So you want to be an expat?

Almost everyone at some stage in their life considers moving to a different country, although very few people actually commit themselves to this brave move. If you are considering becoming one of the growing expat community, then ask yourself these three questions below, before taking things further.

• Are you self sufficient? Not only financially, but emotionally as well, it can be very difficult to move away from the support of friends and family. It is important that you have the ability to support yourself in every way.

• Are you confident? It can be very difficult to learn to live in a different culture, especially if you do not speak the local language and your native tongue is not spoken widely by the locals, many people underestimate the stress involved with living a day to day life where nothing is ever easy or straightforward.

• Can you persevere? Many expats will tell you that the first few months are the hardest, learning enough of the language to get by, getting to grips with the local culture, and dealing with the short term problems of accommodation and amenities, you will need to stick with it for quite some time before things get easier.

Life as an expat can be exciting and full, but it does not suit everyone, think long and hard before you make any commitments, many expats fail to assimilate into their new home and return to their nation of birth within a few months of leaving.