International Relocation Tips

RELOCATION TIPSRELOCATION TIPS

FOR FAMILIES IN INTERNATIONAL

TRANSITION

Chibesa Angela Mwape, 2011

TRAILINGACCOMPANYING

SPOUSE

DEPENDANT

DOMESTIC

PARTNER

BEFORE YOU ARRIVEBEFORE YOU ARRIVE

Gather as much information as you Gather as much information as you can about your next duty station. can about your next duty station. Speak to people who have lived Speak to people who have lived there before you, read books, there before you, read books, magazines and other material to magazines and other material to familiarise yourself with the new familiarise yourself with the new country you are moving to.country you are moving to.


A STITCH IN TIME SAVES NINEA STITCH IN TIME SAVES NINE

If you arrived prepared, you will have If you arrived prepared, you will have less hassles to deal with making less hassles to deal with making your transition a breeze. your transition a breeze.


ESSENTIALSESSENTIALS

Establish your priorities and make Establish your priorities and make out a written list in the form of a out a written list in the form of a checklist.checklist.


FLEXIBILITYFLEXIBILITY

In order to adapt you also have to be In order to adapt you also have to be flexible. Living in a new culture is not flexible. Living in a new culture is not easy but it can made effortless if you easy but it can made effortless if you are willing and flexible.are willing and flexible.


CULTURE AND COURTESYCULTURE AND COURTESY

These are two very important aspects These are two very important aspects that you will experience daily. So, that you will experience daily. So,

learn about the culture, pick up on the learn about the culture, pick up on the subtle overtones and remember to subtle overtones and remember to

always be polite and behave always be polite and behave accordingly, particularly in public accordingly, particularly in public where you are likely excepted to where you are likely excepted to

exercise decorumexercise decorum..


CLIMATE AND CLOTHINGCLIMATE AND CLOTHING

Wearing the right clothing can make Wearing the right clothing can make ones stay in a foreign country a ones stay in a foreign country a pleasant one. So find out about the pleasant one. So find out about the climatic conditions before you get climatic conditions before you get packing for your move. You may packing for your move. You may need to invest in a new wardrobe.need to invest in a new wardrobe.


LANGUAGELANGUAGECommunication can break down due Communication can break down due to language barriers but bear in mind to language barriers but bear in mind

that it is not always the spoken that it is not always the spoken language that can be misinterpreted. language that can be misinterpreted. So make an effort to learn the local So make an effort to learn the local

verbal cues to minimise verbal cues to minimise misunderstandings resulting in misunderstandings resulting in

conflict.conflict.


SHIPPINGSHIPPING

Only use international shipping Only use international shipping companies that are household companies that are household names to avoid being scammed! names to avoid being scammed! Recommended companies include Recommended companies include AGS, MSC and [always make sure AGS, MSC and [always make sure the cargo is fully insured – the cargo is fully insured – containers falling off ships in high containers falling off ships in high seas is not unheard of!!]seas is not unheard of!!]


HOUSINGHOUSING

Get tips from friends and/or relatives Get tips from friends and/or relatives who have may have lived at that duty who have may have lived at that duty station before you in order to find safe, station before you in order to find safe, comfortable and affordable housing. comfortable and affordable housing. Also get contact details of local housing Also get contact details of local housing agents from your (spouses)new agents from your (spouses)new employers who can assist you to find employers who can assist you to find your desired new home. But avoid your desired new home. But avoid older buildings!!older buildings!!


SAFETY AND SAFETY AND SECURITYSECURITY

Update yourself with the Update yourself with the current safety and crime current safety and crime statistics of your new statistics of your new city/neighbourhood and pay city/neighbourhood and pay attention to tips provided by attention to tips provided by the locals. Also visit your local the locals. Also visit your local police station for safety police station for safety information & tips and adhere information & tips and adhere to them.to them.


Families moving with babies and Families moving with babies and infants should take time to establish if infants should take time to establish if their preferred baby brands and their preferred baby brands and products such as formula, baby foods, products such as formula, baby foods, sterilisers and so forth are available at sterilisers and so forth are available at the next duty station and if not the next duty station and if not purchase these products in bulk to be purchase these products in bulk to be shipped with the rest of the household shipped with the rest of the household goods. Also, know that only unfamiliar goods. Also, know that only unfamiliar consumer product brands may be consumer product brands may be available.available.

SHOPPING


Organise the kids a fun farewell party Organise the kids a fun farewell party with their friends. Let them know that with their friends. Let them know that they will be able to get in touch every so they will be able to get in touch every so often. After arrival at your new duty often. After arrival at your new duty station, ensure that you have you children station, ensure that you have you children involved in a number of activities involved in a number of activities pertaining to the move, such as the pertaining to the move, such as the choice of house and neighbourhood. This choice of house and neighbourhood. This makes them feel empowered and makes them feel empowered and engaged.engaged.

KIDS AFFAIRS


If you are a job-seeking spouse, bear If you are a job-seeking spouse, bear in mind that acquiring a work permit in mind that acquiring a work permit can be a demanding task and at can be a demanding task and at times impossible. Therefore prepare times impossible. Therefore prepare to exercise the 3 P’s; patience, to exercise the 3 P’s; patience, perseverance and persistence! perseverance and persistence! Otherwise, look for some alternatives Otherwise, look for some alternatives to formal employment.to formal employment.

WORK PERMITS


MOVING WITH PETSMOVING WITH PETS

Ensure that you have in your possession Ensure that you have in your possession your pets’ certificate of health, not more your pets’ certificate of health, not more than 3 months old. Make sure that than 3 months old. Make sure that vaccination records are also up to date. vaccination records are also up to date. Update yourself with the country's Update yourself with the country's restrictions on animal importation. Your restrictions on animal importation. Your pet may need to be quarantined upon pet may need to be quarantined upon arrival for a set period of time.arrival for a set period of time.


RELIGION AND RELIGION AND DEVOTIONDEVOTION

With global mobility being on the With global mobility being on the rise, an assortment of religions rise, an assortment of religions can be found in most parts of the can be found in most parts of the world, thus the availability of world, thus the availability of churches, mosques and temples churches, mosques and temples for believers. But it is wise to be for believers. But it is wise to be sensitive about dress code in sensitive about dress code in relation to religion in certain relation to religion in certain parts of the world.parts of the world.


PEOPLE OF THE REGIONPEOPLE OF THE REGION

By reading books, using the By reading books, using the internet and speaking to people, internet and speaking to people, get to know about the local get to know about the local people in terms of the local people in terms of the local culture, languages spoken, food culture, languages spoken, food eaten, how it is eaten and eaten, how it is eaten and prepared and so forth before prepared and so forth before relocating to a new country. This relocating to a new country. This is not in order to assimilate, but is not in order to assimilate, but rather in order to adapt to the rather in order to adapt to the local customs.local customs.


AFTER YOU HAVE ARRIVEDAFTER YOU HAVE ARRIVED

Find your new home ( a process that Find your new home ( a process that must NOT be precipitated), must NOT be precipitated), familiarise yourself with your new familiarise yourself with your new surroundings and get to know the surroundings and get to know the locals who will have tons of locals who will have tons of indispensible information. However, indispensible information. However, use discretion. Do not believe use discretion. Do not believe everything you heareverything you hear


Documents

International Relocation Tips