Courtesy of Lisa Larsson
Uprooting your life and moving abroad is definitely no easy task. It can take time to get familiar with your new culture and way of life. It is good to be as prepared as you can before you take on this new adventure so here are a few important tips to help ensure you have a smooth as transition as possible.
Do your research before
It is important you find out as much as possible about your new country before you move abroad. A good place to start is expat forums. These can be a great source of free information about your new home and since most new arrivals in a country have the same questions, you can be sure that any question you have will have already been answered. For example, if you plan on shipping your car to your new home, you will want to know what car shipping companies others have used and if they would recommend them.
Learn about the culture/language
If you plan on moving to a country that speaks another language, of course you will need to polish up on the language. Culture is also another aspect you need to be conscious of when moving abroad. Every country has different cultural traits and it helps to familiarise yourself with these. Importantly, ensure you take the time to befriend locals and avoid sticking with people from your own country too much as this will prevent you from really getting to know the culture.
Get to know the public transport
If you don’t have access to a private car, then you will need to get familiar with the country’s public transport system. Refer to an appropriate website for information or better yet, get out and experience it for yourself. This will make life a lot easier for you, when for example, you are called for a job interview in some place that’s not close to home.
Meet new people
It can be hard to make new friends in a new country but remember you’re definitely not the only one in this position. Do your research online and you’ll be sure to find a range of meet-up groups that will give you with the opportunity to meet new people. Social media sites, like Facebook, can be very helpful in this regard too.
Take one day at a time
The first few weeks of settling into a new country can be the most stressful. You will need to get familiar with a totally new way life and at times, it can feel like too much. Remember to take one day at a time and try not to get overwhelmed. Everything will eventually fall into place for you.
Maintain contact with home
Do not forget where you came from! Be sure to maintain communication with your friends and family back home. It is now even easier than ever to do this with online tools such as Skype which allow you to call abroad for free.
Enjoy your new life
If you have followed all the steps above, you should be well on your way to settling into your new home. Now it is just time to enjoy the new phase in your life!
