How often do we all dream about moving to another country?
Once you went somewhere for vocations, watched a documentary, or talked with emigrated friends, and this idea of a perfect life abroad haunt you for months or even years.
However, emigration is a long and complicated process full of financial, social, and psychological challenges.
Often real life doesn’t coincide with our expectations, and the image of endless happiness may turn into a pile of ash.
That’s why, before moving, specialists and experienced people recommend to fulfill a thorough country survey.
But how can we learn maximum information about the chosen country? How to see the real everyday life of the locals? Let’s find it out together!
1 – Contact Emigrants from Your Country
The first and perhaps the most widespread mistake of those who want to move is the substitution of tourist experience with real life. When we travel, we can see only the best, advertising side of the local life.
However, the citizens of the country have always been and stay the most objective source of information about all social and economic spheres. As a rule, the easiest way for foreigners wishing to move to a country is to contact acquaintances or «acquaintances of acquaintances» who moved some time ago.
Having moved, many people start looking for their former compatriots and unite in communities. Experts and people who went through emigration also recommend contacting such diasporas.
Thanks to globalization and the development of the World Wide Web, each of us can communicate with experienced people without leaving home. If you have free time, spend just five to fifteen minutes to find sites, forums, or profiles of such people and communities.
There, you may ask about the spheres of country life that interest you. Emigrants are ready to share the experience of relocation, employment, purchase/rental of housing, education for children, medicine, etc. Believe us, this approach will save you from a lot of problems in the future and equip with useful knowledge.
2 – Contact Residents
This option is very similar to the previous one. However, as a rule, natives do not form mini-societies and forums. In this case, you can look for a person or several people you like. If your sympathy is mutual, they may answer your questions about the country. Please be patient since it will take more time. But the result may be more useful too.
You can either contact them through social networks or create relationships personally during a trip to the country. As far as locals live here from birth, they can help you with some issues not yet known to expats.
In any case, it doesn’t matter whether you will ask advice from your former compatriots or nee citizens. Communication with people who have been living in the country for more than 5-10 years is a beneficial source of information. You will learn the facts that cannot be learned from the Internet or during a short personal visit to the country.
3 – Try to Work Abroad
Another great way to better learn a country is to immerse yourself in its life for a while. If you have the time and opportunity, try to go to your chosen country for temporary work.
A lot of foreign companies and businesses are ready to hire foreigners. As a rule, the majority of vacancies appear for the summer period and vacation time. Mostly, people are looking for hospitality employees, tourist guides, etc. This is an excellent option for students and young people who try to discover their true selves and start a career.
However, the labor market also offers options for experienced professionals who would like to see the country and continue their professional careers. International job search sites have many temporary vacancies for developers, IT specialists, engineers, marketers, and many others.
Temporary work abroad gives you several advantages at once. Firstly, you start or develop your career. Secondly, you can immediately decide one of the vital emigrants` questions – where and how to find work in a new country? Finally, a temporary job means complete immersion in the country. Even several months of experience allows you to personally see how people live and how you feel about living here.
4 – Get the Education in This Country
Studying abroad helps many people decide whether they want to move to the country permanently or not. Nowadays, anyone can freely receive education in any educational institution in the world. Therefore, if your conditions allow you to complete such a “trial” move, we recommend you to use the chance.
Firstly, the study takes even more time than temporary work. Depending on the institution and program, you will spend in the country from one to four years. It means you have time to know it better. Indeed, you have already moved to the country and live in it the same life as the locals. But the final choice is yours.
Another huge pro of this method is local education. In the future, this fact will significantly help you in obtaining citizenship and employment. Besides, even if you decide to stay in your own country, foreign education will greatly raise your status in the eyes of employers.
Unfortunately, it is worth noting that this tip has some disadvantages as well. Education abroad is almost always paid. Therefore, if you weren’t lucky enough to win a grant, be prepared for the high expenses on tuition fees, accommodation, and meals.
5 – Go for a Long-Term Journey
Many people feel the desire to move right after a tourist trip. However, everyone will agree that those two or three weeks that we spend traveling cannot help us learn the country quite well.
A more extended trip can solve the problem. Experienced travelers recommend refusing ready-made tours. The best way to know the place is to organize everything yourself. Try to rent a car and make a travel plan, book hotels or lodging with locals. The second option is even better: it allows you to combine the journey with the above-mentioned second paragraph on communication with residents.
The more places you see, the better you learn the country. That’s why it’s worth trying to visit the maximum number of regions and towns. Thus, you can compare them and choose the places you liked most for future moving.
A self-organized journey gives you many more opportunities to communicate with people and observe the country’s real life. You will need about 1-2 months to come to some clear conclusions.
Alas, but like the previous method, traveling is a costly affair. However, if you cannot afford a long trip, try another scheme. Arrange a short tour for a couple of weeks in one city. Then, after some time, go to see another place, and so on. During the year, you’ll be able to see a great part of the country, at the same time taking breaks to save money.
This method may require a year or two but has other advantages except for affordability. You get the opportunity to see how the country is changing during this time, and whether these changes suit you.
Conclusion
Moving abroad to permanent residence is a decisive and responsible step. It opens up unique life prospects and opportunities full of challenges and fun. Experience shows that the secret of success lies in thorough preparations. So, we hope our tips will help you consider all pros and cons and change your life for better!