How to Research Life Abroad Using AI
Are you dreaming about living overseas but feeling a bit lost on where to start?
It’s a big decision with a lot to think about, but guess what? There’s an easy way to help you narrow down your options with some help from AI! I’ve traveled to 14 countries and called three of them home, so I’ll show you how I used ChatGPT to make smarter, more personalized choices about where to start in your “life overseas” research.
Step 1: Go Beyond the Basic Questions
Step 1: Go Beyond the Basic Questions
When people say, “I want to live overseas,” it’s a great start but vague. What do you really mean by “live overseas”? Are you a single parent on the lookout for a family-friendly community? A student hoping to find affordable education? Maybe you have specific job requirements? Or perhaps things like accessibility or cost of living are important to you. Getting specific really helps!
One common mistake I see is starting with a vague question like: “How can I live overseas?” While that’s a great question, it can leave a lot open to interpretation. You will certainly get an answer, but it might not fully capture what you’re looking for.
A simple way to make your question more effective is to add more details and be direct. Let’s clarify what you need!
Step 2: Create Targeted Questions with Context
Step 2: Create Targeted Questions with Context
If you want to get the best responses from ChatGPT, sharing some background details and clearly explaining what you’re looking for in a destination is helpful. The more specific you are, the better your answers will be!
For instance, if you’re planning to move with your family, instead of just asking a general question, you might say something like this: “I’m from the US and want to move my family to a country that welcomes diversity, has a low cost of living, and supports remote work. What three countries would you suggest, and why?”
This way, you give ChatGPT a clear idea of what you need, leading to responses that are really useful for your decision-making. If you want to explore further, feel free to ask about specific things like healthcare, education quality, or internet access based on what matters most to you.
I tried this approach and was pleasantly surprised by how much more helpful the answers were compared to a vague “how-to” question. I got tailored suggestions that considered my needs, along with insights on diversity, affordability, and remote work policies in different countries. It really helped me lay a solid groundwork for my research!
Step 3: Experiment and Refine Your Questions
Step 3: Experiment and Refine Your Questions
To get the most helpful answers, it’s great to ask your questions in a clear way when using ChatGPT and other AI tools. For example, you might say something like: “I’m looking for a country with fantastic public transportation, a warm climate, and a family-friendly vibe. Do you have any specific cities in mind?”
When planning your future life abroad, consider your questions a roadmap. Focus on what’s most important to you—lifestyle, job options, cost of living, or culture—and build your questions around that. The more details you include, the better advice you’ll get to turn your “dream” into something you can actually do. Happy asking!
Examples of Targeted Prompts for Moving Overseas
Here are a few examples of how specific questions can lead to better responses:
“I’m a student looking to study abroad in an English-speaking country with affordable tuition and living costs. What are some top recommendations?
“I have a disability and want to move to a country with accessible public transportation and affordable healthcare. What would you suggest?
“I’m a single parent from the US with a remote job. What countries are safe, affordable, and have family-friendly amenities?”
These are the kinds of questions ChatGPT and other AI programs can help you answer in a way that adds value to your decision making. Are there questions or prompts you found useful in your living overseas research? Share them in the comments!
Did you find this blog helpful? Follow @URepAbroad on YouTube and other social media platforms for inspiring advice and stories about embracing life overseas, pursuing a career in international education, and forging meaningful connections across cultures.