‘remember, growing can feel like breaking at first’

So, you’ve got everything prepared. From the school, you’re going to attend or the company you’ll be working for, to your visa, and everything else. Now it’s time to move to another country, how exciting! But suddenly you feel excited but nervous at the same time. Suddenly that anxiety turns to worry then turns to doubt. You question yourself, ‘what am I doing?’.

If you experience this, don’t worry! It’s normal to have anxiety or doubt when you’re about to move your life to a new place far away from home, it’s understandable! But if you’re the opposite of this, if you’re extremely excited and confident in your next adventure, then shoutout to your positive energy! Whether you feel nervous or confident in this new adventure, there are things you need to ask yourself before you move abroad to prepare yourself for what is coming.

#1 Is this what I really want?

It’s important to question yourself whether this is something you really want or not. If, for instance, you’re moving to follow your family or partner, then it’s a story for another time, because in my opinion (I might be wrong) it would be less challenging than moving by yourself. But if you’re moving on your own, it would be challenging at first. So make sure that if you’re moving alone, this is what you really want, because as exciting as it could be, living abroad with yourself will be challenging.

#2 Who can I call in case of emergency?

One thing you need to search before moving to a new country is, what is the 999 version of that country? It’s important to have this in mind in case of an emergency. Maybe 999 version is too extreme but it’s always good to have that in mind. You’d also need to keep the nearest hospital phone number, as well as the security number of the apartment/flat you’re staying. Not every apartment/flat has an emergency or security number, but some have one, so if it does, it would be good to have that in mind.

#3 Do I have enough funds in my bank account to cover at least 1 month living cost?

Another important thing to note is that whether you’ve got enough funds in your bank account to cover at least 1-month living cost. I understand that when you move abroad (especially, to work), you’ll be looking for a job, either part-time/full time. But it takes time to get a job, sometimes it could take more than a few weeks. So it’s always good to prepare funds in your bank account, to cover at the minimum, 1-month living cost, although I would recommend to have savings that cover 3 months living cost (more the better).

#4 Have I exchanged the currency?

Of course, other than having your funds prepared in your bank account, you’d need to change the currency to the country where you’re going. So don’t forget to do this before you leave, it’s always good to have some cash in the currency you’re about to go to and keep the rest of it in your bank account (as you can always withdraw it when you’ve arrived in your country destination).

#5 Where am I going to stay for the next 6–12 months?

This might be silly, but have you decided where you’re going to stay in the next 6–12 months? If you’re moving for less than 6 months, then have you decided where are you going to stay for the whole time you’ll be in the country of your destination? Accommodation is the most important part and remembers living in a foreign country would be more challenging than living in your country, so at the very least, you need to make sure that your accommodation is in place.

#6 How confident am I in speaking the local language?

Another thing that you need to think about is how confident you’re in speaking the local language? This might not be a big thing, as many people now speak English. But it’s always good to be able to speak the local language as you might come across people who don’t speak English. It’s also good to understand the local language in case of emergency. You don’t need to be fluent in the language (although being fluent it’s always good), you just need to, at the minimum, be able to speak and understand a basic conversation. Your language and accent will improve along the way, just make sure you’re prepared with basic conversation.

#7 How often in my prediction will I get homesick?

Being homesick is not fun, and if you’re living alone in a foreign country, this could be very challenging. If you’re very close to your family and friends, think about how many days you’d be homesick in a week? It should not be the whole week as it would be very difficult for you if this is the case. It’s okay to be homesick once in a while but make sure that you’ll not be homesick every single day. But don’t worry too much about homesick as things will evolve in time. You’ll meet new people, make new friends, and others. Just make sure that you don’t think you’ll be homesick every single day because if you do, what’s the point in moving to another country in the first place?

#8 Am I ready for the adventure?

Last but not least is, are you ready for the adventure? It’s always exciting to experience new things, especially moving to another country, it would be such an exciting to do! If your answer to the question is ‘absolutely yes!’, then you’re good to go! But if you’re not sure with your answer or if the answer is no, think about the main reason why you’re not sure. Is it because of the homesick? Is it because of the language? Is it because of other things? Have a think about why you’re not ready and decide whether it is something you can overcome along the way or not. If not, then think about the solution, maybe postponing the adventure for a while until you’re ready would be a better idea. Eventually, only you know what is best for you!