Expat life is simply not what so many of us build it up to be in our minds.  Many seem to think moving abroad and living abroad are life choices that guarantee a beautiful life where every moment is "Instagramable". It's important to consider that expatriation is a choice in life that will make a major impact on the day-to-day goings-on that you will live through as an expatriate. However, deciding to live in another country, as different as it can be, is still living life. Not every moment is perfect and it's important to embrace every moment for what it is so that when things are going great, you can truly appreciate how fantastic those top-notch moments are. Having spent the past 12+ years as an American expat I've without a doubt come to not only have an appreciation for how different so much of the world can be from where I grew up... but also how similar it can be as well.