Whether you’re spending a week, a month or even a lifetime in a foreign country, you deserve to enjoy every passing moment. This guide will, in concise words, show you how to make that happen. Eventually, you’ll find out that living successfully abroad isn’t that hard after all. Meanwhile, we’ll use three major time frames to make this process clear to you. They are:
- The period before you move into a foreign country.
- When you move into a foreign country.
- While you’re staying in a foreign country.
So, dive in and let’s go!
1. Before You Move Into a Foreign Country
The first thing you should know is that you have to be prepared mentally, emotionally, physically and financially for the new life you’re about to live. Moving into a new country allows you to start afresh and make things better. Before you leave your home country, however, you should take note of the following:
Know Where Exactly You Are Going
Which part of the foreign country are you planning to go to? What’s the weather like? What’s the environment like? Would there be a companion?
All these questions, amongst others, must be answered correctly if you’ll have a relatively hitch-free stay abroad.
If you’re planning to stay for a relatively short time, say for a short vacation or a business trip, you may not need to proffer a solution to all these questions. But if you intend to stay for a long time, you may have to do a couple of tests run here and there to have a fair grasp of what it would be like in the long haul, save you love surprises!
Be Informed
You must understand the laws, systems and basic culture of the country you intend to move to. Interestingly, you can get valuable information from total.law. Or speak to the best immigration lawyer around you.
Take a Full Medical Test
You cannot afford to work on assumptions when it comes to leaving where your body is already used to for somewhere else. In this regard, you need to run a full body check so you will be sure your body is fit for the new country or not.
Get the Necessary Documents
This is one of the most important things to do before leaving. Before you hit the road, ensure you have documents such as your identity card, international passport and an ID showing that you’ve been vaccinated against Covid-19.
2. When You Move Into a Foreign Country
Chances are that most people are going to experience their current fears about going abroad. For instance, you may be worried about being lonely, not getting local food, being homesick, having a hard time acclimatizing and many more. However, don’t worry! With the tips below, you’ll get over it.
Don’t be Scared of Launching into the Unknown
Whilst you might find it hard adapting to the entire flow of your new country, you mustn’t be overly uptight at moving with the flow of things. The new country you’re in would never be exactly like where you’re coming from. You may not get much of the kind of books or movies you love, but you’d surely get much from the new relationships you make with local people. So, be open to new friendships. It will ease the tension and pressure you feel and help you understand the country and the language spoken in your locality better.
Try the Available Local Food
Maybe you’re very picky about what you consume, but note that you cannot be too picky not to taste the local foods available in the new country you’re in.
So, next time you walk into a restaurant, don’t order for the usual. Eat something different and appreciate the culture at play in the food ideation and presentation.
3. While You’re Living as a Foreigner
Now that you have a vivid picture of the highlights of how your first few weeks to months may look like, how can you take advantage of your stay abroad?
Take Opportunities
As an expat, you may be restricted in some regard, but as long as you have the floor to take up certain opportunities, please don’t hesitate as long as it is legal.
Build Friendship
What would make your entire stay memorable and easier are the friends you keep. So, in case you’re an introvert, you may need to come out of the shell and take deliberate steps at building strong relationships that would take you through years to come. While doing that, don’t forget to apply for a remain to leave visa to become a citizen of the country.
Final Thoughts
Living abroad could usher you into another realm of never imagined realities given that you are deliberate about making it work. In the final analysis, however, the decision to live abroad is yours to make. Whichever decision it is you make, own up to it and see it to the end.