WHAT TO CONSIDER BEFORE LIVING ABROAD: TIPS FOR OPENING A NEW CHAPTER IN YOUR LIFE

(By: Rona Samortin)

DECIDING to move into another country takes more than throwing a going away party, booking your flight and then packing your bags. Moving overseas is equal parts thrilling and intimidating. It is a life-altering decision with many complex parts and a handful of planning to ensure that everything goes smoothly. When you go, you are leaving behind the life that you’ve always known and you are willing to rebrand yourself as a new person. So it’s best to start things off on a right foot.  So here are a few things for you to ponder!

1. CONSIDER YOUR FINANCIAL CAPABILITIES

– No matter where you go in the world, one of life’s most important considerations is your financial capabilities. Moving abroad is not cheap, wherever it is. You have to pay for everything that is required for starting a new life. This is the very first thing that you should consider before doing anything. Before going abroad, you have to have money that will secure you for about a whole year and you need to know how to support yourself in the long run. One of the first few things to look into is the cost of living of your desired area. Costs for food and housing varies in other countries compared to where you live. Don’t assume that the exchange rate will be the same! I cannot stress that one enough.

2. BE MINDFUL ABOUT THE LANGUAGE BARRIERS

– Not everyone in this world knows how to speak English efficiently. Even though English is the universal language, it’s not just for everyone. But if you’re thinking of moving to an English speaking country, you must know how to speak their common tongue as a part of your adjustments when moving abroad. Number 2 typically applies to those who plans to move into a non-english speaking countries like China, Japan, Korea etc. Language barriers are no fun and they are not that easy to deal with. Nevertheless, this shouldn’t be something that you need to be anxious about, because studies have shown that it is possible to learn a language in just three months. At the very least, you should attempt to learn the basics and try to immerse yourself as soon as possible.

3. PRACTICE THE SOLITUDE OF BEING ON YOUR OWN

– Loneliness and living abroad goes hand in hand. Moving to another country is no joke and things can get a bit tricky from there, especially when you’re moving all by yourself. Before you leave, you need to think about the pros and cons of leaving your hometown. Like are you independent enough to live on your own? Are you good with handling your finances? Can you do all of the chores like cleaning, doing groceries, cooking, doing laundries etc.? Will you be fine with going through the struggles of being all by yourself? Being honest with yourself is a must and you must be ready when to be equipped and ready for homesickness when it occurs. Finding new friends in a different country is quite difficult since you are not yet accustomed to their culture. You will find a few, but they won’t fill that hole in your chest because of that sickly feeling when you miss the people that you have been with almost your whole life. One of the burdens about going abroad is reintroducing yourself to a bunch of strange faces, it comes with the terms of leaving your friends and family behind. It’s important to consider how you’re going to make friends in your new place, but your workplace is a good start to look for new ones!

4. AWARENESS OF CULTURAL BARRICADES

– When you move to a new place, you will feel the effects of change. Nothing around you is familiar and you will feel completely disoriented. A lot of people have experienced cultural shock once they set foot in their dream destination. Moving abroad will challenge your cultural biases. Cultural shock usually comes in gradually, but you have to fight this off in order to not let yourself fully succumb into melancholy. Learning about the norms and the cultural expectations of the country is crucial to avoid any conundrums. Adjusting to the culture of your preferred country is not easy. The greetings, bathroom arrangements, and even the work days may be different. So don’t be surprised or repulsed to wake up on the 25th day of December and be greeted by a normal working day. It’s also worth knowing their religion and its practices so you won’t come off as ignorant. Food and the intricacies that comes along with it shall also be considered.

5. PREPARE YOURSELF MENTALLY, PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY

– Problems will arise as soon as you get to your dream destination. Moving overseas won’t relieve some of your perennial discomforts. You also have to keep in mind that the world will never adjust for your own convenience.

Once you leave your home country, be ready to miss out on some of the important stuff that you usually attend to. Some important people in your life might fall ill and you will not be close enough to go and take care of them. Unexpected things will surely happen and you won’t be there to witness it. Be ready to miss out on a few birthdays, weddings, anniversary celebrations, graduations, the night out with your friends etc. Your friends might suffer a heartbreak or a breakdown and you won’t be there physically to be a shoulder to cry on. You’re going to drop the ball in some aspects of your life and a change of scene is a temporary novelty. Making sacrifices is an inevitability. But you will grow so much as a person because you will be more resolute and independent.

Moving abroad is not like moving to another city or further down from the street of your old home. Packing up your life requires tons of adjustments and planning to do. Preparing yourself is a must.

Also, preparing your documents to go abroad is crucial. If you want the process to be as smooth as Tennessee whiskey, Fil-Global Immigration Services Corporation is the way to go! They provide excellent service and it will be one less thing for you to worry about. Fil-Global will bring you to your dream destination one step closer. For more inquiries, you can visit their office at the 9th floor of Times Plaza Building, United Nations Avenue, Ermita Manila. They also answer inquiries on their official Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram at @fgonestepcloser and their website www.fil-global.com