Is better to travel alone or with a friend? A few months ago I came across to a one article promoting several reasons why is better to travel, work and live abroad with a friend. As much as I saw the point of the writer I decided to write an article on the exactly opposite topic. All the information is based on my first hand experience while living abroad alone.
I must admit it's the easiest way how to travel (I mean live, work and travel abroad for more than a few months), to travel with a friend but will it relly offer you the value you are looking for? The best way is to ask yourself: Why are you going abroad? Is it to improve your English, explore the different culture, meet new people, save money?
Learn language
One of my main reasons was to learn English and become a fluent speaker beside exploring a new culture, travel and earn money. I met countless number of people from other countries claiming they are living abroad to learn English as well. The only trouble I noticed was they were always in touch with their friend and speaking their language while at work, in free time, all the time. I was thinking how are you going to accomplish that this way? Of course it's much easier to ask your friend in your own language than going outside of your comfortable zone and use English instead asking another colleagues, other friends from different countries or locals.
Exploring culture
When I was alone I was sometimes getting bored which forced me to get to know my colleagues and locals which helped me to get know nice places only local people knew or just to talk with them about their culture. When you travel with a friend you have always someone to go on a trip with or spend a time together. There is no need to get in touch with locals in which case you are loosing an important part of an adventure living abroad.
Free time turned into the advantage
I was travelling, working, hanging out with my colleagues and locals, watching movies or reading but many times I was bored (bad weather, too much movies or just nothing to do) which led me to many new interesting hobbies and I used a lot of that time to study online as well. If you are travelling/living with a friend in a foreign country will you really have time to explore a new hobby or to study online? From my own experience you will spend most of your time with your friend which is great for the friendship but isn't it what you can do back home?
Problems make you stronger
Many people I met claimed the best advantage to travel with a friend is having a help available when needed. I can only agree with it. I had a bad day at work, I am in trouble, I need a help - I can always ask a friend and he will help me or even manage everything instead of me, great. In that case, did I realy learn anything? Did it help me to get stronger in the future and be able to handle my problems or will I rather "cry" on a friends shoulder every time when anything difficult will appear? I am not saying it's easy to be alone as everything coming your way you have to handle by yourself but each issue solved will move you forward.
Open to new friendships
I had a great opportunity to meet so many amazing people almost all around the world and I still have many locals as friends from different countries. I can only thank to that I was travelling alone. I got lonely many times and it forced me to chat with other travellers from different countries or with locals which was many times beginning of a friendship. If I would be travelling with a friend I wouldn't have that need because I would always have someone who I can chat with or to explore the location.
Finding a job/giving up your dream
I promised you 5 reasons and in case English is your native language in that case it's not a reason for you. Which led me to one more reason just for you. If your dream is to live and work in specific location (especially remote one) it might get really challenging to find a job for both of you in one place. Some employers are even against the idea hiring a couple or two friends (can you imagine how much can be influenced the workplace if a couple or two friends are arguing for justa few days or even longer?). Another reason why not to hire two friends or couple is if one wants to leave most likely both of them will leave and employer will be 2 employees short. What will happen if you will be hired and your friend doesn't? Will you give up your dream to live in that location?
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