The Challenges of Moving Abroad & How to Overcome Them

Thanks to the global digital revolution, it has become a possibility for a major part of the world’s population to travel and work on the go or relocate to their heart’s content. However, the beauty of experiencing new cultures, exploring new countries, and immersing yourself into an entirely new life you’ve built from the ground up in this new environment also means tackling numerous challenges that come with the territory. Luckily for eager globetrotters, you can learn from those who’ve been on this path before you and prevent certain issues even before they occur.

Before you start packing your bags and booking those tickets, let’s go over several of the most common traveling issues you might face yourself. These are merely a few among the many solutions you could apply as each situation is different. So, consider them for your own travel plans and see how you can use them to make the transition an easier one for you and your entire family!

Housing and accommodation options

If you’ve only lived in a single country by now, you most likely have a fixed view on how things work in the realm of moving, looking for rental apartments or purchasing an entire home for yourself. Once you start looking for a new place to live in the next destination, you are likely to realize that there are completely different procedures involved, waiting lists, price ranges, community and neighborhood expectations, as well as a slew of lifestyle differences that contribute to an entirely different pace of life.

First things first, it’s wise to get some guidance from a local person in terms of legal and regulatory details for finding a place to stay. Then, you can proceed to ask around about the local customs, expectations, as well as other relevant matters such as crime rates, price ranges, schools for your kids, public transportation, and the like.

Socializing and communication

Not knowing the native language of the destination you’re going to may pose a slew of other issues, not just in terms of finding a suitable career path in the local market. For example, communicating with the local residents would be either impossible or extremely limited unless you speak English fluently. This is equally relevant for your youngsters, so make sure you find a way to upgrade your language skills.

For instance, you can take Monkey Tree ESL courses to improve your communication skills, which will instantly help you meet and greet people in a similar position, mingle with the locals, and discover the best ways to make your way into their society. Soon enough, you and your family will be able to talk to anyone, enjoy local events, and build friendships with the local people as soon as you overcome the language barrier.

Work opportunities

Another typical expat issue is making sure you have your financial needs covered for the foreseeable future as you move to your new country of choice. Considering the many discrepancies you’ll likely discover, you may find that you wouldn’t fit into the same positions that are suitable for you in your home country. For example, if you’re not fluent in their native language, many local jobs may be out of reach.

However, what you can do is prepare yourself for such a challenge by building your own digital source of income. There are many online careers you can pursue no matter where you live, and they can be quite lucrative once you earn a reputation. From working as a graphic designer, freelancing as a creative writer, or teaching online, you can ensure that you have a stable source of income until you can land a local job.

Getting accustomed to the local life

Moving abroad is so much more than relocating to a new place and doing your best to keep in touch with your friends and family back home. It’s about integrating into the local culture as much as possible, finding your own rhythm, and recognizing ways in which you can become a valued member of this new society you’ve entered.

You will probably find it difficult to get used to the food, the street vibe, the habits, and weather among so many other things – because it’s these small, background details that tend to get to us when we’re changing our environment. What you can do is learn as much as possible about your new place of residence, visit a few times before you move permanently, and try to join an online forum to get some first-hand tips from the people who’ve been in your shoes. You never know what to expect from Canadian winter if you’ve spent your whole life in the sunny Down Under, or how to prepare for chaotic Tokyo if you come from a small town in the States.

Finally, there will certainly be moments of unbearable nostalgia and loneliness, and you’ll compare every experience to the ones you have in your own memory of your home. However, if you give your new country a chance to inspire and impress you, there is a distinct possibility you may find you belong to this new culture as much as you have felt the same back home. In fact, you may find yourself calling it home soon enough!