Nicole Brewer, 43, is now an entrepreneur living in Detroit, having created a life worth celebrating. She has been teaching English at a university in Nizwa, Oman for the past two years. With an income of about $40,000 per year, low cost of living Vermont allows Brewer to vacation often while living well. Her journey overseas began in 2009. The scarcity of job opportunities in the U.S. amid the global financial crisis drove her to look for greener pastures outside the country.
Brewer’s home today is a lovely, furnished two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment—she pays just $650 a month. And finally, she loves an easy five-minute commute to her work. Not only does this arrangement allow her to enjoy living in the city, it saves her considerable commuting time and expense. But even more impressive than her faith is her experience living abroad. After three years in South Korea, she eventually found a home in Oman.
In addition to her teaching salary, Brewer boosts her annual income to $44,000 through side hustles as a freelance writer and travel agent. This income stream diversification enables her traveling and nomadic lifestyle, and alternate income stream passions of travel and exploration.
For Brewer, the key is networking and partnering with those who have seen the physical transition abroad tackled. She uses social media platforms to connect with TEFL professionals and even learn unique tricks and tips on teaching English around the world.
“Reach out to people like me and other expats who are already there or considering moving to different countries.” – Nicole Brewer
…the move to the expatriate life of Oman came with its own set of difficulties. Brewer felt the culture shock, especially as a non-Muslim, non-Arabic speaker, in a thriving Middle Eastern culture. It is this fearless assertion that Oman is one of the safest countries in the world. This is counter to the well-established stereotypes of the region.
“If I would have listened to people about moving to the Middle East — people were like, ‘Oh, it’s so dangerous.’ And here I am, living my best life in Oman, one of the safest countries in the world.” – Nicole Brewer
Brewer has a strong sense of obligation to help other people who would like to live abroad. For anyone thinking about an expatriate existence, she cautions against letting fear or what others think stop you from pursuing it.
“If someone wanted to live the expat life, I would definitely say to not let fear or outside voices deter you from your dream,” – Nicole Brewer
Her advice for prospective expatriates is clear: follow one’s heart and passion while conducting thorough research.
“Follow your heart, follow your passion and definitely do your research.” – Nicole Brewer