Wikimedia Adventure, Stress & A Lot Of Planning. What Do We Do If We Want To Move Our Family To Another Country.
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Life in so many ways is a sequence of adventures. Whether you’re hitting the big 4-0 (like I did last year) and you’re looking to start a new phase of your life, or the entire family is looking for a change, adventure may be just around the corner.
The biggest adventure you could have in life, especially with your family, would be to uproot them and move to another country.
So many families go on an adventure, especially during the summer months, but if you’ve found somewhere that’s made you ponder the existence of your normal life, and you think it would be best for everyone, then why shouldn’t you give it a go? But of course, adventure comes with a lot of stress and a lot of planning. So, what do we need to do if we want to move the family to another country?.
See The Place!
Yes, it may sound obvious, but so many people decide to take the plunge without thinking it through 110%. Visiting your location is the very least you can do. Depending on your circumstances, you may be wanting to purchase a property there also. You will need to give consideration to the property market as well as the processes involved in buying a property overseas.
You may also have a lot of questions about the lifestyle, culture and wonder if everyone will fit in and be happy. When it comes to moving to a more westernised country, we may think we know what to expect, because we’ve seen all of the obligatory movies set in New York City or London.
But the reality is far removed from the fiction. To get a true appreciation of the given location, not only should you visit, but you should seek to burrow deep into living how the locals live.
There is a difference between being a tourist and a resident. Just visiting the destination you want to live cannot give you an accurate depiction of what to expect, but hopefully you can find that positive vibe.
Always trust your instincts. Given that it’s not just you but it’s the entire family, you’ve all got to feel some sense of connection to the location and feel comfortable with the choices you have made.
Getting The Admin Tasks Done
There are so many essentials that need to be considered when you are getting ready to move. There are numerous types of insurance, such as expat health insurance that’s essential for the entire family.
In addition to this, there are the visas, the passports, and getting everything ready to go. Moving to another country isn’t just a new adventure, but it’s a logistical nightmare as well!
If you’re struggling to keep everything together, it might be a good time to ask for extra help. When it comes to the act of moving, there are a few companies that specialize in international removals.
Moving can be a very difficult experience when it’s just down the road; if you’re moving to another country, you’re adding a whole dimension of stress and obstacles.
Make sure you don’t forget to redirect your mail. As far as administrative tasks go, this is usually on the bottom of the list however it is much easier to organise from home before leaving.
Don’t forget to organise your mobile/cell phone service. While most cell phones can be used in other countries, you’ve still got to configure your phone, or purchase a SIM card that is compatible with your chosen destination.
You don’t want to find that you’ve spent a lot of money moving to another country and then been charged through the nose for international roaming calls!.
Preparing The Children
Once everything has been finalized, and you managed the logistical problems, it’s time to focus on the emotional concerns.
Throughout your preparation which could take months, if you’ve noticed your children being distant or not as enthused as they once were, this is normal. Try looking at it from their perspective. Moving away from everything they know can be very stressful.
They’re going to a new school, and if we remember back when we were children, the stress of having to make new friends is a momentous and very scary challenge. And even though our parents told us that we will make friends without any problems, it still didn’t stop us stressing out about it!
When it comes to children moving to another country, you need to be aware of Expat Child Syndrome (ECS). To summarise the common symptoms, they usually include withdrawal, loneliness and lack of enthusiasm.
What we have to remember is that even though we are doing this for the benefit of everyone, the children can feel it much more than anybody else in the family. It’s a big change, and even though you might be scared and excited, the children may just feel scared.
It’s important during this time to ensure that the benefits outweigh the negatives of moving for the entire family.
You will benefit from showing them how great their new home will be and how much they will enjoy it.
They may hold it against you because you’re taking them away from their friends and school, which is basically their whole life and while it’s not easy, working hard at spending that quality time and making your kids feel safe and loved will ensure that the family bond together through this experience.
Going to a new country can be a new start, not just in a physical sense, but in an emotional one. Emotional lines in the sand can be drawn, and you could find that your family grows closer together.
Looking After Yourself
If you’ve been working overtime to get everything in check, you may have been neglecting your own thoughts and feelings.
Yes, a new start is very exciting, but you still need to ensure that you are preparing yourself adequately. As a parent, we can overcompensate for our children, to the detriment of ourselves.
While we might be of the opinion that a new adventure is always exciting, we still need to look after ourselves, emotionally and physically.
The stress alone of moving to another country can overwhelm anyone. It’s important that you keep organized. It’s far better to over plan than to under plan. This means preparing contingencies.
Things can fall through at the last minute, meaning that we have to scramble around for an alternative, whether this is due to issues with passports or we’ve not been able to sell our goods quickly enough.
Put simply, it’s can be very stressful. And the only thing that might be keeping us going at this point is the fact that we will be on a plane to a new life very soon. It’s important to prepare yourself mentally, before a big event like this.
It’s equal parts organization and relaxation. And if you have everything organized, you can, at the very least, enjoy the lead-up to leaving.
Moving to another country isn’t just about all the admin, but it can seem like it at the time. The fact is you are leaving your life behind. And this can be emotionally taxing. You may even think that you have made a big mistake.
It’s natural to have doubts creep in, but don’t let these take over you. Sure, there are going to be people you will miss, and we can’t underestimate that feeling of homesickness when we’ve gone to any faraway destination. But, this can be easily remedied.
The fact is, it’s easier to communicate with everybody now, so you will always have a bit of home and your old life. But if you know in your heart of hearts that this is for the benefit of everybody, keep pushing forward.
Moving to another country can be the making of you. But on the other hand, it could prove to be a big mistake. Whatever the outcome, at least you won’t have any regrets.
In the lead-up to moving to another country, it is a lot of stress, and it can throw up the same question time and time again, am I doing the right thing?
Whatever stresses you may experience or the family problems that may arise, you’ve got to admit, it will be one hell of an adventure! You and your family may find it to be the new start in life you’ve all wanted. Don’t let the stress get in the way of an amazing adventure!
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