So, you want to move out of the U.S.A?

Here are a few ideas for how to make it happen for you!

Janelle Holden

Nov 11, 2024

Dear Reader,

Greetings from Abidjan, Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire)!

It’s hot here and (not gonna lie) I love the weather.

Love it!

Our Saturday walk at the Abidjan Botanical Gardens with Amber, Lilly, Michael and Rodrique (our local driver and guide) who made the outfit he is wearing in the photo (which I absolutely love).

Today I went to the Sunday HITT workout at the U.S. embassy and found out that the person on the mat across from me doing burpees and pushups owns a condo in Bozeman, Montana (right near where I used to live)!

Which, thankfully, he bought right after university twenty some years ago because he’s in education and a condo in Bozeman, Montana is … phew! expensive now!

“Honestly,” his wife told me, “our friends from there tell me that it’s changed so much.”

Yep, I won’t go into that, but for those readers who live in the greater Bozeman area, they will confirm!

She was wearing a Scheel’s outdoor store hat, which is how we figured out that we had a Montana connection since I used to go to a Scheel’s store regularly in Great Falls.

After our very sweaty outdoor HITT workout in Africa

But anyway, back to the weather.

The two of us spent 15 minutes talking about how we don’t miss winters scraping windshields or wearing four layers of clothing to go on a walk or the dreaded frozen snot in the nose at -40 degrees.

She did say that when they took their kids back for the holidays some years ago it was like a “novelty” and they enjoyed it.

It was the day after the Marine Ball so lots of people were sweating out the night before, after spraying on copious amounts of mosquito spray, which creates this kind of extra oily sheen on the body.

A friend texted me and asked how people here were handling the election results.

“Lightly,” I texted back.

I’ve been sharing a quote with friends which I will put at the end of this newsletter to help you feel lighter about it all.

Election results may be motivating you to think about a change, so if you’re motivated to make the move abroad for that or whatever reason feels most prescient … here are a few ideas you could consider (besides getting a visa to Portugal) that I’ve picked up from people successfully living here and elsewhere across the world.

The Peace Corps Volunteers: Yes, it’s still a thing! You can move abroad and make a difference by volunteering in education, agriculture, health, youth development, environment and more.

I thought it might have gone out of style, but many Americans here have a background with the Peace Corps and one told me the agency is actively looking for more volunteers.
From the website:

“Volunteers receive training, housing, a living allowance, and medical and dental support. We also cover travel costs to and from the United States to the Volunteer’s country of service at the start and end of service.”
The Foreign Service: Honestly, I was tempted about a month ago to apply for a position in the foreign service as a courier, transporting top secret documents from place to place around the world by hand.

My inner Jason Bourne really loved the idea!

And the people I’ve met with the foreign service here are exceptional and support each other in a close-knit community.

Also, I heard that the digs in Morocco are going to be very nice soon!

From the website:

”The U.S. Department of State employs adventurous, adaptable, well-rounded strategic problem-solvers, from diverse educational, geographic and
cultural backgrounds and perspectives, who want to make a contribution to our global society. If you have the desire to live and work in any country
in the world, including those with unstable governments or infrastructures or both – and have the ability to integrate into culturally diverse
environments, we have an opportunity for you.”
International Schools: Lots of people spend time outside of the U.S.A. teaching English as a second language, but if you are a certified teacher you could also continue the career track you started in America abroad, and get a position as a teacher or principal in an international school and have an incredibly rewarding experience.

Doug’s principal did this and got a position in China teaching at an international school in Shanghai.

Here’s a video of the flags representing the different countries of teachers and students at a local international school in Abidjan:

From the international school website here:

At ICSA, we take deep pride in our diverse community and believe our diversity enriches every aspect of our educational experience.
Our Faculty:
- 25% Faculty from Cote d’Ivoire
- 25% Faculty from North America
- 25% Faculty from other African Countries
- 25% Faculty from rest of the World
Our Students:
- 85 Nationalities
- No one nationality over 20% of total student body
Get A Specialty Profession: When it comes to immigrating, it helps if you have a special profession or skill that you can use that the country needs.

Let’s say you’re in nursing or healthcare for instance, or even agriculture or engineering.

It makes it much easier to get a visa to work abroad if you have something they are looking for, and maybe you do!

Go check out the immigration website of a country you are interested in living in and see what kinds of specialists they need. You could fit!
Start Your Own Business (And Take It With You): This is me. I have an online business that I take with me everywhere I go. I’m a true digital nomad.

On the ship across the north Atlantic to get to Portugal I was the only American moving to Portugal. But there were at least 3 couples moving to The Netherlands because the business visa process there was easier to get for startup companies like theirs.

I linked to their process above and that’s a gif of me working at a mall in Lisbon in September.

Digital nomad visas are becoming more common and in some countries, much easier to get!

You can get one in Portugal for a year or more provided you have the right paperwork and lots of patience with the process (but it is worth it).
Get Into Ministry: Take your love of God abroad! I have a friend in ministry right now in New Zealand. Plenty of opportunities for missions work abroad including in first world countries.

My friend with a husband in ministry in New Zealand tells me that it’s actually quite easy to get a work visa in New Zealand if you go over there and find a job while you’re there and that it’s a commonplace assumption (that is wrong) by Americans that a New Zealand visa is hard to get.

And … you can get a visa to stay in New Zealand for as long as 6 months, so it’s another place to go and check out.
Retire Abroad: I’ve met many retirees in Portugal, and it’s one of the few countries that makes retiring in another country even possible.

Most countries are after younger workers who can give them special training that their young work force cannot.

For how to do it in Portugal, I recommend contacting my friend Gail who owns Relocate to Portugal to schedule an appointment to see how you can do it step-by-step.
Space Force: Well, this is actually a thing now! Protect earth and space! One of my friends on the Queen Mary 2 brought her dog with her (and her mom) to help her move to Italy to serve with the newest branch of the military in the U.S. — Space Force.

Last I heard she had found a place to live and a cute car to buy in Italy. Sounds like a dream! Check out the link for current opportunities.
Work for an International Non-Governmental Organization (aka a Non-profit): Go to idealist.org and see who is hiring for international or remote work and see if there is a position that fits your passions, ideals, and excites you.

As someone who used to lead a non-profit, it is a lot of hard work, and full of challenges, but also rewarding and satisfying.

So, there you have it!

Nine ideas for you to live and work abroad.

Just remember.

No matter what.

It’s always a good time to go and make a difference.

It’s always a good idea to try a new adventure.

Love,

Janelle