Whether you’re planning on moving away from home for a week, a month, a year, or forever, it’s a daunting step, and one that needs a lot of preparation – but with the right plan in place, you’ll be sure to make it the most memorable experience of your life.
Scout The Place Out
Before you set off to your new home, you need to plan ahead – this will take some time! If you can, visit places you’d like to stay to get to know the area and become familiar with where you’re moving.
When you travel to a new place for work or pleasure, there is always a chance that the neighborhood you chose to stay in doesn’t suit you. One of the many benefits of renting an apartment with a company like Blueground is their flexible lease terms allow you to move between neighborhoods and explore diverse areas of cosmopolitan cities. Guests can rent one of their fully-furnished, equipped and serviced corporate rentals in Chicago for a month, a year or even longer. Whether you need a studio or a two-bedroom space, Blueground can help.
Looking around the area can be exciting too – research places nearby that would be fun to visit, whether you’re a thrill-seeker with a love for rollercoasters or a daydreamer with the need for a view.
Get A Check-Up
Before you move away, check if there’s anything you need from a medical professional – for example, vaccinations. You’ll also need to get a large supply of any medications you’re on – it may take a bit of time to refill your medication, especially if the medication you take isn’t available over the counter, as this means you’ll have to schedule a visit with the local physician for a new prescription. You may be able to get refills sent to you via post – it’s worth checking if this is available before you go, and if you have any queries, chat with your current doctor or practice to discuss your options.
You also need to make sure you get a complete physical before you go to get any health problems sorted before you go – arriving in your new home with a nasty surprise is not the best of fresh starts. Research local medical practices in the area too, and make sure to register with them when you arrive. You could even contact them before the move if you like to make sure you have everything you need, and an idea of how it works, too – it may be that the service will be different to what you’re used to.
Pack Light
The truth is that you’re going to need much less than you think for the move. Most things you’ll be able to buy in your new country, which will be much easier than lugging everything over, giving you more space for the more important things. This is particularly relevant when it comes to clothes – it’s easy to overpack clothes, but you don’t need to bring many, just enough to last you until you can buy some more. It’s more important to find ways to save money and bring more cash – this can help restore things you may not have brought, as well as give you a safety cushion in case an emergency crops up. Since you’re making such a big step, it’s likely that something will go wrong, so make sure to have some emergency funds just in case.
Coping With Being Away From Home
Living so far away from home is never going to be easy. You’re surrounded by a new culture, new people, new food, new everything – and everything you know and love is far and possibly even oceans away. Try to familiarise yourself with the culture before you go to make this lifestyle change a little easier – research any common traditions or practices, and if the language is different, learn a bit of the local lingo, as well as look into any travel blogs from people who’ve experienced the same thing.
Accept that you’ll be feeling a little dampened and alienated at first too – this is completely normal, and you should take some steps to add a little comfort to your new life, especially in the first few weeks. A glass of wine, some chocolate, a huge blanket, some candles – whatever works for you, make sure to make some “me-time” to help soothe yourself. Make time to call friends and family, too – use software such as Skype to video call people back home, so even though you can’t be with them physically, you can talk and interact as if they were there with you.
These four tips should put you well on your way to planning to live abroad – although it can be scary, it’s a life-changing experience that you’ll never regret.
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