Move abroad for 2 months.

LegacyUser

I have recently finished in Uni but while I got a 2.1 overall and would have happily taken that at the beginning of the year, I am really upset about the grade as I was harshly marked compared to other students. A fact I am still following up.

I have a small on-line business which I am trying to grow to make it a source of income I could move out and live on. To do this, I will need to triple the number of customers. I really need to move out of my house to be independent but mainly the house is causing a lot of tension and I know from travelling, that being out of the house is good for me, my mental health and my relationships with my parents.

I have thought of geoarbing, i.e. move to a low cost country to live in e.g. India, Vietnam and work on my business there for 2 months. Idea being is a) I could afford to live on my own over there (including cost of flights) and b) I would focus purely on my business and things that have been getting me down in the past. E.G. bring over weight gainer and have that 3 times a day, sign up to a gym with the aim of bulking up. Going on runs to increase fitness, Yoga to increase flexibility, try mediation to help with my depression then go back to Ireland hopefully a much healthier, happy person. Although this obviously is a lot to do in 2 months.

I am worried that with my depression I could isolate myself and end up severely depressed. However, if I move back to Ireland I would have to get a job and this would mean putting my business on hold and probably moving back home. I find it very difficult to be motivated at home to do runs/fitness or gain weight.

I'd appreciate any advice.

MagicMarker

So what happens after two months in India, you can run a little bit further, do a bit of yoga and you've progressed your online business enough to come home and live off the profits?

That sounds ever so slightly optimistic, don't you think?

Everything you want to do, you can do here. The only difference being you need to get a job and move out. Work on your business part time. If you think you can live off your business after 2 months in India then it won't take you much longer if you stay and do it here on a part time basis.

iusedtoknow

moveabroadfortwomonths wrote: »

I am worried that with my depression I could isolate myself and end up severely depressed. However, if I move back to Ireland I would have to get a job and this would mean putting my business on hold and probably moving back home. I find it very difficult to be motivated at home to do runs/fitness or gain weight.

I'd appreciate any advice.

There are few places worse in the world to be severely depressed. India is sensory overload - as is Vietnam.

In all honesty, by the time you've done your yoga, gone for runs, had some coffees and messed about on line, you could be at home working FT and growing your business as a part time gig while you look after your mental health AND have your doctor/psychiatrist monitor your meds.

I know i sound like a debbie downer, but the truth is - if you're miserable/unhappy at home - it'll follow you, double true with depression. Motivation won't suddenly hit you as you step off jet lagged from the plane into a hot, humid country that (either Vietnam or India) will be having it's monsoon periods shortly.

I have seen what you plan doing backfire as expectations were not set, goals not met and the person came back miserable that they had "failed" and were back to where they started, just a little poorer and lot more jaded.

LegacyUser

I appreciate the responses. I understand that when I go back in December, I will not be able to live off the business, tripling customers is almost impossible. However, when I go back in December, at least I will know how much I could grow if I focus on the business for 2 months and the can make the decision to either a) continue the business which is what I really want or b) get a job which I know I will not like.

If I get a job again so I can move out again, then I know the business will fall to the side. Working part time on the business isn't really an option at this point, it is at a all in or not stage. I understand certain parts of India, Vietnam etc are sensory overloads, but there are a lot of places that are very quiet and calm which are highly recommend for geoarbing.

My psychiatrist seems to be on board with it, she is more worried if I stay at home.

LegacyUser

To be honest OP I think your being massively optimistic on what you can do in those 2 months. Most people who take advantage of GeoArbing are people who are mid career, very knowledgable about their field and able to self motivate themselves. You are only out of college, only starting a business and admit to suffering from depression. I know several friends who've moved to places like China and Thailand and started business there but all were very exprienced in their fields before going and went long term (ie at least a year)

Major cities in Vietnam or India have bigger populations then all of Ireland and can be a sensory overload while areas outside of major cities can be very remote. Visting for a weeks holidays while backpacking is very different to trying to live there. If you want to go and spend 2 months to expirence those countries go for it but don't kid yourself that your going to develop a business to live on in 2 months while there.

Merkin

How street wise are you? Have you travelled already extensively to date? Because I've lived abroad in some cray-cray places and not to blow my own trumpet but you do need to have balls and be mentally strong. You seem to be under the misconception that a two-month stint abroad is a one-size-fits-all solution to a number of personal issues when in actual fact a drastic move could only compound things.

How do you propose to grow the business? All SEO or some marketing and business development? What about the time difference? You mention India. And you mention all these wonderful plans regarding your personal development. Do you realise how tough it can be to actually live day to day there apart from growing a company and reaching peak physical fitness? I'm adventurous myself so I'm not shooting this down for the sake of things but you just seem to have some ridiculously ambitious plans to realise within a very short space of time and all while your mental health is already compromised. I just think it's too much.

