12 Things To Leave Behind When You Move Abroad part 2 – Part one is here.

Benefits of Relocating Abroad

If you are planning to have an international experience, you might want to consider what will happen after your job contract end. Will you go back home or stay abroad?

The obvious answer would be that it depends on the lifestyle you are used to, but other factors may influence your decision. Finding a new place to live is not easy, but if you follow our advice, you can move abroad with these seven benefits.

1.    Personal Experience

Some people say that the most important thing in life is to gain experience and travel as much as possible to live unforgettable moments. Moving abroad is an international experience that you will never forget, also giving your personality a boost and making you grow as a person.

2.    Language Learning

Language learning is important, especially if you want to move abroad in the future and need to adapt quickly. If you learn the country’s language you will be moving to, it will be easier for your integration and life in general. You can practice on Duolingo and join an international community to help you.

3.    Make New Friends

When you move abroad, your lifestyle changes completely. You will be surrounded by people from different countries who know about different cultures than your own to learn a lot more about the world.

Of course, making new friends is one of the most enjoyable parts of this experience, and you will probably end up with friends from different countries who will be able to recommend other places abroad.

4.    Career Opportunities

The job market is very competitive in every country, so if you want to stand out, it’s better to get international experience. This way, you enhance your resume because your skills are much more marketable.

Meanwhile, you will find out what the job market is like in different countries and areas, helping you decide where you want to work.

5.    Personal Development

Another great benefit of moving abroad is that every day you are in a new place, it’s like opening your mind to different experiences and people. You will learn much more about yourself when you are forced to adapt to another place, culture, language, etc., so this experience can be even better than therapy.

6.    Financial Benefits

Many people think that moving abroad will be very costly and require a lot of money, but this is not always the case. If you want to save money when relocating, you can buy a plane ticket with points or look for a place that requires less money in general. Besides, if you have a job in the new country, they will most likely pay for your moving expenses.

7.    Fun Experiences

While the experiences mentioned above are all good and worth it, there is always fun to be had when you move abroad too. You can travel more often because flights are cheaper from some countries, so you have no excuse to miss out on all the fun. Plus, you can meet friends in other places and visit them, so you will never run out of things to do after you move abroad.

7 Things to Pack While Relocating Abroad

Taking a move to another country is a big deal. You have different things to take care of, and packing is just one of them. Sometimes, it can be overwhelming when you look at your home, and you need to pack all that up into boxes, which will then fit in the moving truck. In order to make this task more straightforward for you, here are seven things you should pack while relocating abroad.

Your Passport

You need that no matter what! No, but really, it’s the most important thing that proves who you are and where you come from. If somehow your wallet gets stolen or lost, at least the passport is safe. However, if you have lost your passport, read our blog post on how to get a new one.

Address Book

Since you will live in another country, it’s safe to assume that you will have friends coming over for visits or stay in touch. Keep them close by with the address book! You don’t want to look up their number every time you call, right?

Your Pet’s Papers

Moving abroad with a pet is not easy at all. You have to do the same as what you did when you packed your clothes and important documents, but with your animal friend. First, call a veterinarian and ask about the necessary paperwork needed for relocation. Then, visit a pet store and get everything your animal might need for a few days until everything gets settled.

Your Favorite Pillow

If you have been used to sleeping on your favorite pillow for years now, the chances are that you will not be able to sleep well without it when moving abroad. It’s probably something you don’t want to spend a lot of money on, so pack it up and take it with you.

Your Kitchenware

We all have our favorite mug for coffee in the morning or that one plate we use more than anything else. If there’s some particular utensil you like using when cooking, make sure to pack it up along with all your pots, pans, kitchenware of any kind.

A Picture of You

This one is somewhat of a dark secret amongst moving expats. It may seem silly to take a picture of yourself before leaving, but there’s more to this than just vanity.

If for some reason, the time comes and you need to go back home, you won’t want to miss that opportunity. You can come back anytime, actually, but if they ask for proof of which you are, it’s probably the only thing that will make them believe you!

Your Favorite Books

People say that moving abroad is one of the best things you can do in life. However, not having your favorite book with you while you are transitioning to a new culture might be very discouraging at times.

Frequently Asked Questions about Relocating Abroad

Why do people move abroad?

