TIPS ON HOW TO MAKE IT IN ANOTHER COUNTRY

 

As I have said in the previous post of My Experience of Moving to a New Country, it can be pretty daunting. I mean it’s packing up all your belongings and moving away from friends and family to start a new beginning elsewhere, wherever that may be in this amazing planet of ours.

And let me just say, that you are going to feel like an outsider, but don’t worry! It won’t last forever, eventually, you will feel a part of this new environment.

They say it takes six months to fully get comfortable in a new home, it’s the same with moving to a new country. Time is your friend, so be patient, and enjoy this new adventure.

So go on and be that tourist for the next six months or more to get a better feel for your new home, I mean it is necessary.

The hard part of getting ready for the big move is done, it's now feeling at home that's the next big part.

Here are some of my tips on how to make it to another country,

 

Tip 1: Site see

This is important. You want to know the area, town, or city where you will be staying. Know where all the local stores, parks, and restaurants are. Heck! Even get a little lost if you must. You may just discover an awesome or cute little café that you could frequent.

You want to get to know your new home.

So go on and take walks. Take the whole family or even just yourself, and if you have a friendly four-legged companion, take them with you.

You can even get into your car and explore even further, get to know even more about the country, or if you don’t have a car like myself, use the public transport that is available.

And if it will make you feel better about where you are living, do some research. This is another great way of knowing where all the popular hangouts are.

People watching can also be a part of this. See how the locals dress and interact, learn about their culture and their way of living. 

Tip 2: Be open-minded!

Everybody has their differences.

And that goes the same for every country.

You may have a few…or a couple of eye-openers depending on where you go, but again you need to have an open mind.

No one is the same and that is why the world is so diverse and unique in its own quirky way.

An open mind is key.

 

Tip 3: Set up a local phone number

What a great way of making it official. By doing this, you are basically saying new phone number, new home.

And I can say when I changed my number, it was like a This is its moment. It really does make it official…well that is how it felt for me at least.

Plus! It will also help with job hunting!

 

Tip 4: Job Hunt

Now that you have your phone number, it’s time to set up your CV and put it out there to be found or apply for whatever jobs that you are interested in, even if it isn’t exactly what you want to do, you just need a kickstart in your income, and then you could move on to the next suitable job if you so wish.

Plus!, you get experience in working in your chosen country, which is an extra boost to your CV for future jobs.

And if you still don’t find that suitable job or that suitable work environment, just hang tight! It’s a steppingstone. I mean you can’t run before you walk, right?

You will find it!

But now you got that job!

Great! Get ready to settle down and make your new home, home.

 

Tip 5: Have at least one friend

One friend, Catia?! Seriously?

Yes, seriously!

This is just the beginning of more friends to come but having that one friend to make you feel comfortable and right at home is important.

This friend could help show you around, share all that they know about their home to you that you may not have known about.

And they may just introduce you to their friends who you could hit it off with and make more friends through them and watch your circle grow.

Even if you befriend someone from your work, that’s okay! This is another great way to make you feel comfortable in your work environment.

 

Tip 6: Keep in touch with family

I must say, we are lucky to be living in an era of cell phones and the internet. I mean imagine we still had to write letters! Your letter could only get to your loved ones a month later, maybe even longer and by that time a lot has happened. I guess that’s why their letters were often long in those times.

But never mind all that. Keeping in touch with your family is important. And again, thanks to the internet and technology, they are only a phone call away.

Have video chats with them as much as you can, show them what you are experiencing. This may happen quite often in the beginning, but over time the calls may become less frequent…or maybe that’s just me…

Don’t get me wrong. I love my family; I just know they are only that phone call away when I need to hear their voices or see their faces.

But seriously, keep in touch with family! They are always there for you when you need them or to have those sad chats where you could pour your heart out to them.

 

Tip 7: Give yourself time

Nothing happens overnight.

Settling down in a new country is a big step and maybe one of the hardest things to do in life, so just take one step at a time, and eventually you will find your groove.

Time is your friend, so take it easy and be kind to yourself.

 

Tip 8: Stay Positive

This is an easy thing to say, but really one of the most important things to be said.

Life isn’t easy and making that decision to leave your home country isn’t a walk in the park. You are going to run into bumps along the way and life will throw you curveballs, but that is the same in everyday living.

If you wake up one morning and find yourself missing everyone back home and thinking to yourself that you made a mistake, that’s okay. Surf that wave, and eventually, you will find yourself out of that tunnel and looking at the light.

So put on that positive hat and be positive!

 

Conclusion

Overall, starting a new life in a new country isn’t going to be easy, but like I said, you will find your groove.

You will meet so many new people, make many friends along the way and you will have your happy and sad days, but hey! That’s life.

The world is big, so why not explore it.

And as I have been told many times,
The world is your oyster.