Focus on one thing for now. Either go travelling for a while. Or concentrate on really building your business. Or use some time to get fit. Or go to a retreat. But take some baby steps. Them when you achieve one goal it will build your confidence and help you to achieve the next one. But do it step by step.

R.D. aka MR.D

Where are you getting your financial figures from? I ask because I've lived in 4 different countries and travelled to many more. Most recently I 'lived' in Thailand for over a month.

It's really expensive in most places until you get settled. Until you get to know the ins and outs of the place and what you should be paying etc and get into a routine. If you are basing your figures on what you read from expats who have been living there a while they are probably not accurate for your situation. You will need to budget more.

A (extremely) rough estimate would be around 2000eur all included. Couldn't you live in Ireland and not work at all for the same amount? I mean why not move into a house share for 400/500 a month and that would leave you 100euro a week on living which is doable for a single person.

If you want a holiday, go on a holiday but as another poster has said, your problems will follow you and I know from vast experience Asia is a bad place for people with personal problems especially mental health problems. You run the risk of 'failing' and feeling even worse. Take for example your plan to sign up for a gym. Doing that abroad is usually the biggest pain in the bum. You will probably be paying way more if you're only signing up for the 2 months as well. I don't know about India but I'd imagine Vietnam is like the other countries I've been in and you have to pay a decent amount to get an okay gym, not a decent gym but just one that is 'okay' by Irish standards.

Saying all of that, if you want to do it, do it but take care of yourself and don't be too disappointed if it doesn't work out. I think you could probably follow your plan in Ireland but it's your decision to make. Just know that no matter happens you should always just come home and start again. I've seen too many people, too proud to go home and they end up in a bad way.

Rubberchikken

do you feel well enough to cope with abroad for two months? it's great that you're aware of the pluses and minuses but the list of things you wish to achieve is a lot for two months. how would you think you'd feel if after two months these weren't realised? would you come back home?

on the othere hand, would you consider moving into a place of your own here and getting your business going while still improving your health?

good luck

LegacyUser

I definitely feel well enough to do it for 2-3 months. It would be a big change but I've done plenty of travelling before. At 16 I stayed in the US for 1 month on my own. Last year I travelled Asia for 4 months, 2 months of which I was on my own.

I would be staying outside of touristy areas which will keep costs down hugely. My current thought is to come back and stay in Kathmandu Valley. I've worked out the costs and they are much cheaper then Vietnam and it is a much friendly place then India in my experience.

I understand that I won't be able to live off the business after 2 months, but I would then be able to see how much it can grow in 2 months. I would be doing SEO, improving the website and training my Indian staff remotely. I could also pick up some programming work on the side but don't particularly want to, I'd prefer to up skill on some more interesting projects.

I'm a bit undecided and actually not sure I could afford the flights out so might leave it until after Christmas and go for a longer period to Kathmandu.

LegacyUser

moveabroadfortwomonths wrote: »

I would be staying outside of touristy areas which will keep costs down hugely. My current thought is to come back and stay in Kathmandu Valley.

You are aware there was a huge earthquake there in Apirl and thousands losts their lives and tens of thousands of buildings and structures collapsed? They had another quake in May and have been dealing with landslides as well. I've a friend living there right now and they barely get internet access to check email/facebook, how are you going to run an online business from there?

LegacyUser

can't log in wrote: »

You are aware there was a huge earthquake there in Apirl and thousands losts their lives and tens of thousands of buildings and structures collapsed? They had another quake in May and have been dealing with landslides as well. I've a friend living there right now and they barely get internet access to check email/facebook, how are you going to run an online business from there?

Yes, I'm well aware of that. I'm not sure where in Nepal your friend is but my NCell sim is steady 10 down 2 up which is plenty for my business needs. At the budget hotel I'm staying in now it is 1 down 1 up which again is sufficient. So I'd use Wifi as my main source and my NCell for any large files that need to be transferred.

LegacyUser

moveabroadfortwomonths wrote: »

Yes, I'm well aware of that. I'm not sure where in Nepal your friend is but my NCell sim is steady 10 down 2 up which is plenty for my business needs. At the budget hotel I'm staying in now it is 1 down 1 up which again is sufficient. So I'd use Wifi as my main source and my NCell for any large files that need to be transferred.

Well if you've already gone why are you asking peoples opinions?

Alkers

Why don't you just move somewhere else in Ireland? If you stay away from the cities you can rent somewhere cheap and the cost of not having to travel will go a long way in contributing to your expenses...