The siren song of expatriate life summons hundreds of thousands abroad every year. Many move to pursue a life of luxury not possible in their homeland, others in the spirit of unattainable and undying adventure, some simply are forced to follow their loved ones abroad, and there are those just outright escaping the evil clutches of their exes.
Whatever the reason and no matter the destination, relocation should be handled with care – both before you bubble wrap your boxes and even well after the dust has settled on the runway.
Research is paramount to preparing for the move beforehand and tantamount to easing adjustment after arrival, and knowing what resources are right for each phase of relocation is key.
Before you go
Information has never been easier and cheaper to access; it’s in our pockets, at our fingertips, and in some especially innovative cities – all around us.
Those moving abroad can now jump on the virtual superhighway from the comfort of their couch, but though the Internet seems like an obvious point of reference in preparing for relocation, is it really the best?
According to the 2010 Expat Arrivals (EA) Art of Relocation Survey, expats cited actual visits to the future destination and traditional resources, namely books, as the most helpful resource in preparation, and social media sites the least.
• Just under 65% of participants found visiting the country helpful, while 58% found books helpful
• Exactly 50% of participants cited social media sites, specifically Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, as not helpful or barely helpful - only 17% of participants found this resource helpful.
Personal contacts within the established expat community (46%) was elected the third most helpful resource; followed by, in what would be considered the customary consolation spot, expat information web sites (45%).
Blogs (29%), expat groups and forums (34%), and government web sites (28%) all fell to the wayside, but nonetheless, were ranked higher than social media.
Prep time
So now that the Internet’s been so unceremoniously dethroned, or at least asked to give back the cape and sceptre, future assignees, trailing spouses and starry-eyed adventurers alike should be sure to take advantage of the right resources prior to relocation.
-Hit the library - we promise, it still exists. Even if the most up-to-date publications aren’t present, familiarizing yourself with the history, geography, politics and culture of your future destination is a great way to form a healthy knowledge base and a firm foundation.
-Buy, bargain for and even borrow books. Believe it or not, there’s plenty of hard and soft covers out their developed and devoted specifically to those living and working overseas. These resources often act as source pools, prepared to point you to the best Internet sites, the most reputable social groups and the local publications that can serve you best.
-Vie for visitation rights. Not all expats will have the luxury of visiting their future destination beforehand, but if you’ve been lured abroad by an expat package try your best to negotiate a visit as part of your contract. If you’re not moving for work purposes, if you can spare the time and expense, it’s certainly worth checking out the scene before you make a more permanent move. Remember, 64% of expats surveyed said that visiting the country was the most important preparation for a successful move.
After you arrive
Concerns can change dramatically from pre-relocation to post-relocation, and in the same way, the resources that are most helpful may no longer be as relevant. So would books and personal contacts within the expat community still trump the Internet and social media sites as helpful resources even after arrival?
According to EA Art of Relocation Survey, books were no longer among the most helpful resource (41%), but social media sites were still among the least helpful after expats arrived in their new destination.
• Just under 75% of participants cited both local people and contacts within the expat community as the most helpful resources in adjusting to relocation post-arrival.
• Only 27% cited government web sites and 32% cited social media sites as helpful to some degree.
Expat groups and forums (54%) ranked as the third most valuable resource, and blogs (50%) and expat web sites followed.
Resources that depend on some sort of interpersonal interaction or that create some degree of social currency seem to be most important post-arrival.
Wrapping up
The survey also revealed that expats' largest concern was "making friends and social connections"; it follows that if those moving overseas perceive the largest hurdle to happiness post-relocation as the difficulty that comes with making a meaningful network, resources that can’t support and facilitate this endeavour will become obsolete.
While books may have been useful beforehand, they seem to be less accomplished at growing drinking buddies or starting a sewing group. In order to make the final stages of settling successful, expats should look to some alternative resources to ease their relocation and to solidify the social connections that are most important.
-Get to know your neighbours. Whether you’re living in an insular compound in the Middle East or an experimental collective in Berlin, meeting and making nice with those nearby is a great starting place to find friendship. In the very least, these people can certainly inform you about amenities in and around the area where you live.
-Be a joiner. Even if groups, clubs and societies were never of interest to you back home, these organisations can be great platforms for finding people who share similar priorities. Pay attention to message boards advertising membership in local shops, or consult local publications for information about what’s available around you.
-Live like a local. As tempting as it may seem to ball up in the bubble of the expat sphere, locals can often help you learn the most. Engage with those around you and let them influence your thoughts and your perceptions. Whether it’s talking to your tuk-tuk driver about the best way to navigate the city, visiting an open-air market rather than a superstore, or asking local school teachers about their teaching philosophy; make an effort to integrate rather than isolate yourself.
Most importantly, follow the path of moderation. Though survey results single out certain resources as more helpful than others before and after the move, don't rely on only one type of information. Take care to learn as much as you can from as many directions as possible and in no time you'll be have stopped relocating and you'll have started settling in.
About the Author: ExpatArrivals.com publishes over 100 online destination guides to help global expats plan their move abroad and optimize their lives on arrival. City-based experts works with the editorial team to produce constantly updated information covering 15 main content areas of significance to expats, inter alia, Accommodation, Money & Banking, Culture Shock, Healthcare, Education, Lifestyle, and Visas.
0 comments:
Post a Comment