It’s been a while I shared my relocation stories. I have relocated twice, once from Singapore to China and once from China to Malaysia. It’s foreseeable that one day I’ll have one more move to make and that is from Malaysia to Singapore. While it is fun (and heartbreaking at the same time) to relocate, there are some things you need to do before you make the BIG move.
1. Get your accommodate sorted out
I have witnessed a couple of cases where friends moved without having their future accommodation fixed. It is going to be overwhelming and taxing to your spirit, and not to mention losing focus on your work if you don’t get the most basics sorted out. If you are getting temporary housing (like staying over with a friend or a colleague), make sure you can stay for at least a full month while you search for something permanent over the weekends. Trust me, you’ll be too tired and your nerves are jumping all over the place during a work day to look at your next apartment properly. Plus you probably want to see how your place looks like in the daylight and at night.
2. Buy Insurance
You might have a proper insurance back home but you should call up your provider to make sure you can add a rider to extend your policy to cover accidents and illness overseas. You don’t want to leave it until things happen where you are all alone, lying sick on a hospital bed, your family members and friends are many miles away and having to sort out medical paperwork all by yourself. Also do make sure that your insurance covers you in case, you need medical evacuation back to your home country.
3. Packing Checklist Completed
I admit I am quite a worrywart and I started getting ready things on my checklist one month before I even moved. You will be busy, running around, sorting out your paperwork for your work permit during the last month so as soon as you can, buy and pack whatever needs to be pack and not leave it until the eleventh hour. It is going to cost you to have anything to be shipped over from one country to another.
4. A proper visitation
If you haven’t been to the country before, do it before you move. And when you’re there, find out the necessities that you will need to make your transition as smooth as possible. It pays to meet your future coworkers as well and allow them to give as much advice as possible. Nobody can help you as much as a local does.
5. Official Documents
If you’re moving to another country, please don’t leave it to chance that your work permit and documents are ready by the time you reach the airport. They should be ready one week before you leave. I have the experience where I’m supposed to start work in Shanghai but my work permit wasn’t ready and I got stuck and had to fly in and out twice before my work permit is approved.
6. Say proper Goodbyes
Everyone wants to say goodbye to you at the very end. If you’re not fond of teary goodbyes at the airport, schedule proper luncheons and dinner with every individual that you care about. Don’t rush through your goodbyes because you’ll never know when you will get to see them again. Skype, email, and FaceTime don’t have the same effect as a physical hug.
Have you had to move out of your country before? Any advice that you can add on to mine? Come and share at the comments below.
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Informative post…
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Thanks, Parul!! Have a happy midweek!
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Useful one 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
Josh
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Thanks, Josh!!
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It’s saying goodbye that is very difficult of all the things to do when moving out…
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Too much tears, too much tissues..
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Very good topic …thank you kelly
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Thank you so much!!
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Reblogged this on Lost Dudeist Astrology.
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Item 4 is ideal if one can, but particularly if the new home is some distance away it often turns out that travel costs preclude such luxury. The only solution is to do as much online research as possible – and find and visit as many bloggers from that country as possible, to develop a ‘feel’.
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Yup, sometimes I find online information not that reliable, best to ask a few locals.
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This is really helpful!
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Thanks, Hammad!
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…very interesting contribution.
Greetings Lis
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Thanks, Lis!! Have an awesome midweek!
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Thank You Kally 🙂
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…and be prepared for the fact that everything might still go wrong!
Great post.
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That’s a good advice too!! Haha!
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Reblogged this on Crazy Pasta Child.
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Thank you for the great advice Kally. I’m sure your move back to Singapore should be less of a hassle since you lived there before.
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I don’t think I’ll move back any time soon. Still enjoying life in Kuala Lumpur!
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Good to hear.
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Really a great post! Thanks for the pieces of advise and for all the sensations you list about moving…..
It sounds sad and pleasant at the same time , doesn’t it?
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Yes, it does. The emotions will tear you apart. I wasn’t prepare for that when I first move, I wanted to go yet I wanted to stay. It was pretty traumatic during the dark times.
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People who can travel have many more “layers”of knowledgment upon them ,than all the others have!
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Very good checklist. And yeah most important u mentioned is insurance.thanks
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Thanks for your comment. Have you moved before?
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Yeah one city to another
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Was it difficult for you as well?
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I just moved from NZ to UAE 6mos. ago and I am still missing my old life in NZ but I am also happy here to be with my husband also for the sake of our son. Sometimes you have to move places for the sake of the future.
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That is very brave and generous of you. Because of family. Because of your husband and your son. You deserve a pat on the back for dropping everything you know and move to somewhere unknown to you. You are a wonderful person.
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Believe me, it is not that easy but I am not the only one. Lots of “trailing housewife” have the same stories as me and perhaps they are much “higher up” in position than me too! 🙂 Thanks for the comment.
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I always salute the trailing wife, she gives up everything for love and family, how great is that?
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It’s comes down to – what’s more important in your life, besides I already proven my worth with regards to my career. You’re young & free just do all the things you love to do so no regrets later.
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You give me the courage my friend. Such an inspiration.
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Outstanding list, Kally! I’d also make sure that everyone I care about has my new address (and if the post office needs to forward your mail, that should be taken care of, as well).
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That’s great advice too! But I wouldn’t trust slow mail. God knows how many mail I have been missing in both China and Malaysia. Hahaha.
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Thanks kally……..very helpful. I have really missed middle me. Still trying to catch up on some old posts.
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Awwww… You’re sweet for saying that. You’ll catch up in due time. 🙂
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I hate moving and relocating!
But thanks for the advices ….
Kind regards,
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Hey Rob! You might be the unique one. A lot of friends I know would love to give an arm and leg to relocate to a different country.
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Maybe I Am Growing old?
Bespied that I Am quent happy with my home richt Now!
Kind regards,
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No, you’re not growing old. We humans always wants stability in our lives.
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Oh yes, I love to walk in circles. Knowing where to go en where to end.
Starting at my frontdoor and ending at the same frontdoor.
Kind regards,
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