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How To Decide Where You Want to Live Abroad

Lots of people nowadays that decide to go live abroad, move to a country they fell in love during their holiday but forget that nowhere is like a holiday paradise all the time – what’s more, you cannot sustain the holiday lifestyle 24/7, 365 days of the year. Try it and you’ll get bored before you burn out!

So, in this report we’re going to break down how you can decide where you want to live abroad – all of the decisions you need to bear in mind, the facts you need to research, the criteria that can make or break a decision, and a checklist you can follow to help you decide where you would like to live abroad for life…

What You Need to Factor in When Thinking About a Relocation Destination
What is it about your current life that you like and value?  There will be many things about your current life you probably want to change by making a move abroad, but equally, there will be aspects of your life you enjoy, take for granted even, and certainly value.  If you can, list out the things that are important to you…and look abroad where you can match like for like.
Next you will need to think about where you can afford to live abroad. Basically, money does matter when thinking about where you can afford to relocate to.  Moving is expensive, moving abroad can be prohibitively so if you choose the wrong destination!
 

Get Your Facts Straight – Researching Your Favourite Country
It’s highly likely that you’ll have a shortlist of countries you would consider living in – or at least, a long list of nations you know you’d never relocate to in a million years.  This is all very positive data…it will help you when you start whittling down the list of finalists.  Now what you have to do is factually research your shortlist on at least the follow 10 topics: -

Healthcare - I’m purposefully putting this one at the top of the list of considerations because it is a subject that most people like to ignore, as it’s complex, expensive and can make or break a country choice.  Look at the costs involved and how you will be able to afford them.

Accessibility - You need to look at the accessibility of a given nation from your country as there will be times when you will want or have to return to your home country.  What’s more, you may well want friends and family to visit you.

Climate - whilst we many of people seems to think that the hotter a country is the better it is, excessive heat can really take its toll.  What’s more, even Mediterranean countries get cold in the winter – and it can rain a lot, as demonstrated recently by the horrendous floods that cost lives in the likes of Cyprus. 

Crime - You need to look not only at the headlines and statistics of your favoured nation, you need to examine the levels of crime on a more targeted basis for the area you’re thinking of moving to.

The People - We can’t be expected to get on with everyone at all times, and it’s human nature to find some people more friendly or understanding than others…but on the whole, what are the people like in the country you’re thinking of.  Are they fed up of foreign incomers, jaded by tourism, or are they welcoming, accepting of strangers and friendly?

Language - Language can be a barrier to you settling in to a country and getting the most out of it.  Have you ever learned a foreign language before, how did you get on?  Did you struggle or enjoy the experience?

Housing - What are housing standards and expectations like abroad, will you be able to make a comfortable home overseas for you and your spouse or family?

Social Care - If you fall on hard times, or you perhaps need home help or extended nursing care even, what will you do?  What is in place, what can be afforded privately or with insurance and what can you realistically expect from your new country in terms of social care?

Fellow Expats - For some of us, the thought of living in an expat enclave abroad is a nightmare, for others it’s exactly what they’re seeking.  Depending on which camp you fall into, there will be times when you will certainly want expats around you…so what are the expats like where you’re thinking of moving to abroad?  Are they like-minded, from a similar background, can you get on with them, will they be supportive to you?

Entertainment - And finally… the last thing you might be thinking about the new experience is ever being bored, however, the delights of the glorious sunshine and beautiful setting of your new home may actually wane eventually and you’ll be left looking for things to do!  So, how about it?  What is there to do in your new location overseas?  Are there any cultural events you can get involved with, clubs and societies or just social gatherings that you could join.  What about getting out and about and seeing more and experiencing more of the nation…and how easy will it be to make like-minded friends abroad?
 

Be Realistic
There’s good and bad in every country in the world – however, we expats tend to move abroad with rose tinted glasses on, and then bitch and moan when they are removed to reveal the true colours of our new nation.  If we set out with a realistic understanding and realistic expectations of our new country, we’d find the period of adjustment far easier.
To get as realistic a feeling for what a new country will be like there are things you can practically do.  For example, you can spend an extended period of time living there out of any tourism season.  This will give you a first hand idea of what the nation is like as a place to really live day-to-day.  Whilst you’re ‘in country’ you can get to meet natives and expats and find out from them what they think of their country.
You can also spend time on forums on the Internet speaking to people who have made the move abroad to your chosen destination.  However, remember that those most likely to comment are those trying to sell something or those who are very dissatisfied and looking for an angle to voice their upset!  So, take what you read with a pinch of salt!
The point of all of this is building as balanced and realistic a perspective and picture of your new country.  After all, you’ll soon figure out the downsides when you relocate if you haven’t figured them out before you move.  The only difference being, it would be better for you to know in advance, then you can prepare yourself!

Source: Shelter Offshore.com
Date of publication: 5 April 2010
Remark: LEX posted only an abridged version of the article. For detailed information on this topic visit the mentioned source website 
 

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