I’ve been asked this more than enough times for an article to be written. "Does my age have an effect on my life abroad?” “Am I too young?” Am I too old?” “How will I adjust given that I’m X years old?”
The truth is, age does impact your experience in terms of travel, dating, and living abroad, but probably much less than you think
I’ll break down the different age groups—young (college-age), mid (working professionals), and older (retirement age)—and explore how age can factor into your experience. Whether you’re a fresh graduate with a backpack, a mid-career professional seeking a new adventure, or a retiree looking for a fresh start, every age brings its own opportunities and challenges.
Broken down into -
Young (College Age): The benefits and challenges of traveling, dating, and living abroad as a young person.
Mid-Age (Typical Job Age): How career and life responsibilities influence travel, relationships, and expatriate life.
Older (Closer to Retirement): Retirement and slow travel, finding companionship, and building a life abroad in your later years.
Age as a Non-Barrier: Why age doesn’t need to limit your international experiences and how all age groups can thrive abroad.
Young Travelers (College Age)
Travel at a Young Age
I was fortuntate enough to travel extensively why I was young. Now only did my parents work abroad for a period, but I studied abroad multiple times and temporarily lived abroad post college. In your college years or early 20s, traveling and living abroad often come with a sense of adventure and spontaneity. You have the freedom to explore the world without many of the constraints of older travelers . At this age, most people haven’t accumulated many financial or personal obligations, which gives you the flexibility to do just about anything.