Do you fancy the idea of starting fresh in a different country? Somewhere no one knows you, and you know no one? It’s a fun fantasy to think about, especially if you’re getting bored of the humdrum grind of daily life back at home.
However, the reality can be a lot more complicated. Not only will moving abroad be an expensive change for you, but it can bring a lot of little troubles that mount up and make you wish you’d never bothered in the first place.
That’s why it’s essential to keep as many potential issues in mind as possible. When you’re prepared for them, they’re not going to creep up on you and make you more homesick than ever before.
You’ll Need to Understand New Laws
Every country has its own laws. If you’re moving abroad, you’re going to need to check out the differences in laws to make sure you’re always operating on the right side of them. From the rules of the road to what counts as disorder in public, find out what you can and can’t do while you live away from home.
News From Home Will Get to You Much Slower
This is one of the worst things about living abroad. You’re not going to be up to date on all the latest developments, gossip, and emergencies that your loved ones are involved in. By the time the news gets around to you, it could be old and outdated. Knowing that can give you the biggest FOMO feeling of your life.
Of course, the more you check in with your family and friends, the easier this issue will be to bypass. Thankfully we have more video conferencing software than ever before, so you won’t even need to try and parse out what’s going on over the phone. But even then, if you’re in a different timezone, it might even be a whole day later when you’re hearing about something for the first time.
The Internet Gets a Little More Restrictive
If you’re in a different country, you have to work by their rules. This includes the way you use the internet. You may not be able to access the same Netflix you used back home or even log onto the social media you know and love.
Not only does this make the internet a bit more boring to use abroad, but it can impound the feeling of homesickness you’re already dealing with. If everyone back home is watching something new and it’s not available in your area, you’re going to miss out!
That’s why you should learn how to change ip address on windows; if your computer pretends it’s in a different country, your internet connection is going to think the same thing.
Making New Friends Takes Time
If you’d like to make a new friend in the country you now call home, there’s a strong chance you’re going to need to learn a new language. A few basic phrases won’t cut it here; if you want to talk to people like you would your loved ones back home, you’ll need to be able to carry a whole conversation.
Download an app like Duolingo if you like, and make sure you practice on a day to day basis. The more you can communicate with others, the more you’re going to feel like you fit in. You certainly won’t get frustrated trying to order a takeaway anywhere near as much!
Most People Move for Work
That makes sense, right? People move to follow up on their career, with plenty of opportunities occurring overseas. Indeed, a lot of companies ask employees to move for them and even foot the bill.
But what happens if the job offer falls through, or you have to leave after only a few months? What are you going to do for money? It can be hard to find a job in a country you don’t really know. This is one of the many reasons why the rise of remote working setups is such a good thing. Look into this before you panic.
If you want to move to another country in the near future, this is the list to keep in mind. If you want to go, feel free to! But don’t forget that it can be very hard to settle down far away from home. If you think this could be a struggle for you, use some of the ideas above to stave off the homesickness.