Common issues that expats shouldn’t ignore
When preparing to leave Australia and become an expat, there are many things you need to consider. From figuring out what to do with your belongings to learning how to handle your Australian tax returns and working out your finances, you’ll spend a fair amount of time getting prepared. This is sometimes so daunting that you don’t take the time to consider other issues that you might face and how to deal with them. So here, we’ll take a look at three common issues that expats shouldn’t ignore.
Look out for loneliness
Just being lonely might sound insignificant, but when you move away from your family, it’s a very difficult thing to handle emotionally. Don’t underestimate how challenging it will be to handle homesickness while doing your overseas job at the same time. Set up ways to spend time with your family at a set time each week, perhaps via Skype. It won’t be the same as being in person, but keeping in touch will be a huge help and will also give you something to look forward to.
Consider new cultures
You may have heard of the term “culture shock” and for good reason. It’s a very real thing, and expats have a strong chance of facing it. When you go to a new country, you become immersed in a new culture too. You need to do some research to find how that culture works before you leave and be ready to adapt when you get there.
Break the language barrier
Moving to a new country often means learning to deal with a new language. Granted, you most likely won’t be able to master a new language before you leave, but that’s OK. It’s not mastery that you need to strive for. You just need to memorise important words and phrases and make yourself aware of impolite or offensive words that you should avoid. This is important because it will help ensure that you show the proper respect to the people you’ll be interacting with in your new location.
By keeping these common issues in mind and finding ways to handle them, your life as an expat will be just a little bit easier to handle and hopefully a lot of fun!
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