Moving to a different country or even to a different state is a big deal. It is also a huge adventure. You might be moving because you have a new relationship, want to be closer to your family, or an exciting career change. Either way, moving anywhere is a lot of fun and can be very stressful at times. Here are some considerations and tips for you before you make your big move.
“I give you this to take with you:
Nothing remains as it was. If you know this, you can begin again, with pure joy in the uprooting.” ― Judith Minty, Letters to My Daughters
Shots & Medical
If you are moving to a different country, you really to make sure that you have all of your shots and your vaccines are all up to date too. In many places, you won’t be able to get a visa if you can’t prove that everything is up to date.
Records are the best way for you to prove that you are vaccines and any allergies that you might have. If you don’t have anything to prove you have had them, the chances are you are going to need to apply to have them again. But you can check what each state or new country needs.
Packing
One of the longest and most time-consuming parts of moving comes from needing to pack you current house up into boxes and put them on a truck. If you just don’t love the idea of having to ask friends to help you box up, and someone to drive you (or drive yourself), then the best bet is to hire interstate removalists.
Steps For Packing
You’re going to need to work out what you want to keep and what you want to get rid of. Start labeling things up as early as you can. Keep, Donate, Sell. Anything that isn’t good enough to donate or sell, you should look for the best way to get rid of everything.
When it comes to selling, you’re going to want to have everything cleaned and ready to list of various sites. Facebook marketplace is one of the most common places for people to put on things that they no longer need.
Unfortunately, there is always way more stuff that you think you have that will need to be taken care of. So the more time you can give yourself to finish this, the better.
It is the ideal time to begin your new minimalist lifestyle.
Housing
You need to have your rental or house purchase well in advance. If you have someone in the location that can help you out then make sure they are there for viewings and set them up as your proxy for signing. The alternative is that you can get in touch with a solicitor who can take care of the paperwork for you. If you want to negotiate, you’re going to need all of the information to be able to do so. Think about how long you want to stay there. Unless you know the area very well, there might be a point 4 days in where all you can hear is traffic and train noise – you might be regretting that long lease.
Border
Depending on where you are moving to, you might just find that you get stopped at the border and asked a lot of questions. Most of the time ‘I’m coming to live here’ won’t really cut it. You should make sure that you have a fully stamped visa, your passport, driver’s license, proof of your old and new address.
It might also be in your best interest to also take bank statements and more. Of course, in most cases, it won’t be needed, but for your own sake, you are better to travel with your documents and have copies in your luggage too.
ID
As mentioned above, you should always have your ID with you. It is the only official identification that all countries will accept. If you have an old passport and a new one issued from a new country, you are better to keep them both with you.
Doctors & Dentist
You will need to find a local dentist and doctor as soon as you can. Some might have waiting lists, or not be taking on patients with your insurance set-up. Make sure that you know how to sign up, is it online or via the post and take the steps to get it done.
There are a few other things that you will need to change your address on too. Your bank and credit providers, utilities, insurances, and taxes too.
Cash
Even if you are simply traveling across the same country to your new home, you might want to make sure that you have more than your bank card with you. If you new landlord, for the rental, is meeting you at your new place then it might be wise to turn up with the cash. You can never be sure how close you are to a working ATM, and no one is going to enjoy having to wait around while you go and find one.
Plan Things
It is tempting to stay inside and hibernate when you get to a new area. Simply because it is often the case that homesickness will creep up on you – even if you are going to one city over. Homesickness can present itself in a range of ways. Sometimes it is feeling sad that your local shop doesn’t have the same things, other times it is missing the people that you are able to see a lot, other times it is the street names and simply knowing the area like the back of your hand.
Language barriers may also arise. The key is to give yourself a few days and then head out and explore your local area. It is worth reading reviews of cafes, delis, and bakeries in the area and heading over to see if there is anything that you’d like to try.
Local Culture
Every location will have its own little culture. The slight change in accent, or that shops open late on a Monday because they were open at the weekend. Or that every second Friday the local farmer sprays his fields and the smell in the air changes. Eventually, these things will be normal for you, but it might take some time before you become familiar with it all. Check the opening and closing times of all of the local shops that you are likely to use often – so you’ll never end up hungry and bored at 2pm on a Thursday.
Make New Friends
This is time to put your people skills to good use. If you have a job, then the chances are you’re going to make plenty of friends pretty quickly. But if you work from home, and don’t get out much – then try and find some local clubs. Think about hobbies you either have or want to start and get in touch with some local groups.
There are a lot of groups on Facebook that specializes in making people feel at home in the local area. You could meet up for coffee, go to the local quiz night, and get involved in things like yoga or going to the gym. Expat groups are a good shout.
Making new friends will start giving you stronger links to the area, and that is a good thing.
Back Home Boxes
There will be some stuff that you don’t want to do without, and this is where your friends and family can help you. You can do a swap-a-care-package deal where once a month you send treats and new finds in the local area, and you can send it to your buddy. Your friend can fill your box with the things you love. It is an excellent way for you to get out there and explore – and for you to have a little piece of home delivered to your door every month too.
There is a lot of paperwork and planning that will go into your relocation, but ultimately the world is there to be explored, and you should do as much of that as you can while you have the opportunity. Of course, making friends isn’t always the easiest thing to do, and packing will take much longer than you thought it might – but consider it a big adventure and a journey in your personal growth as a person.
“Settling into a new country is like getting used to a new pair of shoes. At first, they pinch a little, but you like the way they look, so you carry on. The longer you have them, the more comfortable they become. Until one day, without realizing it, you reach a glorious plateau. Wearing those shoes is like wearing no shoes at all. The more scuffed they get, the more you love them, and the more you can’t imagine life without them.” ― Tahir Shah, In Arabian Nights: A Caravan of Moroccan Dreams
