Crucial Things No One Tells You About Moving to a New Country by Yourself

Relocating sounds easier on paper than in reality.

The day is finally here; you’re as giddy as a little child with a new toy. You’ve wanted to relocate for so long and — depending on your passport — may have jumped through endless hoops to get that visa granted.

You’re a bit tired, what with all those farewell parties you’ve held every night for the past month.

Now here you are, all packed and ready to hop on a plane. You’re the pure definition of excitement. You feel the butterflies fluttering in your belly.

But here’s the million-dollar question:

When the plane touches the ground on the other side, where exactly do you start?

As someone who has been here before, I can confidently tell you that hopping on a plane to make a life in some faraway land sounds easier on paper than in reality.

There are always some challenges lurking in some unexpected corners. There are lessons to be learned; most importantly, you must catch up quickly.

I learned this the hard way.

When I picked up my bags and left my motherland for the United Arab Emirates fourteen years ago, I didn’t know a thing about what I’m about to tell you today.

All I could think of was how incredible it would be to be near the golden beaches, the luxurious shopping malls, and the glitz and glamour of the iconic city of Dubai.

Luckily for you, I’ll break down everything you need to know before you book that one-way ticket to a foreign land.

Firstly, from the minute you hatch that dream of living abroad, you should be thinking of saving some money.

Nothing leaves you exposed, like setting foot in a new place with limited cash.

There are so many variables settling in a new place that having some good savings is the only way to protect yourself.

For example, you might want to go to an Airbnb first before you find your own place, only to get there and realize that you’ve been sold a bill of goods. What you thought it would be, is nothing compared to what it is.

I’ve heard stories of people putting up fake photos about Airbnbs. Some of these places are too run down or too dirty for comfort, and if you’re sharing with others, they may end up being too nasty to put up with.

This is where your savings bail you out, people. Nothing is as liberating as being about to choose comfort.

Next, you need to know how to navigate the public transportation system.

So, you’ve landed on the other side and have managed to carve out a spot for yourself. You have a little place you can turn into your nest.

Congrats!

You want to stretch your savings for as long as possible, and this is where the trains and buses come in handy.

They cost a fraction of the money you’d use on Uber but most importantly, they’re the best way to learn a new city.

It’s worth taking a long bus ride across the city as this is how you discover new places.

One of the best ways to get ahead abroad is to know where to find what and what happens where.

The other thing that should be at the top of your list is to learn everything about the culture of the society.

I can’t emphasize this enough.

When I lived in the U.A.E. breaking cultural norms could land you in jail, or worse, deportation.

For example, being a Muslim country, the government was strict about public displays of affection. You couldn’t kiss or become too touchy in public.

You also had to dress modestly. No, you didn’t have to wear a hijab (the long Black outfit women wear), but you needed to keep most of your body covered.

Also, you had to behave appropriately in places like swimming pools and restaurants.

Yet, I saw too many Westerners end up in trouble for breaking those same rules.

It’s not worth it.

Studying the culture and social norms will not only keep you out of trouble, but it’ll also make sure the society accepts you — trust me, this is what you want in a foreign land.

This is hard for you introverts out there, but it’s as vital as breathing: Making friends.

Yes, from the moment you land, you must make it your mission to make friends as fast as possible.

With your family and friends back home, you need to find a tribe that makes your life exciting and helps you navigate any upcoming challenges.

Mix loneliness, a foreign country, and strange culture, and you have a recipe for a difficult life.

This is when you really have to step out of your comfort zone and find out where people with the same interests as you hang out and make your way there.

Join that yoga, cooking, or aerobic class.

I get that it’s uncomfortable interacting with strangers who are culturally or racially different from you. But the discomfort dissipates after a while.

However, even before you hop on that plane, you should have done your homework well.

One of my friends didn’t buy a mattress for a long time because he couldn’t bring himself to spend 600 dirhams on a mattress.

He was stuck on the value his money had back at home. Eventually, he came to terms with it by changing his mindset.

One of the things he taught me is that you must consider the cost of living in the new country before you set foot there.

If you’re moving to countries with a stronger currency than that of your motherland, it can really mess with your brain.

It sounds obvious, but it isn’t. It’s easy for people to think that their money is worth the same at home as abroad.

If you decide to relocate, you must adjust your mindset and sever the chord that links your money’s value to your motherland.

Ask yourself if you can handle the traditions of the land.

Social norms are the mother of culture shock for new immigrants.

Before you even get on a plane, it’s paramount to ask yourself if these are adjustments you’re willing and capable of making.

If adjusting to these traditions is too hard, you’ll get in trouble with the authorities too often, which can affect your residency.

As such, you might want to consider moving to a place with less stringent rules.

The biggest factor to consider.

Too many people move to a new country chasing a good life only to get there and realize that they can’t deal with the weather.

I felt this firsthand when I moved to Melbourne, Australia.

I was not too fond of every cold day I lived there — which is 85% of the time. To say I was miserable would be to understate.

The weather plays a significant role in determining whether you’ll enjoy living in this new place or not.

We all have preferences regarding the weather and how our bodies respond.

Of course, you can learn to adapt to conditions that aren’t ideal, but why go that route when you have options?

Relocating abroad is a gift anyone should give themselves if they ever have the chance.

It shifts your mindset about people and countries and teaches you a lot about cultures. You can never set out of your motherland and come back the same person you were before.

But moving abroad can also be a two-edged sword; if you mess up, it could change the entire trajectory of your life.

Hopefully, it doesn’t have to come to that now that you’re armed with information.

Keep it simple. Adapt. And observe the laws of the land.