How do I prepare to live abroad

**Mjenn** · 07-19-2011, 10:17 AM

This depends on a lot of factors:

1) At least one of you should have a job - if you are going via a company you already work for, then they should cover most moving expenses, visa and everything else involved. They should also provide you with relocation services which will help you get settled.

2) If you are going alone - again, I wouldn't go without at least one having a job, esp. since you have kids and most places it is required for a visa anyway - if that is the case, I would calculate at least 3 months of expenses in savings (you can get a cost of living estimate on line for the country you want to move to) - but since you don't have a particular place in mind, this is tough to estimate. Also, if you are only going over temporarily it is better to rent a furnished apartment or buy some stuff at IKEA then to ship your stuff both ways. If you are going with your employer and they are willing to pay, ship your stuff.

3) Many other countries are used to dual income families (I speak of the Scandinavian countries I have lived in) and aren't really structured for a one income, one SAH family. Make sure you are prepared to deal with the situation you are facing - can you support your family on one income? What is the work situation like, can your partner even legally get a job (check visa status)?

4) Even if your partner is used to SAH it can be tricky to adapt to a new culture when you have no real entry into it (like a job). Most relocations that fail do so because partners have a hard time adjusting. Try to make sure you have some activities, people, contacts, ex-pat groups lined up for a partner.

Anyway, it is a great experience, I've been living abroad for the last 10 years or so, first in UK and now in Scand.
Good luck!

4)

**riverwed070707** · 07-19-2011, 11:17 AM

Thanks! Helps to hear from someone with experience. Can I ask what took you abroad? Do you visit the states much?

My husband is currently a full-time student (so stays at home with DD in the summer but not FT) so finding a school for her will definitely be a priority. By the time we move he will have just finished his nursing degree so it is up in the air whether he will be seeking employment (no idea how that type of degree transfers internationally) or if he will be staying in school for his Masters. We were thinking him being in school might offer us more opportunities to make the move easier becuase they would have the resources we need to reloate. He wants to get his MS in Physical Therapy and if his BSN doesn't allow him to work in another country, this might be a good time for him to do it.

Obviously my preference would be to have a job when we go, but I'm just not sure how the interview/hiring process will work if I am not able to transfer with my current company. It was my job that initially led me to be interested in the idea but it's not a done deal and its possible I'll have to look at alternatives now that we're set this is something we'd like to pursue.

We plan on renting our house here while we are gone (and hiring a property manager), selling our cars and we probably won't take any furniture or anything like that -- what we want to keep will just to go storage, but that won't likely be much since we're currently inhabiting a 625 sq ft house

**timbuckley10** · 07-19-2011, 11:56 AM

Hi riverwed070707,

Having lived abroad myself for a period of time, I always encourage anyone to take that step outside of the "American box" most Americans are stuck in. It is a very enlightening experience. One thing to think about is language. You mentioned the UK which of course would eliminate language as an issue but if you were to go somewhere like France or something it would be very important to get at least a base knowledge of the language before going. I would assume that if one of you are planning on working, arrangements would be made by the company for learning or translation.

Also as the time comes closer and you zero in on a country, start keeping an eye on the exchange rates of the currencies. It can make a huge difference if you exchange all your budget at an advantageous time when exchange rates are in your favor as opposed to just exchanging as you need it and letting the markets decide.

In addition I must agree with Mjenn and stress the importance of getting into a community and meeting people. If you don't, you may begin to feel like you are trapped in a foreign country with no connections.

Best of luck!!

**riverwed070707** · 07-19-2011, 01:02 PM

Thanks Tim. You're definitely right about networking. Posting this today got me thinking more about how my husband could use his job internationally and it dawned on me that we could look into him getting a civilian job with the army (of course I could too, but his field would be more in demand than mine (medical vs communications). This would open opportunities to international positions without requiring him to have certification in the country he's working in, while providing the comfort of resources in our language within a community that is in a similar position, hopefully easing the transition. I've been researching all day what opportunities are available for civilians.

Its such a blank slate to work with when you really have no agenda for where you want to go. I'm just dying for the opportunity to immerse ourselves and our daughter in another culture and to be able to travel places we otherwise probably couldn't afford.

**Frugal** · 07-20-2011, 08:59 AM

I lived abroad in Europe for a semester in college. It was tough, but exciting. I would highly recommend learning not only the language, but the DIALECTS in place where you are going, that people use everyday on the street. Otherwise, you might get there and not understand people, even though you are fluent in the "official" language of the country.

It is really important to research infrastructure first, such as everyday, practical things: e.g., where are the churches or places of worship you would visit, which grocery stores do locals frequent, and how much does food cost in the particular country (it can cost A LOT more than in the U.s. in Europe!), what are the req'ts for a living permit or visa, etc. Most cities in Europe require you to register with the authorities, if you live there for any length of time. I know this is true of both some countries in Western Europe, and Russia and Ukraine.

In any country of the world, it is important to critically research and evaluate job prospects BEFORE you get there. Find out how tough it is for a foreigner to get a job when competing with locals, and what the requirements are for a WORK visa, as this will very by country. I was looking for a job while living in Europe, and also wanted to stay behind and work full-time. It is almost impossible sometimes to get all the right papers to do this if you do not know what is required.

Hope that helps!

**Frugal** · 07-20-2011, 09:01 AM

p.s. I agree with what someone above said about France. In any country in Europe at least (not familiar with other continents) they will still speak their native language everyday on the streets. Despite what they teach us here in America, NOT everyone speaks English, and sometimes if they do speak it they will not WANT to. Also, not everyone is so friendly to Americans in Europe. Most are reasonably approachable, but some people do not like Americans. That is the truth.

**Mjenn** · 07-20-2011, 10:25 AM

Sounds exciting, but you really should think about narrowing your field. In my experience nursing is a really good career to travel abroad with, as they are needed everywhere. But as the above posters pointed out, language is a problem. Even in countries where many people speak English, the native language is required. For example in the country where I live now, it takes about 6 months for them to evaluate your nursing degree, and during that time most people take a special language class for medical personnel which is a requirement for certification here.

Either way, you will need to find a job before you move unless you qualify for citizenship somewhere, or one of you is studying.

Also, it might affect your daughter's schooling. Many places have different programs of study. Where I live now, school starts later, when they are 7 and is really slow paced until they catch up academically at about 6 or 7th grade.

State schools tend to be free, and sometimes there are internationL schools included in the state system. But this doesn't mean they align perfectly with the American system. They are often different unless you can find an American school abroad. But what your child might miss out on, they might gain with a new language.

Eta: I moved first for work, then met mr. Mjenn and moved with him to a new country. Our original plan was to move back to the US a few years ago, but we decided it made much more sense to be a young family here then there. We go to the us 2 to 3 times a year.
Your best bet I would say would be either finding an international company you really want to work for and applying to some of their international postings. Or finding a region you really want to move to and finding possible companies and going from there. With international companies the language isn't as important, but if the rest of your family will be speaking it, you will prob want to learn too!

Good luck

**sternchen** · 07-24-2011, 01:52 PM

that's exciting

read lots of books about the country where you are migrating

study their culture

what is the acceptable manner in their place

appropriate behavior in public places

etc

good luck!

**snafu** · 07-24-2011, 09:07 PM

The universities in China and Japan are always hiring native English speakers. They don't pay a lot but include accommodation as part of benefits. You needed have a teaching background as they have a detailed curriculum. There are lots of opportunity to learn Mandarin or Japanese, the culture is fantastic and the schools provide opportunities to travel. Each school has their own system of reimbursing travel expenses.

How do I prepare to live abroad