How to prepare for moving abroad

Relocating to a new country can be a daunting idea. There is a lot of stress mixed with a lot of excitement. With all your feelings coming to the surface it can be easy to forget some important details.

So, you’ve got your job, your visa, your vision. You’ve packed, you’ve booked the flights and it’s a done deal. With all the major stuff out of the way, take a look at our tips for making the experience easier.

Look into your budget

No matter where you’re going, it’s likely your cost of living will change. Get a handle on your budget by researching the cost of basic necessities like clothes, utilities, food, coffee, and beer. The latter two can be very telling about a culture’s priorities.

Look into renting, as it is advised you should rent before you buy in a new country, but monthly rent can vary wildly from location to location and depends on other factors like amenities, size, renovation, etc.

Lists that describe countries with low costs of living are looking at an average amount over the entire country. Look at various places within the countries: rural and city areas are likely to vary in prices for example. They will also have different priorities so different prices for industries.

Compare your needs, your deal-breakers and “that would be nice” with what is actually available to you in the area and keep in mind that it is common for industries in smaller countries to attempt to take advantage of foreigners.

Learn the local language

If you’re moving to a country that doesn’t have English as its first language, make sure to get the basics of the local language nailed down at least. Confidence in your new environment will blossom with better communication with the locals. The more you use it, the easier it will become.

Make sure to look up the local colloquialisms too. Each city will have its own dialect and slang, which can cause some confusion at first. Think about when the kids started saying “YOLO”.

Also, take care to look up terminology for big things, like a job or home. Most FAQ’s will likely contain the same issues you’re having trouble understanding, so seek them out and don’t dismiss them.

For example, Singapore’s serviced apartments that come with gyms, pools and barbeque facilities built into the rent would have you thinking you can move into heaven tomorrow. However, there is a difference between commercial title and residential title. Commercial title homes, or serviced apartments as they’re commonly known as, are almost always flagged for commercial use. See the confusion?

Understanding the terminology can save you from making a pricey mistake when moving abroad. So be sure to keep Google Translate open when looking up house prices and visas.

Prepare for the “trailing spouse” life

If your partner has landed a job abroad and you’re lucky enough to come along for the ride, you might be met with the culture shock of “trailing spouse life”. Added to the stresses that already come with moving abroad, you will need to compromise the most to make it work.

You might be giving up a job you love and have to get used to a life that wasn’t expecting. It can be an exciting experience, but it will come with a new need to find a job in an environment you don’t know as much about without your support system around you.

There are ways around this, like asking your current employer if there are other branches in your country, or going freelance? Making new friends is a given and keeping in touch with old friends is easier than ever with advancements in social media, but the effect of trailing spouse life may come as a shock initially.

Research local laws and social norms

Did you know that it’s offensive to Asian countries to rub your chopsticks together? It implies the chopsticks are cheap because you’re trying to get rid of splinters. It’s something we’ve all seen someone do in the Western World. Now you know.

Researching the social norms of the country you’re going to will help you avoid any disastrous social faux pas, but the internet is a magical thing, and you will find all the information you need to form solid relationships online. But you should take it a step further. Looking up the local laws will save you gaining a fine, or possibly some jail time. Did you know Singapore has a strict no-littering policy that will gain you a hefty fine? Chewing gum is banned because of it. In Venice, it’s illegal to feed the birds, even at tuppence a bag!

Prepare for things to go wrong

It doesn’t get simpler than that. Like anything else in this world, moving abroad is susceptible to mistakes. And it’s more likely to gain them due to it being such a big endeavor with many spinning plates. Don’t panic. There is likely a simple solution and a lot of aid to help you.