[grapeskin]

I had extreme social anxiety (would only go shopping minutes before closing time or the moment they opened to make sure I was the only person in the store) and had just enough money to buy a plane ticket and hotels for a week. I’m still generally solitary, but have no worries about being outside and around people and money is no concern either.

Pushing yourself far outside of your comfort zone can be a massive shock to your brain that forced you to adapt quickly. If you’re going somewhere with a job already lined up, savings aren’t really a problem. Outside of the US, most employers are eager to help you get your living situation set up.

Plus, as a foreigner, you’re somewhat exempt from social norms. People judge you less harshly for minor cultural things. Eventually you’ll adapt, and at that point people will generally accept you as one of them.

It’s easy to worry about the negatives, but for the most part, living in another country is generally a good experience for self-growth. There are undeniably hard times, but it’s easier to overcome them outside of your home country due to your brain switching to survival mode and having less time for trivial anxieties.