How to Live Abroad

Prepare yourself for big changes. You may face culture shock and the transition will be difficult when you move to a place that is completely different from your usual home, but you will get over it after a few months of living there. . People in each land behave differently, which is why we call them “foreigners” – and it often makes us strangers. However, it is also a great opportunity for us to learn and get acquainted with another culture. Once you put yourself in the mindset of people in another country, you will never go back to the old way of thinking; because it will be difficult for you to see the world from the “us and them” perspective once you have experienced it. ^[12]

• If you don’t know the local customs, do your research first to understand as much as possible. It’s better to know a little bit than to know nothing – at least it gives you the opportunity to learn about and assimilate into cultural events and customs when you arrive in a new land. It also helps you avoid situations that might be perceived as offensive to the locals.
  

  

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Understand that small hobbies can turn out to be bigger problems than you think. Your favorite cup of coffee and the familiar place you used to visit back home can turn into gnawing nostalgia when you can no longer find them in your present life. It is important that you acknowledge your feelings of loss, but remain open to seeking out new experiences. Even the unexplored can signal things you’ll love more than the things you loved back in the day.

• Feeling sad or depressed about these losses is completely normal; sadness will pass when you get used to the new land.
• If you move from a country with plenty of options to choose from, to a country where there isn’t much to choose from, you’ll probably find life very difficult. There will be no longer rows of large rows of breakfast cereals (now only a small shelf) or cars of all kinds (now you can only choose blue or gray). This will make you miserable at first. You have two choices – one is to accept and understand that having fewer options will give you more time to think and save natural resources, and the other is to go back one trip to buy everything (or ask friends or family to send). Although many people find that this feeling of inadequacy doesn’t really fade over time (you’ll often find yourself thinking back to the good old days, when you could have bought something different) get used to not having much choice!

Understand that the initial euphoria will pass in a few months. The first few months after you set foot in your new place, you’ll feel like you’re having a great vacation; you spend a lot of time exploring and feeling very excited. But eventually you will realize that you are living there and it is not half as interesting as you imagined. This may come earlier for some people due to administrative procedures, maintaining family life and petty troubles that interfere with settling down.

• You should soon find reputable service providers. There’s always going to be a time when something goes wrong, and you’ll need someone you can trust to show up for what they promise and charge a fair price. If you don’t ask in advance to prepare, you can become a prey for extortionists who take advantage of exorbitant prices. This can turn out to be a nightmare experience, and you can completely anticipate instead of being “chopped off”.
• Stay calm when dealing with administrative procedures. Most countries have forms, most have to wait in line, and have odd excuses for filling out forms and waiting. It’s not your job to ask questions, but to research locals and online sites to find out how best to handle problems. Everything has a solution, and you need to learn how to handle it right. If you don’t learn, you’ll never know.

Be willing to accept limits to your normal habits and behavior. Another type of culture shock occurs when you are told you can’t do something that is still allowed in your home country. Now your position does not allow you to question – try to accept. Even if the society where you move to is stricter or more relaxed than the one you’ve been in before, you have to join custom. If you want to make a fuss or insist on keeping your opinions, you may not be suitable for living abroad; You should stay home to do what you want!

Find support. Moving abroad is a highly stressful experience. You will have happy days, sad days like never before, and other days as normal as when you are at home, because this place will also become your home.

• Pay attention to emotional ups and downs. If you suffer from anxiety, fear, depression, etc., seek help from a mental health professional. Don’t suffer in silence – it will be exacerbated by feelings of alienation about everything and everyone around you, which will eventually lead to feelings of loneliness and terror.
  

  

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• Build a close network of friends, talk openly with family and friends about your feelings, and listen attentively to your child’s concerns (if any).
  

  

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• You can get psychotherapy online if you want to work with a therapist in the country you left. The advantage of the internet is that you still feel close when needed. ^[13]
  

  

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• Use social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and email to stay in touch with friends and family back home. You can chat with people via Skype: it ‘s almost as if you’re really there! This can be an effective and pleasant way to manage your emotions and get support from people you know.
  

