by Mona Davey

Created on: March 12, 2010   Last Updated: March 16, 2010

Tips on living in a foreign country

You have decided to live in a new country for a change of lifestyle, personal reasons, or work commitments. Moving yourself and your family to a new country will be daunting at first and nerve-racking but will turn into an exciting chapter of your life. Your head will start to spin when you stop and think of what you have to do and organize, so here are some useful suggestions to help you along.

 Before you go

* Research

Find out as much as can about the country you are going to live in.  Find out if there are different laws in your new country so you are aware of them. Research the local customs and traditions. Visit the library and borrow books regarding your new country, look on the Internet to find out information and ask friends, neighbors, or colleagues if they have ever visited your chosen country. You will be surprised at how much information you can gain by asking people. If you are lucky enough to have a restaurant locally run by people who previously lived in your new destination, have a meal there and inquire about the country and its customs. For example, you are planning to go and live in Italy; a good idea would be to organize your ‘leaving party’ in your local Italian restaurant to sample authentic food and wine. Listen to how the language is said by a native person. You may pick up some good tips or advice about your new host country.

 * Learn the language

Learn the language, if you have time, even if it is only a few simple phrases or basic words, as this will help you immensely. Purchase language learning DVDs from bookshops along with a dictionary in your new language. Buy a ‘pocket phrase book’ which can be easily carried around with you. Borrow language CDs from your local library. Find out if there is a language course or evening classes that you can join before leaving for your new country, to learn the required language.

* Currency

Organize some money in your new currency and carry it with you in case you need it when you arrive at the air terminal / ferry port.

 (It would also be a good idea to have some money put aside and assessable in your own bank, for emergencies or for your contingency plan.)

 * Visit beforehand

If you have time and the resources to do so, visit your new host country before actually going to live there, so you can experience a small sample of what it is going to be like.

When you arrive in your new destination

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