movin’ out (expat’s song)

While things might be a little different depending on where you are in the world, here in the UAE lockdown has been over for around three months, and everything has largely returned to “normal” (or, at least, as normal as it can be). This means we’re also seeing a new influx of expats, though admittedly nowhere near as many as would normally arrive this time of year.

With that in mind, here are my top tips for taking the plunge and moving abroad:

1. Know the climate – This usually wouldn’t make it to the top of the list, but it’s currently averaging 40 degrees where I am and is uncomfortably humid, so it’s really at the forefront of my mind. Make sure you know what to expect all year round. Even if you plan to go home each season, you never know what will happen (hello – Covid!) so be prepared for the full year. If it’s going to drop into the single digits after October, and shoot well into the 40s in June, make sure you’re covered.

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2. Know the currency – Again, super important, and really at the core of everything you will do. It’s important you know the currency and the different denominations. For example, make sure you know the difference between a dollar, a dime and a cent, or in my case, a dirham and a fil (Brits, read: pound v. pence). Make sure you have a rough idea of how your new currency converts to that of your home currency, however, I would advise to stop converting in your mind as soon as possible. The purchasing power of currency will vary from country to country and you may find yourself stressing about cost if you are constantly trying to compare. Go with the flow and live in your new currency.

3. Know the geography – I mean this on both a local and global scale. If you’re moving from, let’s say the UK to Northern Europe, the global geography may not be such a challenge, but go further afield and you kinda want to know where you are. That being said – don’t read too much into it. I live in the Middle East which scares the living daylights out of my friends and family (because I’m super close to some super “dangerous” countries) but, hey, it’s a nice part of the world.

If you’re moving with a job, get to know the local areas near your office and what different districts are easily accessible: this will help you massively when it comes to choosing somewhere to live and will (hopefully) save you some commuting time (and money) in your first few months.

4. Know the language – This will vary depending on where you go, but as a rule of thumb I would brush up on some key phrases before landing, at the very least. Even if the most widely spoken language is English (or most people understand it), it’s still polite to be able to greet people in their mother tongue. Knowing little things like “hello”, “goodbye”, “please”, and “thank you” can get you a lot way. It also helps to be able to order a beer (you know, just in case, although I don’t pretend to be able to do this in Arabic).

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5. Know your finances – Okay, I know this one is super boring, but it’s also super necessary. If you’re moving to a new country, I’ll start by assuming you’ve got a decent chunk of money to back yourself, in which case you’re probably a fairly disciplined saver. Keep it up. I’m not saying don’t have any fun and save 80% of your wages the first few months, but make sure you’ve always got at least a month’s rent in the bank (preferably three). That way, when you spend all your hard-earned cash partying with your new friends in your first month or two, you’ve got a buffer. Speaking of which, it might be a good idea to look up how much alcohol/clubs/events tend to cost (if that’s your scene). The mark-up on a beer from the UK to the UAE is enough to make any man cry to his mother.

Also, if you’re moving for work and you’re about to become a resident of your new country, you need to understand the tax implications, including whether or not you’ll need a visa. Know the rules where you are, how they differ to where you’re from, and make sure you know exactly where you stand. You may also find that you have to be more administratively conscious (i.e. filing tax returns, applying for visas, etc).

6. Learn to be independent – If you’ve never lived alone or taken a trip by yourself, it might be an idea to brush up on your grown-up skills, including spending time by yourself. Basic things like cooking / washing / ironing / food shopping can be taken for granted, so make sure you’ve got those down, too. It’s quite possible that for at least the first few days or weeks (unless you opt for shared living) you’ll be by yourself finding your feet, so make sure you’re comfortable enough in yourself (and in your ability to actually look after yourself).

7. Know the local laws – If you’re moving within Europe, or even within “Western” countries, this won’t be such a huge consideration. However, if you move to a country governed by different politics, religions, or cultures, you’ll have to do your research. I live in a Muslim country, which means there are some pretty heavy restrictions on alcohol, pork, homosexuality, and un-related, un-married members of the opposite sex living together (to name a few). Make sure you’re aware of the key differences so you don’t get tripped up before you’ve even started to enjoy the place*. This also applies to things like insurance (health/medical/life) – if you’ve come from a country with a state healthcare system you may not be aware of the different types of insurance and how important (yet costly) they can be.

*Saying this, I would highly recommend speaking to expats in the region before moving – the UAE isn’t half as scary or conservative as Western media might make it out to be, so if you can, I would get an inside opinion before boarding.

8. Don’t go home – This one I debated including since my opinion has changed a few times, but the main sentiment still stands: don’t go home. I’m not saying you should never return, or forget everyone you ever knew, but don’t hang on to it. You need to make new friends, try new things, and fully immerse yourself in your new life. I would recommend a good 6 months to truly settle in before you venture back home, even for a trip (I did four but, y’know, Christmas). In your first few months when everything is new and you don’t feel fully settled, it can be really easy to see the comforts of home and throw the towel in. If you stick it out for 6-12 months and still don’t enjoy it, you’ll at least know you gave it a shot. I mentally committed to a year when I left and, nearing 18 months later, I’m nowhere near wanting to leave. Give yourself the time.

However, I realise I’m saying this as someone who moved in the pre-Covid era and can fully understand why you might want to take every opportunity to return home when you are physically able. It’s not rocket science: do what’s best for you, but make sure you don’t let yourself down in the process. You’ll only regret the things you didn’t do!

9. Pack reasonably light – This one may or may not seem obvious, but it’s likely that you’re only moving with a suitcase or two. I guarantee that most things you own can be bought again (if you have super specific brands/items then prioritise them), and if you’re moving to a hotter climate the density of your clothes should naturally be much lower anyway. You probably don’t need to pack the mementos from your Year 9 class trip, or the super-extra curling wand you only use for weddings. It’ll all still be there when you get back (unless you’ve thrown it out or your parents hate you). Take this chance to live a more minimalist life and get back to basics. That being said, if you are going to take things that require electricity, make sure you know which plugs to use and if you need an adaptor.

10. Get stuck in – Moving abroad can be super scary, especially if you’re doing it on your own and don’t know a single soul in your new country (i.e. me). My best advice here is to get involved with your local communities as soon as humanly possible (but by all means, take a week or two to chill by yourself if that’s what you need, mentally, no judgements here). I found that the best way to get by in a new place, make friends, and understand how things work is to join expat communities. There are hundreds of these on sites like Facebook and Linkedin, allowing fellow immigrants alike to share their stories, ask questions, and meet new people. I would recommend joining (or organising) a meet-up near to where you live (so you can bail early if you hate it) fairly early on, so you can potentially meet a friend, or two, or three to start doing new experiences with. If it seems daunting to meet new people, just remember that the friends you had and the hobbies you loved at home were once new, too, and the new ones won’t be new for long.

Covid edit: I would really recommend ticking off your main things as soon as you can, since you never know what’ll happen (I’ve been in Dubai over a year and have still never been up the Burj Khalifa).

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The main point to take away here is to just go with it. You’ve taken the plunge, you’re in a new country, you’ve got free reign over your own life. This is your chance to live the life you’ve always wanted to (within reason, you’re probably not a millionaire, yet). Be a tourist in your own city. Go out and soak in as much as you possibly can. Oh, and wear a mask.

TL;DR – do your research, don’t stress too much, enjoy yourself, listen to Billy Joel, and wear a mask.