Hello World! Welcome Friends! Making a big move as a family is never easy. But when you’re talking about uprooting and going to a totally different country, that’s an entirely different story.
There are numerous personal and financial reasons why such a move might be a necessity. That said, a sort of “my way or the highway” approach to becoming an expat family is a surefire way to create unneeded tension.
Instead, it’s crucial to consider ways to make the transition as smooth as possible for the sake of both your family’s happiness and ability to succeed in a totally new land. With the following five tips in the back of your mind, you can do exactly that.
Paint a Positive Picture
Setting the right tone for your decision to move represents an initial yet crucial step toward making a successful transition to a new country.
Whether you’re in pursuit of a better life for your kids or are sending remittance back home with the help of services like Remitly, looking at the big picture can provide your family with some positive perspective. Again, “just because” is not going to win anyone over or ease their minds.
Do Your Homework
Just as you’d do ample research before purchasing a home or moving into a new neighborhood in your own backyard, the same rules apply tenfold when looking abroad.
Looking at a list of the best places to raise a family throughout the United States, there are many common threads about what makes a “good” place to live regardless of geography. From a reasonable cost of living and school quality to safety and job security, creating a sort of home away from your home country is much easier when you pin down a location that ticks these boxes.
Answer Your Kids’ Questions (Big and Small)
“How am I going to make friends?”
“What’s school going to be like?”
“What are we going to do for fun?”
Your children in particular have every right to be concerned about “what-if” situations as well as what day-to-day life will look like in a new country. Pay close attention to such questions and answer them thoughtfully. The more you can frame the transition as an adventure, the better.
It’s obviously difficult for children to see beyond the short-term, especially if you’re dealing with younger children, but you can’t afford to shy away from such conversations as tough as they might be.
Consider a “Preview” Vacation
If you have any doubts about what potential life as an expat family might be like, it’s never a bad idea to go abroad together to scope things out in advance. For example, you may realize that cultural customs aren’t as different as you thought or the language barrier you were so worried about aren’t that big of a deal. Such a trip is a worthwhile insurance policy in order to ease your mind.
Have a Plan for Homesickness
Dealing with homesickness as an expat is tough, but it’s even tougher when your kiddos are involved.
Rather than totally leave your former home beyond, give your children opportunities to stay connected with friends and family whenever possible. Modern smartphones and social media make fighting homesickness exponentially easier, but it’s definitely something to be aware of to ensure your kids’ happiness.
If you’re tasked with taking your family along to live the expat life, everything you can do to keep your family in the loop is a major plus. Keeping these pointers in mind will help you get off on the right foot, but also make them feel involved in the ever-so-important decision-making process.
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Toodles,
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