There’s many reasons people choose to go and live abroad. It could be that you’ve got a job offer with a company, perhaps you want to go and study in international schools like KIS, or maybe you just want to escape the grind of life where you are now and try something completely new. No matter what the reason is behind it, living abroad is one of the best things you will ever do and will help you grow as a person, see new things and have experiences you could only ever wish for. Yet it can also be daunting and the idea of moving so far away can have you feeling anxious and worried. In this article we take a look at some top tips for living abroad the first time.
Research the location thoroughly before you go
The first thing you need to do before moving somewhere is to research the location thoroughly. Depending on where you’re moving to, it might be completely different culturally to where you live now so you should brief yourself on local customs, laws and ways of life. Research the nice areas to live in and if there are places to avoid and find things like where the local amenities are, what the supermarkets are like and what sort of budget you would need to live comfortably and afford things like bills and food.
Find ways to meet new people
Moving abroad can feel lonely, particularly if you don’t know anyone and have left all your family and friends back home. With this in mind, try to find ways to meet new people – this could be through clubs such as a sports or games club, or perhaps you could go to a bar, hang out at a local cafe, or find groups dedicated to socializing and networking. You will soon make new friends and they can help you discover the cool places to go as well as help you not to feel lonely.
Stay connected with friends and family
When you’re away from your loved ones, it can be easy to feel lonely and also fall out of touch speaking to them. Perhaps it’s too painful, or maybe timezones make it difficult. Ensure you always carve out time for messages, face times and phone calls so you stay in touch. They will love hearing about all the things you are getting up to and appreciate speaking to you, while it will be nice for you to be filled in on what they’re doing too. This will ensure you don’t feel so alone and can enjoy your travels.
These are just a few tips that can help you live abroad for the first time. Whether you’ve always wanted to do this or it’s something that’s come out of the blue, these tips should help you to adjust and make the whole thing much smoother. What are some top tips you have for living abroad for the first time? Let us know in the comments, we’d love to hear from you.
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