A Gen Zer who moved home after living in Canada for 3 years shares the fastest way to ruin living abroad

• 24-year-old Zina Malas moved to Canada from Lebanon, but decided it wasn't for her after 3 years.
• Malas had high expectations when she moved abroad, and advised against repeating her mistake.
• She also said to keep an open mind and finding a support system.

When Zina Malas decided to relocate to Canada at the age of 21, she was desperate to leave her home country of Lebanon, feeling the political and economic instability there had robbed her of her youth.

Hoping to start a new life, Malas moved to Montreal alone in 2022.

But she was surprised by how hard it was to find work, how isolated she felt, and that she lived paycheck to paycheck, she told Business Insider. After launching her own business, Malas moved back to Lebanon three years after she left, and said she feels happier.

Although Malas realized Canada wasn't for her, she'd still encourage others to try to make living abroad work for them.

She shared three pieces of advice she would give anyone tempted to take the plunge.

1. Manage your expectations

To avoid being let down after moving countries, Malas advised setting realistic expectations.

"It's very easy to romanticize moving abroad. Most people want something new, a change, or an escape from where they currently are. That's human. But those expectations are often not met in the way people imagine," she said.

She moved to Canada with grand expectations of the West, and was excited to live in a country more politically stable than Lebanon.

Malas imagined having the time of her life, making new friends and being social, but found Canadian culture to be highly individualistic when compared to Lebanese. When she tried striking up conversations with people while she was out, the chatter would quickly hit a dead end, she said.

It's important to research a country's culture and social dynamics, she said, but the differences may feel more pronounced when you're there. Remind yourself that you are in a new environment, and that things will probably feel unfamiliar and uncomfortable at first, Malas said.

2. Find a good support system

Although making friends was difficult, Malas was still able to make some meaningful connections in Canada, primarily through her roommate.

Engaging in hobbies, like pottery or climbing, could be another natural way to meet new people while living abroad, Malas said.

Thanks to her social circle, Malas was able to leave Canada with great memories, including hikes, road trips around Quebec, and visits to chalets.

"There's no way I could have survived without their help and constant encouragement," Malas said of her friendship group.

"Living abroad can quickly turn into a loop of work, chores, sleep, repeat. Over time, that leads to isolation," Malas said. But leaning on a support system can help you break up your routine and get out of your own head.

"Everything else will be difficult, but it's not going to be nearly as difficult if you have cool people around you," she said.

3. Keep an open mind

Expect to struggle with your move abroad if your mind isn't open, said Malas. She believes that constantly criticizing your new environment and comparing it to a romanticized version of your home country are the fastest ways to ruin your experience.

Although Malas eventually decided Canada wasn't the right place for her, she believes that she stayed there as long as she did by keeping an open mind. It helped her to discover several things she really liked about living in Canada, even though it was different to her life in Beirut.

For example, she had more access to green spaces, such as parks, and discovered that spending time outdoors helped her feel more childlike.

"An open mind paired with an open heart makes life abroad far easier to move through. You don't have to love everything. You just have to stay curious long enough to let the experience do its work," she said.