Issue 3 | Feature brought to you by Dot Property
From all corners of the world, hundreds of thousands of people come to settle down in the Land of Smiles, and for many good reasons. Here are ten:
1 You’ll find endless travel opportunities
One of the best things about living life as an expat is that you have a home base to frequently travel from, and Thailand has over 30 airports (seven of which are international), an amazingly diverse landscape as well as a location that’s right smack in the middle of South East Asia.
2 There is a large expatriate community
One of the biggest draws for expats is that there is already a huge community of likeminded people who have been living, working and retiring here for years.
3 You can find any living situation, cheaper
Whether you want to live in a luxe skyline-view apartment, become a beach bohemian or spend your days enjoying the quiet of the mountains, you can live the life you’ve always dreamed of and most likely it’ll cost you a lot less than it would in your home country.
4 You won’t miss the comforts of home
Whatever food you are craving, you can find a restaurant or street vendor who makes it here. If there’s a Western movie you’ve been dying to see, you can catch it at the local cinema. If there’s a store that you love, chances are that Thailand loves it too, or at least has something very similar.
5 Thailand is agreeable
From the sunny and warm weather, to the friendliness of the locals, the low cost of living and wide spread use of the English language, Thailand is simply a nice and easy place for anyone to live.
6 There are great investment opportunities
Thailand is a developing country and has already changed drastically over the last 20 years, so there’s no time like the present to jump in on the race; from real estate to businesses to art, there are many unique and promising investment opportunities.
7 Begin to really understand another culture
If you’re interested in learning about what life is like beyond your personal network, living in another culture is the most hands-on and effective way to do so. You’ll begin to realize that other cultures, no matter how different or foreign they may be to you, still function as modern societies and have a lot to offer.
8 You can work on your personal growth
When you separate yourself from your “normal” life, you can take a step back and start to objectively analyze decisions you’ve made, your attitude, interests and dislikes, and more. With this separation comes a solidarity that will give you the space and time to work on yourself however you please. If you realize that your previous life left you with no time to read or exercise, you can now work that into your new daily routine.
9 You’ll realize who in your life is important to you
With technology allowing us to stay connected to literally every person we’ve ever met, our ideas on who is important to us and who is not can become diluted. When you live abroad you quickly realize who your real friends are, which will help you develop more meaningful relationships with people who really matter.
10 Because if you want to, you should.
So many people let their dream of living internationally remain just that; as a dream. There’s no denying that leaving behind everything familiar is daunting, but if you can find the courage to take the leap of faith, you will find more life fulfilment than you ever thought possible.
