If you are looking for adventure, there’s no more thrilling experience than moving to a new country. Plenty of people dream about it, but very few turn this dream into a reality. Those that do can emigrate for a range of reasons like starting a new job, transferring offices within their current company or simply moving on a whim because they’ve heard great things about the lifestyle of a nation.
You might assume that you can’t just pack up and leave because you have a whole host of responsibilities, from a mortgage to credit card debts. While you might have to plan a little more and take a long term approach to your emigration plans, you can still turn your dreams of living in a different country into a reality. You could still be immersing yourself in new cultures, learning a new language, seeing new vistas, and making a life for yourself somewhere new. The thought of going somewhere unfamiliar all on your own can be daunting, yet it could be the making of you. If you are considering moving to a new country in your near future, read on to find out how you can make the transition a lot easier than you might imagine.
Before You Go
When heading to a new country, you need to ensure that all of your affairs are in order within your home nation. If you are a homeowner consider whether you want to sell up or let your humble abode out while you are away. If it is a definite permanent move, the former may be the best option. However, most people choose to rent their home out as a precaution. Most people tend to be cautious by nature and will like to have the safety net of an asset that can provide financial security should the whole emigration lark not work out.
Renting your home out is a little more complex when you are overseas. You will have to instruct a property management company to act as a landlord on your behalf. Make sure that you choose a reputable one with excellent feedback. Word of mouth recommendations are even better. If you choose to sell up, ensure that you pocket whatever profit you make into a savings account. This can help fund your move, and give you a financial cushion when you land in your destination of choice.
Make sure your credit card is paid off as much as possible. While you might not be totally debt free come moving day, you don’t want to have a hefty sum as a burden on your shoulder. Your debt needs to be easily managed. Paying off as much as possible may mean living like a pauper for a little while but it can leave you with less financial worries when you step onto the plane for your new life.
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| Airport Airline Traffic by Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians |
Before You Go
When heading to a new country, you need to ensure that all of your affairs are in order within your home nation. If you are a homeowner consider whether you want to sell up or let your humble abode out while you are away. If it is a definite permanent move, the former may be the best option. However, most people choose to rent their home out as a precaution. Most people tend to be cautious by nature and will like to have the safety net of an asset that can provide financial security should the whole emigration lark not work out.
Renting your home out is a little more complex when you are overseas. You will have to instruct a property management company to act as a landlord on your behalf. Make sure that you choose a reputable one with excellent feedback. Word of mouth recommendations are even better. If you choose to sell up, ensure that you pocket whatever profit you make into a savings account. This can help fund your move, and give you a financial cushion when you land in your destination of choice.
Make sure your credit card is paid off as much as possible. While you might not be totally debt free come moving day, you don’t want to have a hefty sum as a burden on your shoulder. Your debt needs to be easily managed. Paying off as much as possible may mean living like a pauper for a little while but it can leave you with less financial worries when you step onto the plane for your new life.
Take The Familiar With You
When you move initially, you won’t be considering taking your bed, your car or your curtains. This might change and you might look into car transportation at a later date if you can’t live without your sporty little number. To start with, take the most familiar and sentimental things with you that will pack into your luggage easily. Take some family photos, your favorite pillow for comfort and a mug. These can help ease any homesickness concerns and make your transition to a whole new life much easier to handle. It can be overwhelming when you are confronted with new and different things that need to get done in the first few weeks of starting a new life somewhere new. You’ll need to register with your locality, find a place to rent, find a job and open a bank account. Returning to your new pad to a family photo, coffee in your mug from home and your favorite pillow to relax with can help you feel less stressed.
Learn The Lingo
If you are planning on moving to a country where there is a whole different language, you need to get learning. Shouting and speaking slower in your native tongue will make you look foolish and arrogant. Instead, sign up to a beginners language class well in advance of your move. While you might not be fluent by the time you set foot on the plane, you can at least have a few useful phrases under your belt. The people of the country you are moving to will appreciate the effort you are making when you try to converse with them, even if your accent is appalling or you mispronounce the odd word.
Learning the language is vital if you are moving for work or have moved for an international secondment. You must consider how you are going to live in a nation where the language is different. Sure, the people there may speak English, but you need to try and make an effort to fit in. Going for drinks with new pals isn’t going to be fruitful if you expect them to speak your native tongue all night. When you arrive at your destination, begin watching TV, listen to the sounds of the language and immerse yourself in the culture of the place. You will be surprised at just how quickly you pick up language skills simply by immersing yourself in it.
Don’t Do International Supermarkets
Yes, you might be craving your favorite snack from home, but don’t succumb to the allure of the international supermarket. They can see tourists and expats a mile off and will charge you for the privilege of shopping there. Instead, go where the locals go. This can help you to practice your language skills and can see you cooking local dishes from local ingredients. Following the crowds is the easiest way to find out where the best foodie places are.
If you are thinking about experiencing local cuisine, don’t head to the biggest restaurants that are the chain type. Go where the locals go. The most unassuming restaurant can be the most delicious eatery that offers up some of the most authentic dishes for you to sample.
Find Somewhere To Live
Hopefully, you’ll have a point of contact before you leave your home nation who has already set you up with accommodation. If you are traveling for work, the chances are that your firm will have contacts ready and waiting to set you up with a short term lease for an apartment in a decent part of town. Heading to a new country blind could see you ending up trapped in a long term tenancy somewhere on the dodgy part of town. Do your research before you set off on your adventure and make some contacts. Find out the better areas to live, and give some rental agents your requirements. Always go for a short term lease. This gives you freedom to test the waters and see if you like an area. You can always extend your tenancy and stay put, or you could move on to somewhere new if you find the area too noisy, too quiet, too busy or with not enough transport links.
Don’t assume that you will have to make do with substandard accommodation initially. You don’t. It is vital, however, that you make contacts prior to landing, otherwise you can feel rushed and sign up to a lease that you are not happy with.
Don’t Wallow
As a rule of thumb, you should try and make an appointment that you must keep on day seven of your new adventure. This gives you a week to walk around your new neighbourhood, to get familiar with your local transport links and to find out where your nearest amenities are. It also gives you time to settle, free yourself from jetlag and have some much needed breathing space. After a week, you need to become more proactive at the logistics of your move. Make an appointment with a bank to open an account. Or head to a car showroom to get yourself a motor. Or venture to a recruitment firm to have a chat about job prospects and to give them your resume.
It’s OK To Miss Home
Being homesick will happen to at some point. Even the hardiest and most practical of individuals can be hit by pangs of homesickness. Let it wash over you and let the tears out if it helps. Being homesick doesn’t mean that you want to go back home, it just means that the unfamiliar is a shock to your system.
The twenty first century has made it easier than ever to get in touch with loved ones at home. You can Facetime or use Skype to actually see your mom, chat to your best pal, and say hi to your siblings. Stay in touch with family and friends back home and take on board their words of encouragement that they will inevitably give to you. Use them as a support network and they will help to get you through your homesickness pangs.
Venturing to a new country to start a new life is an exciting, nerve wracking and daunting prospect. Yet, it can make you the happiest you have ever been. Transition slowly, don't put too much pressure on yourself, sort out your responsibilities and do your research, and you will be a successful emigration story.
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