Thinking About Moving Abroad? Read This First

Many people have a very romantic notion about living overseas. Many Indonesians in particular dream of living somewhere outside Indonesia where there is no acute traffic jam, unpredictable flood, dynamic political situations, lack of security and equality, and so on. 

But do you know if you have what it takes to embark on a new adventure? Jacqueline D. Brown in Transitions Abroad.com writes 10 things we shall consider when we are thinking about leaving our home country, and I have picked several of them as below:

1. Is this something you really want or can do? I myself have met so many people who always say how they wish to live overseas, but in truth they are not willing and not ready to give up what they have in Indonesia. You have to understand that moving away means you will sacrifice what you presently have for something in the future.
2. Pick a place. It is important to choose the right place, according to Brown. And I totally agree, given a choice. Sometimes we do not have so much choice especially when the company has instructed us to move elsewhere. But if you are about to pick a university to continue your study, think about why you choose Tokyo over Sydney, or Aachen over Cambridge. There is no right or wrong reason why you pick the place, but you must understand that the country and the city will be part of your life for a while.
3. Decide on a moving date. And when you have set the date, plan way in advance. We will talk about what to do before we move in a different article.
4. How are you going? Beside thinking about your future, adopted country, you still have to think about the country you are about to leave behind. Who is going to take care of your property and belongings? Who is handling the money in Indonesia? And so on.
5. Do your research. Find out about your adopted country as much as you can. The culture, the language, Indonesian embassy location, Indonesian association, and so on.

Celeste Heiter on What it Takes to Live and Work Abroad has noted the following assets and attributes are essential for a successful and rewarding experience abroad:

1. A college education,
2. Adequate finances,
3. Good physical health,
4. Courage, adaptability,
5. Perseverance,
6. Resourcefulness,
7. Congeniality,
8. Independence,
9. An adventurous palate,
10. A love of travel,
11. A code of integrity,
12. A willingness to compromise,
13. A sense of humor and
14. A genuine desire to live life to its fullest.

Each attribute plays a crucial role in your ability to thrive and succeed in unfamiliar and challenging surroundings.  Read here for detailed explanation about all of the above points.

Now, do you think you have what it takes to live abroad? Let the adventure begin!