Prior to the pandemic, while walking through Brera, a trendy part of Milan, I saw a piece of plywood on the sidewalk leaning against a trash bin with the writing, “YOUR COMFORT ZONE WILL KILL YOU.” The expression stopped me in my tracks. Maybe for the truth of it. I snapped a photo and saved it as wallpaper on my phone. So every time I unlock my phone, I see this expression reminding me on a daily basis to take risks. Deciding to move abroad for work was one of those times I stepped outside my comfort zone. If you are planning on living and working abroad for an extended period of time, you’ll be leaving your comfort zone behind.
Starting over in a foreign place can be daunting. If you are making your home abroad, even temporarily, you’ll need to embrace the unknown if you are going to succeed.
Before you go abroad, take care of the ESSENTIALS.
Once you make your decision to live and work abroad, be sure you take care of important business. Work permits and IDs are probably the two most important things when it comes to a long-term stay and integrating in a foreign country. Work permits and IDs tend to go hand in hand. You usually can’t get one without the other.
Your employer should act as your sponsor and take care of the necessary applications and paperwork for your work permit. You’ll want to monitor this process closely. To do this, be sure to understand how the process works and know all the deadlines. I can’t stress how important this is. In most places, you won’t be able to do much without a work or residence permit. Once you have the work permit, getting an ID and any necessary tax IDs will follow, usually with more paperwork.
So why are these documents so important? Well, if you want to get paid and open a bank account, you will need documents such as a work/residence permit, and personal and tax IDs.
It is important that you get in writing that your employer will take care of your essential documents – permit and IDs or whatever they may be for the country where you’ll be living. You’ll also want your employer to compensate you for any processing delays that may result in delays in getting paid.
Check in on any investments you have to understand if you need to take any actions prior to your departure.
If you are going abroad with your family, be sure to plan for school. International schools will be costly. Be sure you know who is paying – you or the company. Lastly, your spouse will need the same documents you need to work locally. If they don’t get them, he or she may need to pursue a more entrepreneurial endeavor while you are abroad.
Home isn’t a place, it’s a feeling.
— Cecelia Ahern
You’ve decided, you’re making your home abroad.
Step 1: don’t freak out.
Even if you are going for a fixed period of time, your initial reaction might be the following. What the fu**k did I do? If you take a deep breath and think back, I’m sure you can recall a time when you moved before – during college, the first time out on your own or when you started a family. I’ve moved many times and sometimes it can be overwhelming.
Leaving the comforts of home behind is hard. Some of my experiences have included moving to Miami, and, with bags still packed, having to prepare for a serious hurricane or arriving in Italy only to learn that I still needed to be admitted into a yearly quota system to get my work permit and all other essential documents. As a former Type A personality, I had to learn to roll with it and not sweat the small things. (The book series Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff really helped!)
The opportunity of living and working abroad can be life changing, so don’t let your fear of starting over stand in the way.
You’ve arrived abroad, now what?
Step 2: get settled.
If you’ve been moved abroad for work, your company may have found a place for you or is putting you up in temporary housing. If you find yourself in the latter position, you’ll need to find a place to live. Where you live is important if you want a life outside of work. Don’t leave this decision up to fate or some mobility manager who might only be thinking of finding you a place close to the office. This was my experience. While the relocation team assigned to me was well-intentioned, they kept showing me apartments close to the office. This was great for my commute but not ideal for anything else. I eventually did my own search and found the perfect location for me.
Granted, the commute was longer, but more importantly I didn’t have to sacrifice what I like to do. I’m a runner so I needed to be able to run. I also wanted a place that when I stepped outside, I could easily reach public transportation, and be in walking distance of a food market, the city center, restaurants, nightlife, and entertainment like the cinema. Above all, I wanted an apartment that was located in a part of the city that was safe.
Once I knew I would be living and working abroad, I spent quite a bit a time researching where I would live. Prior to arriving in Milan, I had some ideas about where I wanted to live. I validated those ideas by speaking with colleagues and other expats living in Milan.
Don’t let the fact that you are on a work assignment make you feel that it has to be all work and no play.
Outside of finding a place to live and furnishing it, you’ll need to know how you will manage essential services such as your utilities (electricity and/or gas), and any other services such as internet, premium television, cell phone, etc.
Also, understanding your healthcare will be very important. If the pandemic taught us anything it was how important it is to have health coverage. I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before, know how your healthcare works before you need it. You’ll also want to make a list of emergency numbers for the local consulate, fire department, police, and emergency medical care. Americans will want to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). This allows the U.S. Embassy to send you important updates and to contact you in the event of an emergency or civil unrest.
Americans who are living and working abroad also need to file taxes back home and to understand the local tax system and their commitment in their host country. Doing your taxes could get complicated. Check in with your company to understand what support is provided. Like me, you’ll probably have an accountant at home and abroad.
Lastly, know how you are going to get to work. Public transport might be ok in the beginning. Though, beware of the occasional transportation strikes. If you want your own wheels, you may find yourself going back to driving school, which is what I had to do. In Italy, I couldn’t transfer my driver’s license so I had to re-do driver’s ed with a bunch of 18-year-old Italian teens.
You’re doing it, living and working abroad.
Step 3: check out your surroundings.
By now, you have settled in and are feeling comfortable in your new home. First things firsts, take care of business – be sure you know how to get to your consulate, the closest hospital, a supermarket, pharmacy, work, the bank, etc. Once you get the essentials down of living and working abroad, go out and explore your neighborhood. Take a walk and check out local cafés, sites, art exhibitions, festivals, and major events. Take advantage of what’s going on around town to get to know your neighborhood.
Step 4: make friends.
Go out, and meet people and make friends. There are so many ways to make new friends, start with colleagues, associations, alumni in the area, volunteering, joining a local gym or sports club. Put yourself out there and see what clicks for you.
Step 5: be a local.
So, now you’ve mastered living and working abroad. You have a network of friends and you are felling at home. You’ll want to take advantage of your time abroad to travel and to learn as much as you can about your new home. Learn the language, watch local news and read the newspaper. Learning the language will help you fit in and really get to know the culture. There are so many ways to learn a new language – in the classroom, online, through languages exchanges, etc. Choose the method that works best for you.
You might want to get that driver’s license, or you may like your host country so much that you decide to buy property or even look into citizenship. You could start a business abroad. The opportunities are endless.
Bonus step: don’t think, just do it!
While the thought of living and working abroad may seem like a far-off dream, it is possible. Step by step, you can remake your home anywhere with the right amount of patience, flexibility, perseverance, and openness to new experiences. Even if it is a temporary move, living in a new location can open doors to new experiences that you never imagined before.
Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels
