26F Black American looking for relocation advice from people who’ve moved abroad
I’ve always wanted to live abroad, but I’m not sure where to start.
I’m interested in relocating somewhere in East Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, or Southeast Asia. Countries I’m considering: Kenya, Ethiopia, Malaysia, Peru, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Barbados, the Philippines, and Thailand.
I’ve been learning Spanish on and off for about 5 years and I’m at a B2 level. My partner is fluent in Spanish and English and is currently learning Chinese.
We’ve both taken DNA tests, and I made sure to get my whole family tested before they passed away. Unfortunately, my family doesn’t have any recent ties to Africa or the Caribbean. (Barbados and Jamaica showed up, but those connections are so distant that I wouldn’t qualify for citizenship by descent.) The DNA tests basically confirmed that my family has been in the U.S. for generations, so I’m planning on immigrating through work or another visa instead. My partner’s grandparents are Argentinian, but he isn’t interested in getting citizenship.
I say all that because I’m trying to do this right. I have no debt, good credit, and savings. I’m going to school for culinary arts (probably not the best field, but I enjoy it), I have some knowledge of IT, and I have a Level 5 TEFL certification to teach English as a foreign language. I’m currently unemployed, so I don’t plan on leaving without a good-paying job. I’m looking, but no luck so far. My partner has been reselling, and that’s what’s been keeping us afloat while I focus on school and language learning.
I know finding a job, earning a stable income, and learning to integrate into a new culture are going to be my biggest hurdles. So, I’d really like some advice.
What helped you successfully move abroad?