THINKING OF MOVING OVERSEAS? LISTS ARE YOUR FRIEND…
It’s a dream many of us have … We’re tired of the humdrum, feel stuck in a rut and, feeling driven to do something totally radical, our thoughts turn to starting afresh somewhere new.
Many of us holiday overseas and have happy memories of our experience in another country where the sun always seems to shine. Before we know it, the thought of moving there permanently has got a foothold in our minds.
For most, family or work commitments or the thought of having to learn a different language is enough to prise it loose again. But, for some, it takes a deeper root and becomes a firm plan. It’s at this point that lists ought to become your friend.
Why move?
First of all, it’s probably a good idea to spend a bit of time studying your reasons for wanting to move in the first place. A list of pros and cons of living in your new host county is probably a good a place as any to start. If there are too many cons or if they outweigh the pros two to one it seems you may have a simple decision to make.
But, let’s say you have far more reasons in favour of making that huge leap of faith. What would be your next step? Our advice would be some in-depth research and even a field trip to your country of choice – but this time leaving the rose-tinted specs at home.
Where Do We Go From Here?
First of all, it’s a good idea to research the politics in your country of choice? Is your new home going to offer you a stable society in which to live? How’s the local economy actually doing and what does it rely on to make it tick? What are you going to do for an income in your new home and will you need to learn the language? How much is property to buy or to rent and which are the areas to avoid? As you can see, we’re already into a second list of things to check …
But, if you’re still intent on actually moving, there’s a whole bunch more…
Your Moving Story
There’s no getting away from the fact that relocating to a different county can present a logistical nightmare. If you have young children or pets, then you probably need to add another layer or two of complication.
First of all, are they willing to move too? If they’re not sure, a pros-and-cons list might work for the kids too. How and when do you break the news in the first place? Do they need inoculation, are passports up to date and what about care and schooling? And what about your home in the UK? Are you going to sell it or rent it out so you have a fall-back if it all goes wrong? By now, only the truly determined are usually persevering … and by now they’ve probably learned the lesson of the lists themselves anyway.
But the thing is – daunting as it may sound – hundreds if not thousands of people are still making the move and becoming new faces in communities all over the world. It’s a huge adventure offering the successful newbie expat a real sense of achievement (at least until a more experienced one reminds you that you’re still wet behind the ears – and they will).
But it’s worth remembering, even the old hands learned from making mistakes. There’s absolutely no doubt that you’ll make a few too but, if you can shrug them off, and put them down to experience, you’ll be fine.
Those lists will get shorter, the tasks less demanding and, before you even realise, you’ll be settled in a new life which was once just a daydream. If you think we can help make yours come true, why not drop us a line or give us a call? We’ll always try to help if we can.