Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Tips on dealing with the stress of moving abroad

Moving house within the same country is a stressful experience, a move overseas even more so. Complicating factors are a lack of familiarity with everyday customs and procedures, language barriers and mixed emotions about the move. Understand that things may not always go smoothly and that there will likely be unanticipated problems to deal with. Accept that people do things differently in other countries, and that the infuriating delay in processing your work permit, for example, is one aspect of the slow pace of life that might have attracted you to the country in the first place. Patience and a sense of humour will definitely help!

Always remember that, although it is important to research your chosen destination carefully, you won’t know what it is really like to live there until you’ve actually made the move. You’ll need to give yourself at least a year or more in the destination to decide whether it is right for you and your family. Even if you plan to move there for good, keep your options open in case things don’t work out and you return home.

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