3 tips for moving abroad

*Collaborative Post*

Brexodus. Covidodus. Call it what you wish. The fact remains that almost half a million people have left the UK in 2020. If you are considering moving abroad, you will be joining a large family of British expats who live all around the world. Life as an expat can be rewarding and exciting, as long as you and your family are prepared for the challenges. It’s not easy to change homes, let alone change countries! But keeping stress and anxiety at bay will make your experience unique and enjoyable. 

Moving abroad – don’t plan the move alone

Regardless of whether you are moving into a house in the same street or a different country, the first mistake to avoid is to plan alone. Transporting all your belongings from one place to another is no easy task. Don’t be fooled into thinking that a DIY approach will save your money. On the contrary, without professional international removals, you are likely to face high costs. Indeed, removalist services are experienced in organising high volume transportation safely. A private mover is more likely to pay unnecessary load charges that would otherwise be avoided.

Additionally, fragile items are likely to break during transport. Professionals know how to pack and store your boxes safely to avoid damage. The last thing you want when you arrive is to discover your beloved belongings need replacing. 

Helping your kids get used to the new school

Moving abroad is a complete change of lifestyle. If you’re working from home, you may not notice an immediate difference in your day-to-day routine. However, for kids, things are beyond comparison. They will not only go to a new school, but also join a new curriculum, and most likely, in a foreign language. That’s a lot to digest for our little ones. You can, however, make the move smoother for them by working closely with a tutor. You can find online tutors that can help kids to prepare for their new school with one-to-one tutoring. Bilingual tutors, for instance, are an excellent choice to bring children up to speed and help them integrate into their new school. You’d be surprised by how fast they’ll be speaking a foreign language! 

Go with the flow

There’s one crucial lesson you need to learn as you prepare to move abroad. Things will be different, and therefore it makes no sense to try to shape your experience to fit in your former routine. The more you try to control your surroundings abroad, the more obstacles you put between you and your everyday life. Instead, it can be helpful to learn to let go. Indeed, you can’t make life abroad into something it isn’t. Be prepared to go with the flow and embrace the changes of routine. You may not be able to find your favourite brand of cereals on your new French home, for instance. Most of us rely on a well-established routine to keep a simple and stress-free life. But rather than wasting your efforts in reproducing precisely the habits you had, don’t be afraid to pick up new ones from your surroundings. 

Moving abroad can be an empowering experience that brings your family together. For a lot of households, the move is a positive adventure that renews their opportunities and excitement in everyday life. However, if you’re going to make it work for you and your family, you need to be attentive to frictions that can ruin the experience.