By Izza Imdad, Narr Contributor
Every second guy dreams of going abroad. The picture in our heads is simple: you’ll study, get a degree, earn in dollars, send money home, life set. Reality? It’s way messier. You’re not just leaving Pakistan, you’re leaving your whole comfort zone—family, friends, even your plate of daal chawal—for some unknown country where nobody even knows your name.
The shock starts right after landing. First thing everyone scrambles for is a job. You think you’ll find something decent, but truth is most end up doing dishes in restaurants or delivering food for peanuts. And that’s the part nobody told you. If you want to avoid falling into that rut, you honestly need to start preparing months before you leave.
Take Australia. People here need skilled trade workers all the time—plumbers, sparkies (electricians), mechanics, construction guys. These are not “degree” jobs, but they pay solid money and keep you stable. If you know a bit of trade work, you’re already ahead of half the students who end up stuck in minimum-wage grind.
Then comes communication. Bro, this is huge. Australians really notice how you talk and carry yourself. Interviews? Half of it is just your confidence. You freeze when they say “tell me about yourself,” you’re done. Work on this before leaving. Don’t think English alone matters—it’s how confident and clear you are that gets you the job.
And let’s be real—not everyone has trade skills or polished English. That’s where something simple like an international driving license helps. Uber Eats, DoorDash, ride-share—it’s not glamorous, but it pays rent, keeps you afloat, and saves you from constantly borrowing money.
Another trap most students fall into: PR (Permanent Residency). Around 80% just follow whatever their study consultant says. Big mistake. That can cost you one full semester fee—12 to 14 thousand AUD. That’s more than 2.5 million rupees gone just like that. Do your own research. Don’t let someone else make decisions about your future.
Then there’s the small stuff nobody thinks about. Back home, your mom probably still cooks, washes clothes, keeps everything sorted. Over here, you’re on your own. If you don’t know cooking, laundry, cleaning, you’ll struggle every single day. And culturally, Australia is not Pakistan. People really value their personal space, independence, equality. If you’re not careful and sensitive to that, you’ll just feel isolated.
Going abroad is tough. It’s lonely. Some nights you’ll sit and ask yourself why you even left home. But if you prepare before landing—financially, emotionally, even in these little daily life things—it’s not as brutal. Keep your own values, stay open to learning new ones, and you’ll not just survive, you’ll actually grow.
At the end of the day, don’t think of going abroad as an escape. Think of it as building a life where you can be proud of your roots and also of where you’re heading.
This article was written by Izza Imadad, a Pakistani student currently studying in Tasmania, Australia.
Thinking about moving abroad? Don’t miss our other article on The Best Places to Live Abroad in 2025.
