Living abroad

I am have been living abroad since 2011 when I decided to leave everything that I had (job, house, family, friends) behind and travel to Europe for studying purposes/to study. My first idea in/at that time was only to improve my English and travel around, maybe to get a part-time job and enjoy my time alone. Then I would be/would have been (it never happened, so "would have been" is probably better) ready to go back home.

At the beginning it was very difficult to get used to the weather, to the people, the food and the language. (The English language that I studied at home for many years wasn't that good) Even though I studied English for many years before, it still wasn't good when I arrived here (where?). But little by little I started to be/become involved in activities at the language school, with my friends, my boyfriend and at the place where I was living in/at that time.

Suddenly, I started to understand a lot and communicate my ideas in English (in the a basic way), and local people also started to understandood what I was talking about. "Great!!", I said, "I am able to communicate in English." 

Now I am increasingimproving my understanding about/of English. In this country I justonly use my mother tongue to speak with some friends and my husband. My next step is to take the IELTS exam and see how much I have learned in those 4 years in an speaking English-speaking country.

That/Such has been my experience of living abroad, but If somebody can/could share something their experience, it will/would be great to learn from you.

Great, well done. Congratulations on your progress with English and settling down in a different country!

I am not a native speaker, so the text can be further improved. Yet I tried to correct as many mistakes I could.