| By :
Mark Etinger
When the wanderlust calls and you think it may be time to move, remember this: "You're an expatriate. You've lost touch with the soil. You get precious. Fake European standards have ruined you. You drink yourself to death. You become obsessed by sex. You spend all your time talking, not working. You are an expatriate, see? You hang around cafés." Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises. Of course, times have changed since the roaring 20's, but you will encounter a lot of culture shock. You have to be willing to let life take you where it will – any set plans you make will likely be foiled. If this doesn't bother you, read on. 1. You will be lonely: Making new friends in a different country takes time. You won't see much of your family and old networks, so you really have to know thyself. 2. Monies: Get all your finances in order before you expatriate. Don't think that you can run away from your debts; they will follow you wherever you go. And have enough money in the bank to potentially buy yourself a ticket home, should you need one. 3. Sickness: You should be fit, mentally and physically. Many health insurers won't cover you until you've lived in a country for a certain amount of time. 4. Travel and Adventure: You should love travel, new experiences, and not knowing what lies ahead. There are many adaptations that will shape your character, and things will never go exactly how you planned. The thing about expatriates is that they're more willing for this to happen than the average Joe. 5. Be Resourceful: You need to be able to think quickly about what to do should you encounter difficulties that in your homeland may be easily solvable, but abroad, may take a much longer time to fix. 6. Make Friends: Are you a social creature? You need to be able to talk to strangers without reservation and ask for help when you need it. 7. Store Your Stuff: Let's say you're a Texan looking to move to England for a few years. If you know you plan to return, there's no point in selling everything you own; just put it in some self storage. A self storage center is a great place to keep your belongings safe and secure. And when you return, they'll be waiting. If after reading the above you think you fit the bill, by all means go for it. Life is short, and adventures await! You don't want to regret your youth when you're old – so start anew abroad.
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