So I like this idea and I’ve spent a little time in other countries doing something similar. The one caveat I’d say is that although it’s cheaper to avoid major cities it can be quite isolating. Depending on the level of english in the country you go to (I assume you are an English only speaker) you might end up not having a meaningful conversation in the flesh for weeks. I spent about 2 months in Portugal doing something similar and even though I sought out English speakers my conversational ability decreased dramatically, it was very strange. By the end I was literally stumbling over words and unable to make small talk with people. I regained it after a couple of weeks, but I was definitely more in my own head than usual.
In a small secondary city you have a much lower chance of meeting ex pats to talk to (depending of course on the country)
> Depending on the level of english in the country you go to (I assume you are an English only speaker) you might end up not having a meaningful conversation in the flesh for weeks.
One should absolutely, 100% make a good faith effort to learn the language of any country you intend to long-term reside in.
It's for your own health. For my two cents, it'll massively improve your standing in the community because you won't seem like some fly-by-night foreigner (common reputation of americans, which is fine when being somewhere as a tourist but not long term) and will allow you to have serious conversations with people or at least give you a reason to try and have conversations with people (who are generally nice about foreigners attempting to pick up the local language).
> One should absolutely, 100% make a good faith effort to learn the language of any country you intend to long-term reside in.
This is a good ideal but as an expat currently living in East Asia, reality doesn't always match the ideal.
1. Some languages take a dedicated effort to learn in any meaningful way. For example, unless you're a language maestro, you're not going to pick up Chinese with a casual effort. If you're working, have a family, etc., you might not be able to make the kind of concerted, consistent effort required to become proficient.
2. I've been to places where if the locals know you speak the language, they will treat you more like a local, which isn't always a good thing.
3. In terms of having serious conversations, keep in mind that language ≠ culture. In some places, the biggest barrier to overcome is culture, not language.
Also, in my own experience traveling and living abroad, there really isn't a "fly-by-night foreigner" stereotype that's applied uniquely to Americans. In fact, as an American, in lots of places, locals will be really interested to talk to you because a) American pop culture is so well known globally and b) they don't encounter Americans nearly as frequently as they do nationalities who tend to travel more than Americans. For instance, in much of Asia, pre-pandemic there were a lot more Australians and Europeans than Americans.
In lots of places, your "standing in the community" will be based on socioeconomic and residency factors. For example, where I live currently, the fact that I'm American, have residency through business ownership, live in a luxury apartment, etc. affects how I am perceived more than my inability to speak the language.
In a small secondary city you have a much lower chance of meeting ex pats to talk to (depending of course on the country)