Moving abroad can be stressful. There are so many things that you need to keep track of especially if your new country of residence is on the other side of an ocean. For other people, changing countries means traveling over a border to a place that is accessible by your car, which in some cases means that you will be driving the truck or hiring a company to move the truck for you. Along with all the other things on your checklist, here is how you can prepare your move to make moving abroad easier.
Do You Need Visas?
Nothing would be more dreadful than setting up in your new home only to find out that you don’t have the right paperwork to stay. You may be able to enter the country, but are you legally able to stay in the country? Before you go, make sure you have all the entry paperwork you need to stay.
By giving the consulate of your new country a call, you can get all the information that you need to ensure that you are going to be able to enter the country and stay and more importantly work. Once you know the facts, have this process taken care of months in advance because it can take a long time to get approved for what you need.
Hire a Reputable Moving Company
You are going to need a moving company that knows how to go international. There are going to need to be checks at borders and paperwork filed to move all of your things into the new country. You must also choose a company that is fully insured in case of an accident. Consulting with a truck accident lawyer can give you a lot of the information you need to know what insurance works and what exactly is covered.
Once you choose your company, create a full inventory of all of your things and make sure you are openly and fully communicating with them at all turns so that nothing gets lost in translation or anything gets confusing. This will save you a lot of headaches as the move approaches.
Do You Need To Learn a New Language?
This is especially important if you are moving your family and your children are going to start a new school. If your children do not know the language, you may want to learn some of it before you move. It will be a hindrance to your children if they fall behind in school or fall behind socially because there is a language barrier.
There are apps and software like Rosetta Stone or Bable that help you learn a language fast and learn a language in a way that will help you retain what you have learned. Have some grasp of the language so that you can effectively go food shopping, buy things for the home, and effectively meet and get into a good relationship with your neighbors.
What Are the Customs?
The last thing you want to do when you are in a new country is to insult the people. A lot of cultures do a lot of things differently, and in order to make yourself shine, know what the usual customs are of the country. Husbands and wives play different social roles and schools are run differently. Gender norms also vary from place to place.
Know before you go and research what is proper so that when you show up you can assimilate and make the transition easier and safer for your family and yourself. What you do in your home is your business, but when in society it may be easier for you if you know how to act and what is considered respectful and disrespectful to everyone.
Learn the Cuisine
Nothing says more about a culture than the food. Pick a country and you can probably think of at least one dish that place is known for. You may also know of a restaurant in your city or town that serves that kind of cuisine. Before you go, get yourself in the mood for your move by going to a place that serves that country’s cuisine so you can get a feel for the flavors.
It is also a good idea to learn how to cook a meal or two from your new country in order to feel more connected to your new home. This will help make the transition easier for you as you will have some familiarity when you arrive.
This is a collaborative post.