  

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• Sometimes you should invite close friends over to your house.
  

  

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Keep safe. Another problem related to culture shock occurs when you go to places that are not as safe as the old ones. Ask the locals about places to avoid and problems around the area.

• Dress appropriately for where you live and try to fit in. Sometimes unsafe situations happen because the criminal guesses you are a tourist or because you are dressed inappropriately.
• Call the police station to ask about security. You can also ask about crime levels in the area you’re looking to buy or rent.

Determine the country you want to move to. Unless you have no choice, such as due to company relocation, your decision will depend on where you think it is best to live. Heading to the lovely rose city of Toulouse in southwestern France? Visiting Germany’s Berlin? Heading to the beautiful Nordic land of Iceland? Going to Mexico? Venezuela? Spain? Russia? China? Or even to an island like Hawaii or Tahiti? ^[14]

• Imagine life in a new country. Watch videos online to get an idea of what you like there about all seasons of the year. Consider weather, pollution, access to transportation, medical care, and grocery shopping. List things to do there at work and other activities.
• Look online for stories of people who have moved abroad. People working abroad can be the most useful source of information; Their experiences can give you a clearer idea of your choice, is it reasonable, or is that where most people get in trouble? You can trust what they say, because they’re going through it; however, be aware that each person’s experience is often significantly different, depending on their reason for moving, income level, work experience, region of the country they live in, etc. question if the site’s forum allows it.
• Do you have the capacity to work in the next country? Is there a need that aligns with your expertise? What obstacles do you have to overcome to get a job there before you move in and secure your income? Very few people can afford to take the risk of not finding a job in a new country, unless they are wealthy enough. Also, you should learn about social security and what tests you need to pass to qualify – note that you may not be able to pass for months or years, or may not. when.

Arrange a trip to the country you are aiming to experience before you can call it home. Travel guidebooks are a good source of information, but don’t rely entirely on them. Try to avoid the tourist spots and go to “background” places where you can interact with the locals. But you should be careful: when you’re eager to move abroad because you love a place during your travels, you need to understand that vacationing and living there are two completely different experiences. When you travel, you don’t have to deal with the frustrations of everyday life, don’t have to endure the same bureaucratic procedures and routines as the locals do, and generally don’t have to worry about anything. Once you come to live there, reality will be very different from the pleasant experience of a tourist. Don’t decide to move in solely on a whim through a trip!

Learn everything about the country you’re going to, including the local customs (very important), the language (even more important) and the parts of the city. It is crucial for you to know if you can live there with different laws, customs and practices, because this will affect your daily life. ^[15] For example, there are strict rules about what you’re or aren’t allowed to do in a country like Singapore (to the point where chewing gum in public can lead to deportation) can make freedom-loving American citizens feel constrained. ^[16]

Research on immigration law and procedures. Will you be able to come and live in the country you like? Some countries have very strict immigration requirements based on income level, age, skills, qualifications and family ties. If you are not rich, have no skills, are too old or have no relatives living there, you will have very little chance of living in the desired country. Read the laws of that country on the immigration website. Call the immigration office to ask for more specific information regarding yourself – no printed information can be clearer than making your own case and asking for specific advice.

• The embassy of the country you want to move to is the first gate you can call. They often have information on those who wish to migrate.
  

  

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Note the language barrier. Is the language of the country you are going to visit different from your mother tongue? If yes, can you speak that language? Be honest about your ability to learn a new language – learning a new language can be difficult for some people, even in that environment. During the time of not knowing a language, you will feel isolated from many things around you. If you are not confident, this can be a very painful experience for you. ^[17]

• Consider learning the language to a proficient level before you leave.
• Sign up for language lessons as soon as you arrive. Find a tutor who knows both your mother tongue and the language you are learning. Make sure this person can spend time with you to go places to help you learn the language in specific contexts, such as when shopping, dealing with landlords, banking, buying a car, applying for a visa. study, etc..