Want to move abroad? Consider these 4 things
Europe is a massive continent- each country with its unique language and heritage. Yet as an American I often find myself lumping the whole continent together saying, I love Europe, not realising how varied and independent each land is [think Brexit for example]. It’s certainly a wide geographic region but there's certainly a defining DNA that runs through these European nations that leave many Americans longing to experience life where their ancestors walked. Think architecture that will never go out of style, fashion icons, and a sophistication still to be mastered in the states.
As a kid I was lucky enough to travel to Europe several times and explored cities like Salzburg, Munich, and Cambridge. It’s where I learned the beauty of a croissant and Swiss chocolate. I knew we attributed the finer things in life to our friends across the water and it left me wanting to experience a deeper knowledge of life somewhere else. In college I spent a summer in Rome deepening my love of cappuccinos and gelato. During my summer abroad I wandered ancient streets, wrote short stories, read Keats on the Spanish steps, and vowed I would do whatever I could to one day explore more of this vibrant culture.
Fast forward three years and I’m now working in London with a visa to be fully immersed in the UK for several years. In so many ways it’s a dream come true for both my husband and I! We had always imagined working internationally and conveniently London was at the top of our list of places to relocate to. It has that classic sophistication I always imagined myself getting to experience. The reality of living in London is that it's a melting pot as diverse as the cultures that make up it’s transient heartbeat. It’s a city where old meets new, hundreds of languages are spoken on the streets, and the English weather is forever a fascination even though writers have been complaining about it for centuries.
Our international move has been filled with chaos, tears, wonder, and so much stretching. There are nights I go to bed wishing I could wake up back in Seattle because moving abroad is not for the faint of heart. It will push you out of your comfort zone every day and make you come face to face with yourself. It will also fill your life with more color and flavor and culture imaginable. The emotional spectrum is as vast and varying as Europe -
SO BEFORE PACKING YOUR BAGS CONSIDER 4 THINGS
1. KNOW WHY YOU WANT TO MAKE THE MOVE
I had this vision that moving internationally would be filled with glamour- that I would be jetting around Europe on the weekends without a care in the world. It hit me hard when I arrived that I actually had to live in London and that my imaginary world of perfection couldn't be farther from reality.
Before making the move my husband and I sat down and evaluated why we wanted to leave our incredible community in Seattle and dive into a world of unknowns. We wanted to broaden our understanding of the world by experiencing life with others. We both wanted the career benefit of working internationally. And the benefit of Easy Jet flights around Europe for less than $30 was certainly an added perk.
Every time I wrestle myself onto the overly packed tube I think of this list and remind myself of all the positives that come with living in London. If I don't do this it's too easy to be filled with self doubt about our decision, which only distracts me from being present in this season.
2. DO YOUR RESEARCH
I can't emphasise this point enough. Moving is expensive- moving across the ocean is even more expensive. Even if you're lucky enough to work for a company that will pay moving costs, uprooting your life will cost you time and emotional energy.
Before you say yes be sure to research -
- Taxes - especially if you're heading to Europe. Taxes are much higher than the US. It's not fun to get your first pay check and realise it's not going to cover your living costs for the next year.
- Living expenses - big cities come with big price tags [see point above]. Apartments, food, gyms, and even transit are often much more expensive so before you commit to anything make you you check out sites like Craigslist, Rightmove, or spareroom to get an idea on living costs.
- Hoods - picking the right neighbourhood is key to relocating. Once you narrow down a few places that fit your lifestyle go visit the borough on the weekend, in the evening, and during a morning commute. Areas can be very different depending on the time of day and no one wants to be surprised by the Friday night club scene after locking themselves into a year long lease!
- Transportation - will you need a car? Do you plan to take public transit? This will vary depending on the area of town you land in but it's good to budget for busses, tubing, or gas/petrol.
3. Be willing to go with the flow
The only thing you can count on is that things will not be as you imagined them and that's okay. If you are dead set on living in that one neighbourhood, earning that specific paycheck, and having the flat of your dreams then it might be good to prioritise which one of those items is most important as it can be hard to land everything you want in the first move. See this as an opportunity to live different than you were before. I can assure you things won't be what you imagined but don't see this as a negative. You wanted to experience a new way of living so here's your chance to dive in! Embrace the new colors and once again remind yourself why you wanted to move.
4. UNDERSTAND THE Value of your INVESTMENT
Valuing experiences over things is becoming more of the norm throughout the US. Even if your company covers all the expenses there is still an emotional investment that shouldn't be taken lightly. Moving is hard. Being hundreds of miles from your friends and family will take months to adjust to but just like graduate school or any process that requires time and dedication you must consider the investment. Every time I hit a speed bump I remind myself of the long term investment I'm making in my marriage, career, and personal life. It takes time for investments to grow so let yourself be challenged, rest in an uncomfortable position, and then see how much you flourish.
Images from ANNSTREETSTUDIO.COM and Lapinblu