People move abroad for many different reasons. Some people want to explore distant lands, some want to spend more time with family, and some need a change of scenery. No matter why you’re moving abroad, plenty of questions come up when you’re planning an international move.

How soon should I begin preparations?

Some people start preparing to move several months ahead of time, while others make arrangements when they’re closer to moving day. If you already have a place to live abroad and your job is ready for you when you arrive, then it may be easier for you to make last-minute plans.

What do I need to relocate?

It depends on where you’re going. Some places require inoculations; others may need you to provide proof of income. You’ll also need a passport, visa (if required), and other pertinent documents. If you’re moving with family members, you’ll need to look into your particular situation’s requirements ahead of time.

Conclusion

Living in a new country as an expat is a fascinating and rewarding experience. You learn about and experience a new culture while earning money and seeing the world. On the flip side, it’s essential to know the things to leave behind while traveling. This article explains it all!

12 Things To Leave Behind When You Move Abroad part 1 – that will be the topic of today’s article.

Before introducing this article, if you are interested in our core services which are expat financial, insurance and mortgages, you can contact me here. 

The best time to consider your financial situation is when you are moving to a new country.

Introduction

Moving abroad is not an easy task, but it does come with its share of benefits. If you are someone who has always dreamed of living in another place or is sick and tired of the location where you currently live, moving away from it might be a fantastic idea.

Before taking this huge plunge, however, there are a number of things you’ll need to consider. One of the first things you should carefully understand is what your move abroad will mean for your career. Most people who choose to leave their home country to work somewhere else do so to advance their careers.

However, when you take this route, you’re also sacrificing the security of having a job back home should anything happen. If you’re highly skilled in an industry that could bring enough benefits to your employer, then your choice to move abroad might be much easier.

For those in a less sought-after trade, you might want to consider whether it’s worth the hassle of moving your family. This is because; it’s not always easy to find work when you are in a new country, and you might find it much harder than you anticipated.

In addition, if you decide that moving abroad is the right choice for your family, there are plenty of tips to help ease the transition. Have you been looking around, searching for help about what you need to know before moving to a new country? Worry less, as we’ve got you covered on this platform. Read further to have a glimpse of what we’ve unleashed in this article.

Top 7 Tips before Moving To a New Country

So you’re moving to a new country? Lucky you! Well, maybe not. Hold your horses, cowboy. Moving to a foreign country is not that easy. Specific challenges will come with it, and if you don’t have any experience with living somewhere else before, these challenges will be much bigger than they would seem. Here are our top 7 tips for moving to a new country:

Language

Language is a major challenge when it comes to living in a place you’re not from. People will expect you to know it, and if you want to have any sort of social life at all, knowing the language is pretty much essential. It is a country’s official language so most people will know it, and you can’t expect them not to speak in their mother tongue.

Having said that, if you have no idea what the natives are saying around you, it will be challenging for sure. However, just because they speak a different language doesn’t mean they’re talking about you, and no one knows your native tongue. So don’t be afraid and try talking to them, even if they start talking back in their language and you can’t understand a thing – at least it’s a start.

Adapting To the Culture

Living in a new country, especially if it’s the one you grew up in, means that you need to adapt to their culture. This is because the culture of your homeland will be different from theirs, and if you don’t want to feel outcast, you’ll need to follow certain traditions.

As an example, not using cutlery or eating with hands might not be accepted in certain countries, which might make you look like you don’t know how to eat properly or that you’re just plain lazy! Other than this, though, there’s nothing much. Just relax and follow what everyone else does – it is not your culture after all.

Shopping

You might find yourself in a situation where you feel obliged to buy something, but you can’t do it because everything is written in their language.

If that’s the case with you, then just think back at how they must have felt when they came to your homeland and couldn’t understand what anyone said! In fact, most likely, they didn’t even try to buy anything.

This might sound like a harsh way to put it, but that’s the reality, and in some cases, the language barrier might be the only reason that stops you from buying something.

Getting a Job

Even if you’re moving to another country and getting a job, there’s still a chance that they won’t speak your language. It is not very likely, but there are still some possibilities, so don’t just assume since they speak English in this, nothing will be translated into your language, and you’ll have to learn at least a couple of words in order not feel completely outlasted.

