Having the opportunity to live and work abroad has been an aspiration of mine for a while now. With my travel bucket list increasing at a rapid pace, I thought it might be wise to move abroad and have new countries to explore! This section of my blog will give you the ins and outs, ups and downs and round-abouts to expat life!

Location Location

If you are thinking about moving abroad for a while, location is key. Within my job role, I had a broad range of places to choose from and the world literally was my oyster. Taking such a big step solo, I was unsure of how expat life would work out for me – I felt that staying in Europe provided me with a safety net, being relatively close to home. As mentioned in my Venice blog, I have an unhealthy obsession with Italy and always imagined myself moving there. However, a chance arose for a job role in Munich and the capital of Bavaria soon came to be the place I’m fortunate to call my ‘second home’.

As with any major move, there have been ups and downs to expat life so far. However, I can honestly say that the decision to move to Munich was possibly the best decision I have ever made – in my opinion, where you choose to live massively impacts your experiences and feelings towards expat life; if it’s something you choose to do, take the time to find the best location for you.

Chosen nation – now preparation

Once I knew I was moving to Munich, my to-do list suddenly doubled. There is a lot to sort prior to a move abroad and it can feel extremely daunting. A typical teacher response to anything, my advice to you would be to make lists: lots of them! I found that breaking each job down helped me to prepare both physically and mentally for the biggest adventure of my life. Start early with document preparations (changing address, bank account and the stresses of student loan), then you will not be left feeling so overwhelmed when the moving day arrives.

The final countdown

One thing which I felt very nervous about was meeting new people – growing up in the same area all my life, I had my home comforts. My top tip would be to arrange meet ups with others before you arrive. If your work offers an induction programme or a ‘buddy’, snap up their offer! Before I moved, I asked my work to share contact details with other new starters – I ended up filling my first week with cafe trips galore (I might have mentioned my love for cafes) with new faces. For me, having the opportunity to meet people going through the same experiences as me helped me to settle in to expat life.

For anyone considering a move abroad, I can honestly say it will be an experience of a lifetime. Do you research, decide on the right place and take a leap into the unknown!

K x