Moving to a foreign country can be a great experience, but before you move, you need to be fully prepared for this life changing event. When you move abroad for a long period of time, you should consider how you will maintain your finances, health care and relationships. It can be easy to overlook some details while you are still in the comfort of your home country; however, it is necessary to have your plan in order before your departure date. It can be stressful and sometimes even dangerous to live abroad if you have not taken the time to plan out the important details. Before you move out of the country, it is essential that you consider the following five questions.
- Are all of your health needs taken care of?
Before you move, you should visit your doctor and have a physical examination to make sure you are in good health. You should find out if you have any health conditions that need to be treated before you leave. Also, you should consider getting the recommended or required vaccinations for the country you will be traveling to. Additionally, you may want to look into different international health insurance or travel insurance plans. Finally, you should stock up on any medications that you take regularly and find out if those medications are available in the country you will be moving to.
- How will you stay in touch with your family and friends?
If you will be leaving behind family and friends, it is important to decide if you plan to maintain your relationship with them. If you would like to stay in contact with them, then it is essential to figure out how you will be communicating while you are away. Fortunately, technology allows you to stay in touch even if you live far away. You may want to look into phone cards, video and voice chat programs and international phone plans. If one of your loved ones does not know how to use these forms of communication, you may want to help them set it up before you leave.
- Are you financially capable of moving?
Moving abroad long-term can be very expensive. When you live in another country it can be difficult to get a job or you may encounter unexpected expenses. Before you leave, you should make a budget to ensure that you will have enough money to survive while you are out of the country. Additionally, it is good to have an emergency fund with enough money to get you through financially difficult times. Sometimes when you are living abroad, things do not go as planned; therefore, it is important that you always have enough money to buy a plane ticket home.
- How long do you plan to live abroad?
It is important to know how long you plan on living abroad. Your plan does not have to be exact but you should have a general idea. It may be helpful to consider the following questions: Do you want to live abroad for a specific amount of time or indefinitely? Do you plan on visiting your home country during your time abroad? How will this time abroad affect your relationships and career in your home country? You should consider your answers to these questions, so that you can determine how moving abroad will affect your lifestyle and your future.
- Who will provide you with social support?
No matter where you go, it is always important to have a group who provides you with social support and comfort. If you live abroad, it is essential that you have some sort of social support. It can be a difficult adjustment living in a new culture; therefore, it may be helpful to have people who you can talk to about your experiences. Before you leave your home country, you should figure out where you will find your support network once you get to your new destination.
In order to successfully enter this new chapter of your life in another country, it is important to have a solid plan before you move. If you have everything in order before your departure date, you will be able to enjoy your expatriate experience, without worrying about all of the loose ends. If you put enough planning and consideration into this move, you will be more likely to have a safe, healthy and prosperous life while living abroad. You should consider these five questions, so that you can be sure you are fully prepared to move out of the country.