Moving from one country to another is pretty easy these days. However, there are several factors that you need to know or consider once you make up your mind which country you are moving to.
Listed here are some of these factors of consideration.
The law
It is important that you find out all you can about the laws of the country you are moving to. There could be significant differences from the law of your home country.
Different countries have different forms of government. Some countries are quite tolerant to foreigners residing in their country while others aren’t.
It is important that you find out beforehand what type of laws are applied in that country and the type of government and political system you will be interacting with. You can even call your home embassy in the country and ask for a clear explanation on the country and its laws.
Your family
If you are a single person, this should not be a big worry. However, if you have a family, you will have to consider their needs too.
If you have children, how will they cope with the change to a new country and probably education system. Talk to them about making friends and help them adjust to the new country of residence once you get there.
You will also need to consider the needs of your spouse. How quickly can they get a job in their areas of specialization?
In addition, you will also need to find out whether they even want to move to the said country. Talking these things through as a family will make the preparation, traveling and settling in period much easier.
Language spoken in the country
Communication is important for any successful interaction to happen. For easier communication, it is important that you are able to speak or at least understand the language used in your host country.
Relocation to Switzerland for example, requires that you are able to speak any of the four official languages in the country depending on the canton or area you will be residing.
If you are not able to speak in any of the languages, you can always hire a translator to accompany you to your official meetings. However, you will get along fairly easily with English in most parts of the world.
Cultural differences
Culture shock is one of the other factors that you will need to deal with once you move from your own country to another. You will find that most of the things that are commonplace at your home are luxuries to others and vice versa.
It is important that you carry out proper research on the country that you are moving to. Find out how they live and how different it is from the way you live in your country. With prior knowledge you can prepare yourself slightly.
The best way to deal with culture shock is getting used to the life in the new country and immersing yourself into the everyday life of the new country.
Accommodation
Before leaving your country for a new country, it is important that you set up arrangements for where you will live once you get there. Find out how the locals live and get a proper living arrangement. In Switzerland, the norm is that majority of the population lives in rented houses rather than self-owned homes.
Find a reliable real estate agent who will help you acquire a house that is near your work place and that you and your family will be comfortable in. Once you are used to the new country, you can now seek for better accommodation in a place of your choice.
Conclusion
Moving to a new country is a stressful event. It requires that you are well prepared for the move and are well informed of the practices in your new country of residence. Moving to a new country is a great experience, exposure and a good step in becoming a global citizen.
