — You can also learn about the local culture by taking cooking classes.

Swapping SIM cards is the best way for staying connected with others.

Surprised to find out that the best way to save money on a US telecom provider was to swap your SIM phone for a local one at the airport.

I was toggling until the third month of my travels.

Airplane mode

. After I switched SIM cards, I was able to use WhatsApp on a local network.

The majority of my problems were related to technology

My laptop was my constant companion as I traveled the world digitally. It didn’t work for me the first month of travels.

AppleCare was not valid for my devices outside of the USA. It wasn’t even readily available. Because I was on a 5-week rotation in each country I could not send my device back to the United States in order to have it repaired or returned in time.

I was forced to purchase a sub-par laptop. While it wasn’t expensive, my work output was severely affected by the poor quality.

I had many problems with my computer and was always open to coworking spaces’ high quality internet. I hoped that certain countries would permit me to access specific websites without having to invest in them.

VPN

Subscribership was a common practice, but this wasn’t always true.

the writer with a backpack walking through trees on a path — It was hard to rely solely on coworking spaces for internet.

Sometimes, renting a bike is the best mode of transportation.

After living in New York City for four-years before I became a digital nomad and began to rent a bike, I laughed at the idea.

There are many cities that make it easy for bikers to travel. Bike riding is an amazing way to discover a new area. I enjoyed biking along the river in Kyoto (Japan) and the coast of Lima, Peru.

The writer posing with a bike outside of a market — I had no idea how much I loved riding bicycles abroad.

There may be times when you are unable to view your favorite Netflix show in your country.

You might find it strange that someone who travels to some of the most beautiful places in the world would regret not being able stream. “The Office”Watch the premiere of the final season. “Game of Thrones.”

However, being a digital nomad was not the same as traveling. I was exhausted from a stressful day and wanted to return home in my pajamas and watch a familiar show.

However

Netflix

There were many countries that offered the same services globally. Each country’s offerings would differ depending on its media rights or preferences.

You might not be able locate your favorite products for wellness.

There are many options for wellness products and brands in different countries.

Many countries don’t have plastic-applicator pads in order to reduce plastic waste.

You should bring any wellness products that you prefer or have special needs with you when you travel.

Traveling light was made easier by a compact wardrobe

For two years, I was able to live with one bag of checked luggage and a small handbag.

Before my travels, my closet was filled with seasonal clothing in bright colors and prints. It is easy to spot patterns and unusual colors, but it can be difficult to mix and match.

If you are repeating the same outfits every ten days, your fellow travelers as well as your social media feed will see the same outfits repeatedly.

These situations are where neutrals can be your friend. You can wear a black top with jeans with almost any outfit.

The writer wearing jeans posing in front of a view of a city — I wore a lot plain tops, and many jeans.

Costco was my key to helping me stockpile a year’s worth necessary items.

I was able to see that my favourite wellness products were not available in other countries when I made the decision to move. I also prepared by going to Costco.

A Costco-size amount of Dove Sensitive, Crest 3D White toothpaste and Cetaphil face wash, as well as Tampax Pearl tampons, lasted me for close to a year without the need to replenish.

Surprisingly these items, along with the rest of me belongings, weighed less that 45 pounds in my bag. My load started to decrease month by month.

Many travelers only collect a few tokens or sentimental souvenirs from each country they visit.

Digital nomads are not content to buy souvenir bags as they travel from one country to another. Instead, they tend to pick up a few items from each location.

Others prefer to collect more traditional items such as magnets, pins and laptop stickers. Others may collect coffee cups from every country, or the most popular piece of apparel in that area.

My sentimental souvenirs include Christmas ornaments, and cookbooks from every country that I have visited.

A market with stores — When I travel, I try to not buy too many souvenirs.

Working while traveling gave me the most freedom I have ever felt.

The things that used to stabilize and root me — a steady job, an apartment lease, etc. — were taken entirely off the table when I decided to pursue traveling and commit to a freelancer lifestyle.

From this experience, I learned two valuable lessons. First, a house is where you make it. Not only are there specific parameters that define a home, such as a city or four walls, but also the location.

You can always reinvent yourself when it comes time to your career or finances. You can make a great career if you are passionate and willing to work hard.

Many were hurt by the terrible realities of 2020, as well as the global pandemic. It’s hard to see the silver lining in a situation like this, but the pandemic has allowed for remote work to be possible.

When I made the decision to travel as a digital nomad, it was a departure from a job that I loved. It’s possible for some to travel the world while working a dream job.

Surprising Facts About Living in More Than 50 Countries + Photos