Buying overseas property and living abroad can be a life enhancing experience
Living abroad is a unique experience. Getting a taste of a foreign culture can enhance your life and business skills and increase your confidence. Indeed, it is very often different lifestyles and rich foreign culture that attracts many Brits to buying an overseas property in the first place.
However, packing your bags and heading off into the sunset (even for a fortnight!) may expose you to more than you are prepared for. Few people living abroad adapt to their new environment immediately. But if you do your research before choosing where to buy your overseas property or holiday home, you will be better equipped and probably adjust quicker to the foreign culture. Here are some cultural issues to be aware of:
Learn the language of the country where you will be living abroad
Language is an important ingredient of every country´s culture and history, so, being able to converse in the local lingo when you move to your overseas property subliminally signals an understanding or affinity for your neighbours. Also, if few people speak English where you are living abroad, you will obviously feel less isolated and will be able to develop friendships if you learn the language. Even speaking it badly will be much appreciated.
Living abroad doesn´t always mean clean air
Smoking is still widespread, and even increasing, in certain foreign cultures. Indeed, in some countries (including Greece, Portugal, Romania and Poland) it can often seem that every adult smokes. Where heavy smoking is the norm, or at least culturally acceptable, non-smokers may be given little consideration, and signs forbidding lighting up may be ignored. Ardent non-smokers may find living abroad in such countries difficult.
For non-smokers looking to buy or rent an overseas property in a cleaner, fresher environment, the following countries might be a better bet for living abroad because they have all banned smoking in (some or all) public places: Canada, Cuba, Ireland, Italy, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Iran, Tanzania and some US states.
Religion plays a big part in many foreign cultures and needs to be respected
In some foreign cultures, religion plays a major part of daily life. Whether that religion is Buddism, Islam, Hindu, Christianity, Mormon or any other, anyone buying an overseas property in such a culture should be prepared to respect the religion and its traditions, and to alter their behaviour so as to not cause offence (or potentially find themselves on the wrong side of the law). This can mean accepting restrictions, especially in terms of dress, movement and the availability of certain foods and drink.
Women, in particular, may find that religious traditions limit their movements and freedom to self-expression quite considerably. Before setting off on holiday or buying an overseas property in such a foreign culture, be sure you can respect and cope with such circumstances. If you are considering living abroad in your overseas property on a permanent basis, be sure you could be enriched by such an experience.
Living abroad may be more culturally shocking for women than men
As mentioned above, many religious restrictions are directed at women - many more than limit men´s behaviour. Sometimes there are cultural restrictions, too. Macho behaviour still prevails in many foreign cultures where many Brits buy overseas property; even in business, women living abroad may be expected to keep their opinions to themselves, dress conservatively, and tolerate what in the UK would be regarded as inappropriate touching or sexual innuendo. Elsewhere, a macho culture may manifest itself in an expectation of demureness from women and a greater regard for homemaking skills than intellect or practical ability.
Watch your body language when living abroad
It is easy to unwittingly offend people from foreign cultures by using body language or signs that would not raise an eyebrow in the UK. In many parts of the world where buyers of overseas property are choosing to invest, it is an insult to show the sole of your shoe so take care when crossing your legs. Similarly, many foreign cultures make a distinction between the right hand (good, clean) and left hand (not clean). Anyone living abroad in a country where this view prevails should be sure to only use the right hand when passing items to others, accepting items, and shaking hands.
Handshaking is not the norm in all foreign cultures, especially in the Far East, while the kissing of a woman´s hand is still common in some parts of Eastern Europe where many Brits are investing in overseas property. The thumbs up sign is considered rude in Bangladesh, Nigeria and Australia and the OK sign is taboo in Brazil but means ´worthless´ in France.
If you are considering Bulgaria as the location for your overseas property, don´t forget that ´yes´ is indicated by a shake of the head, and ´no´ is expressed with a nod.
Buying your overseas property near other expats to reduce the challenge
Life can be very challenging if you are living abroad in a country where hardly anyone speaks English and the culture is radically different to what you are used to. Living abroad may be easier if you buy your overseas property where there is a large expat community because you will then be able to mix with people who share the same or similar culture.
However, while living abroad and mixing entirely with other expats may reduce the impact of the foreign culture and lessen the risk of breaking local taboos, you will not make friends with the locals nor experience the pleasure of learning about another culture - both such rewarding aspects of living in an overseas property.
