Discover essential tips for a smooth relocation abroad! The discussion emphasizes securing remote work to navigate local job market challenges and leverage favorable currency rates. Logistical steps like mail forwarding and health insurance adjustments are covered to ease the transition. Cultural immersion through social media is encouraged, along with gradual adjustments to sleeping schedules for better acclimatization. With nearly 25 years of experience, expert advice on building routines and adapting to new environments is shared!
Financial sustainability while moving abroad can be achieved through remote work to navigate job competition and language barriers.
Planning logistical elements, such as mail forwarding and cultural engagement, significantly smooths the transition to living in a new country.
Deep dives
Funding Your Move Abroad
Securing employment is critical for funding a move abroad, and it can be more challenging than anticipated due to competition and language barriers. Many individuals may consider teaching English as a way to circumvent local language proficiency requirements, yet online work opportunities often offer a more feasible and flexible solution. Prioritizing remote work with an employer based in one's home country can provide a consistent income, even if it comes with a potential pay cut given the lower cost of living in the new location. This approach also allows for maintaining a financial cushion without needing to find local employment immediately upon arrival.
Logistical Considerations Before Moving
Planning for logistical aspects before moving abroad can significantly ease the transition. Setting up a reliable mail forwarding system is essential to ensure important correspondence is handled in the absence of a permanent address. Additionally, taking proactive steps to cancel health insurance and store personal belongings with friends can alleviate last-minute stress. Confirming travel arrangements and considering initial accommodations should be done flexibly, allowing one to explore more cost-effective options once in the new country.
Cultural Preparation and Adjustment
Adapting to cultural differences ahead of a move can facilitate a smoother transition and enhance the experience of living abroad. Engaging with online communities and following social media accounts relevant to the destination can provide insights into daily life and local customs. Furthermore, actively seeking out opportunities to connect with locals in one’s home community can foster understanding and ease the adjustment process. Taking steps to adjust sleep schedules in anticipation of time zone changes can also mitigate the effects of jet lag right upon arrival.
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, host Benny Lewis dives into part two of his guide to preparing for a potential move abroad. Building on the previous episode's core tips, Benny emphasizes the importance of considering how to financially sustain oneself while living in a new country. He discusses the challenges of finding local employment due to high competition and language barriers, recommending remote work as an alternative. Benny suggests securing online work from a U.S. or EU-based employer to take advantage of the favorable currency rates. Although remote jobs may sometimes come with a pay cut, he explains how this can still be feasible in countries with lower living costs. He also highlights the flexibility that part-time or freelance remote work can offer, which can ease the transition without the need for full-time local employment.
Benny continues by addressing the logistical steps to smooth the move, from mail forwarding and health insurance adjustments to storing belongings and planning initial accommodations. He suggests leveraging online communities and social media to gain insight into the culture and daily life of the destination, and even starting a separate social media account to immerse in the local language and trends. Benny also advises gradual time-zone adjustments for easier acclimation upon arrival. With almost 25 years of experience moving between countries, he shares his expert advice on building routines and adapting to cultural differences to hit the ground running. Benny plans to delve deeper into each of these tips in future YouTube videos and invites you to reach out for more personalized insights.