The infographic below, How to Survive Your First Year Living Abroad, is a helpful guide for anyone contemplating a move out of the U.S., or people who have already made the move and are struggling to gain a firm foothold on their new ground.
To recap the infographic, it could be said that the two most critical principles for a life abroad are to stay busy and get knowledgeable. The more you network with the local people, the more you expose yourself to the local culture, the more you see and the more you do, the less strange everything will be. And although the best way to learn is by doing, reading up and getting an education on tax requirements and other financial matters will be of great value in money matters large and small, from wealth preservation to setting the weekly food budget.
The most comforting advice given in the infographic is to be patient. Very few people living abroad feel right at home the day they arrive, or even within the first month or two. Everyone is different: Some people flourish on the unknown and the unpredictable, but most of us do better when we have a sense of stability and familiarity with our surroundings. Acquiring those things naturally takes time, so give yourself the time you need to feel at home.
For more tips and techniques for a fast and enjoyable transition to overseas living, please continue reading below.
Graphic created by Expat CPA.
