Cindy and I are gonna live in Mexico City for the next month. Which made me think:

We are technically not just “traveling” here, we are going to be living here.

Which made me wonder:

What is the difference between “traveling” and living in a foreign country?

Traveling

Generally speaking I think of “traveling” as being in a foreign place (not your home town) for several days or sometimes a few weeks.

But I think there is a different mindset between “traveling” and living abroad:

With the traveling mindset, you’re kind of in a rush, because you know you’re only going to be in a certain place for a few days. Thus the goal is to maximize your time there by eating all the “best” foods, seeing all of the “best” sights, and experiencing the “best” things.

Perhaps this travel mentality is a tourist mentality (I don’t like being a tourist).

Living Abroad

Living abroad is different– living for a short period of time in a foreign place, but thinking like you’re a local. Which is interesting because I wonder:

At what point are you a foreigner, and at what point are you a local?

What I mean is to ask:

How many days, months, or years are necessary before you are considered a “local”? Is it a time thing, an ethnicity thing, or whether you were born there or not?

Obviously there is no clear answer, but I think the practical takeaway is:

Treat the foreign city you’re in as if it were your own city (local mindset).

Or for myself the way I think about it:

Live abroad like you were back home.

Thus for myself that means to think:

If this foreign city were my own home city, what would I do and what would I not do?

What I like to do when I’m “at home”

1. Eat at affordable restaurants, to meet new people, to see new sights, and enjoy interior decor of different places.
2. Enjoying walking around, shooting photos, talking to strangers (street photography).
3. Enjoying going to coffee shops: Reading, writing, thinking, blogging, processing photos, and other creative work.

Generally my interests are quite simple, but I like to focus on a “producerist” mentality: focus on making stuff (photos, blog posts, videos) and knowledge creation, not just consumption.

Conclusion: It is all about your Mindset

As a simple conclusion, perhaps the difference between traveling and living abroad is your mindset.

For me the living abroad mindset (local mentality):

1. Don’t feel so rushed. Take your time. Enjoy yourself. The upside of otium (creative leisure).
2. No need to go “all out”; the best joys in life are often simple. Don’t need to go to most expensive restaurants; keep it affordable and in your budget.
3. Focus on creative productivity: When traveling or living abroad, bring your creative tools (laptop, tablet, digital camera, gopro) or whatever you need to produce your artwork.

More turbo thoughts to come!

ERIC