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Tips for Moving Your Family to a New Country
In this day and age, living outside your country for a certain period of life has become common. Although relocating to a foreign country may sound intimidating, always remember that living in another country is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that builds character that opens your mind. Sure, moving abroad isn’t an easy thing to do. However, if you’re well prepared and know what to expect, you can increase your chance of success and begin your new life without any headaches.
Here are some crucial tips for moving your family abroad.
Language Is King
Unless you know the language of the location you’re planning on moving to, then you should start learning your new language right away. Although in most countries people use English as a second language, communicating with locals in their native language will help you feel more confident. If you’re moving to a country where English is the mother tongue, try to research some local colloquialisms. Each town will have its regional dialect and slang words, and so if you do some research, you will avoid confusion.
Laws, Customs and Cost of living
Before you embark on a journey of moving your family abroad, it would be wise to research some crucial aspects of your new country. Gather all the crucial information about your new location including laws, customs, and most importantly, the cost of living. For instance, if you’re planning to move somewhere outside the EU, it is wise to know what’s the attitude towards public behavior and if there are certain dress codes. Remember, in some countries even the smallest gestures can turn out to be signs of rudeness, which can create problems with the locals. Also, research customs, local laws, and regulations of the country you’re moving to. This includes road regulations, speed limits, the correct way of address, and table etiquette when dining at restaurants.
Relocation Services and Moving Companies
An international move is a complex process and it can create quite a bit of stress. The best advice is to maybe contact some moving companies that can take the stress out of moving. For instance, if you’re planning to move to Dubai then you should contact some local movers in Dubai at least a month in advance.
Insurance Policies
As soon as your trip is booked, check your insurance policies. You will need to look into how medical and dental care woks will work for you and your family. Remember, many countries don’t operate a national health service, therefore, you will have to pay for your medical care. r Also, you might want to consider insuring your new home, making sure your current insurance covers you in your new location, and look into car insurance.
Vaccinations and Health Records
Remember to get all your adult vaccines up to date. People often make the same mistake and think that it doesn’t matter, but in reality, in some places, you can’t get a visa if you’re not fully vaccinated. Health records are also a must, particularly if you have certain allergies or use medications. A document of all your vaccinations will be very helpful, however, you will probably have to go through the complicated process of applying for all your medications in your new country. Don’t forget to bring evidence of previous prescriptions because they will speed up the process, however, you also need to research if your specific medications are available and how to get them.
Prepare Your Kids
If you’re planning to move abroad, make sure that you tell your children in advance, so they will be prepared for a completely new life. This is extremely important because some children tend to develop the Expat Child Syndrome(ECS), and in most cases, children become withdrawn, anxious, and depressed when moving to a new country. This is most common in situations where there is a new language to face. This language barrier can create an issue with communicating with other children which can make your children feel isolated. Nevertheless, you can always find other ex-pats in your area and set up play dates or dinners to help your child adjust to the new surroundings.
Summary
No matter how well prepared you think you are, you should always be prepared for the unexpected. At one point something will catch you unaware and this is completely normal for a complex process such as moving to a new country. Overall, stay positive and don’t worry if things feel strange for some time. Remember, to be happy, you have to embrace your new life and stay positive.
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