2024: the year that was and why expats won’t forget it

Well, 2024—you’ve been a wild ride, haven’t you? For us expats, the year has had its highs, lows. But hey, when you’re living thousands of miles away from home, it takes more than just a few time zone mishaps to mess up your vibe. On the other hand we had our share of nice vibes too: superbowl 2024, Olympics 2024, festivals, solar eclipse 2024, Tesla optimus robots and more spectacular inventions, elections in many countries worldwide. Let’s look back at what made 2024 so special for expats worldwide!

1. The “Work From Anywhere” Revolution—For Better and Worse

Ah, the beauty of being able to work from a beach in Bali or a café in Paris! But let’s not forget the nightmare of endless Zoom calls while you’re still in your pajamas (pro tip: turn off your camera). In 2024, companies really doubled down on flexible work options—mostly so they could save on office space. For expats, this meant endless opportunities for procrastination in a new time zone. Did we work hard? Sure. Did we also enjoy a 2-hour lunch break because, well, it was 3 PM at home? Absolutely.

2. The Global “Gift Card” or “Mobile Top-up” Frenzy

Let’s face it: if you’re an expat, offering or receiving a gift card is like a virtual hug. And in 2024, gift cards became the currency of international love. From sending mobile top-ups to family back home (because international calling rates are still a joke), to splurging on online shopping without stepping foot in a mall (RIP, physical retail), gift cards were our lifeline. And if you were lucky enough to snag a top-up “bonus” during weekend promos, well, you were basically the hero of the family.

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3. World Events That Made Us Seriously Grateful for Wi-Fi

From natural disasters to international politics (don’t even get us started), 2024 had its fair share of world events that made us grateful for our Wi-Fi connection. Seriously, could you imagine navigating a crisis back in the 80s when your only connection to home was a phone booth and a prayer? In 2024, when the world got wild, we just jumped on WhatsApp to check in with loved ones. Phew.

4. The “I’ll Visit You in 2025” Syndrome

How many times did you tell yourself (and your family) that you’d visit them next year? In 2024, many expats decided that yes, this was the year to go back home—only to have visa restrictions, flight prices, or, well, life get in the way. But no worries! We’ve all adopted the “I’ll see you in 2025” mantra. Maybe. Probably. Saving seems more important than ever.

5. Inflation: The Silent Partner in Every Expat Relationship

2024 made expats get real with their spending habits—again. That latte you used to get for the price of a bus ticket? Yeah, it’s now your lunch. And don’t even think about buying a round of drinks for the group—unless you’re willing to sell your kidney. Inflation may have taken its toll, but it also brought us all closer together… through shared complaints.

Conclusion:

So, was 2024 the best year for expats? Maybe not. Was it the most chaotic, meme-worthy year? Not really. But here’s the thing: through all the crazy world events, travel delays, and expensive groceries, we learned a lot. Like how to send money home without paying high fees, sending gifts in seconds, how to survive on 4 hours of sleep (thanks, time zone differences!), and how much we really value our family and friends—no matter where we are.

Here’s to 2025! Maybe this is the year we’ll finally take that vacation… or not.