Seeing Friends and Family

It might be difficult to see your family and friends from your homeland, especially if they don’t speak the language at all. If that’s the case, you need to either learn a bit of their language or convince them to visit you – it is going to be worth it.

Driving

If you’re moving to a new country, then the possibility that you’ll have to drive to get around is going to be much higher than if you were living in your homeland. If this is going to be a problem for you, then either rent a car or ask someone who knows how to drive in their language what they think about it, so you can be prepared before deciding to buy one.

Deciding Whether It’s Worth It

It is never easy to move to another country because there will always be challenges that will stand in your way, and at some point, you might ask yourself if it is really worth moving or not. If it isn’t, perhaps you should move back to your homeland because it will be much easier for you to adapt there.

12 Things to Leave Behind When You Move Abroad

So you’re leaving your current life behind in your home country to go live somewhere entirely new. Whoo! Start packing a couple of scantrons and a graphing calculator—you’re about to undertake an adventure of a lifetime.

You should have no problem finding the essentials, like toothpaste and clean underpants, but what else do you really need to bring? Here are some things to leave behind when you move abroad.

Your Preconceptions about the Destination Country

This is especially true if your family or friends have never been there either. You’ll be surprised at what’s normal and what’s not in a different part of the world, so try not to get stuck thinking that people work a certain way, eat certain foods, or look superficially how you expected them to.

Your Sense of Entitlement

You’re going to a new country for a reason, and it’s probably not to lord over the locals with your education or experience. You will be amazed at how much more polite people are when they don’t speak your language well, and you’ll feel bad about being impatient in lines.

Your Career in Your Home Country

You’re pretty much guaranteed to need to find a new job when you move abroad since the economy and job market are vastly different no matter which country you go to. Depending on where you plan to live, though, this could save you a lot of time and frustration after moving day.

Your Favorite TV Show/Movie

You can’t always be sure that you’ll find all of your favorite shows and movies on the airwaves abroad, so there’s no sense in bringing them with you. However, they might be available for rental at an exorbitant price or through streaming services like Netflix, which exist in some places abroad but not others.

Your Friends from Your Home Country

Sure, there are some things you won’t be able to do without them—like going out for a good old-fashioned Pizza Hut pizza or getting together at someone’s house to watch a movie on Netflix with popcorn and nachos.

But the most important thing is that you will have finally built up the courage to start a new life outside of your home country. This way, don’t rely on what you had back home to pull you through.

Your Favorite Restaurants

This usually goes hand-in-hand with bringing your favorite TV show/movie, but you can’t always count on finding the same restaurant chains in these places abroad. There are at least some foreign equivalents though! So either tries something new or settle for what you’ll find.

Your Old Backpack

You will never find a backpack that doesn’t make you look like an overstuffed turtle when trying to find one in the country to which you’re moving. It’s best not to bother with it and instead to select a travel bag that looks fashionable but still has room for everything (and the kitchen sink).

Your Favorite Brand of Mineral Water

Like the television shows and movies, there’s no guarantee that you will be able to find your favorite brand of mineral water at the corner store abroad. This is definitely one of those cases where ignorance is bliss: you won’t know what you’re missing out on and can instead find a substitute brand with ease.

Your Car/Bike

Even if you’re planning to settle permanently, don’t bother bringing your car or motorcycle along with you. You will have enough other hassles to deal with when moving into your new place—like figuring out how to get around without one. In fact, it might even be cheaper to rent/borrow a car the first few times you need one rather than paying for international shipping.

Your Best Friend

When moving abroad, it’s difficult enough to adjust to all of the newnesses without having your old pal there to mope around with on those days when everything seems too scary. Instead, treat the move as a new beginning and go out of your way to make new friends.

Bedding

You won’t find your favorite brand of microfiber sheets in the country to which you’re moving, so instead, try to make peace with it. You can always buy new bedding once you get there (or even adapt), but the best option is to prepare yourself for sleeping on something other than what you’re used to sleeping on at home.

Technical Appliances

The best way to prepare yourself for an international move is to research beforehand and begin replacing certain appliances.

If you’re moving abroad, the chances are that you’ll need a converter of some kind—and the same goes for kitchenware and any other appliances you might use daily. You can easily buy everything new once you move or simply wait until the new place you’ve moved into is up to speed on household electrical supplies.