Myths, misconceptions and truths about living Abroad
It is not a easy decision to make for relocating abroad. Nonetheless, some compelling reasons make it inevitable to move. In fact, some people are always hesitant to take a leap into a new country but once they do, never look back again.
Regardless of why someone decides to move, he or she carries along some truths, half-truths, alternative truths or even misconceptions about living abroad. To some, being abroad would automatically make them rich, and achieve the dreams they could not attain at home.
The myths and truths about life abroad differ from person to person but they all determine what expectations one has. In some cases all the expectations come to pass, sometimes none or maybe all are actualised. So in a somewhat peculiar way, having a lot of expectations about life abroad may be frustrating or satisfying depending on how things go when you eventually arrive.
One basic thing for anyone planning to move abroad, is to be really prepared for the life there. You need to be open minded but also well informed about how things may go right, wrong or confusing.
It would pay off to know the realities about living abroad, get prepared and avoid surprises.
Making your money abroad
When moving to a developed or developing country, the simple bottom-line is that you need to earn a living. The need for cash flow for meeting your bills and extras is even more abroad because rarely will you get anything for free.
From the first day that you arrive in a country as an immigrant with the intention to live there longer, start thinking how you will make your money.
It is self-deceiving to expect that just because you have moved to a rich country, money will come flowing like water. No way!
If anything, when living abroad, you need to be smarter at work, determined and focused.
The odds will always be against you as an immigrant. You therefore need to always be proactive at work. Don’t hold back and from jobs that can otherwise earn you a living.
Irrespective of how experienced or qualified you feel you are for particular jobs, just be ready to start somewhere.
Marrying when living abroad
Today, so many young men and women long and actually move to richer countries to get married and start families there.
With the growing dating sites that link people from different continents, young and ambitious youths cross the borders every day to get married.
In most cases, there is this false hope that getting married to someone abroad in a perceived rich country will translate into you as a spouse making financial breakthroughs as well. Yes, this may be true but there is more to it than just getting married.
In most cases, a foreign spouse coming from a rich country does not guarantee anyone financial success. A foreign spouse from a rich country will at best provide you with an opportunity to explore the world and realise your ambitions.
To get ahead of the curve and attain the best financial breakthrough as a foreign spouse, you need to set up yourself to grab the opportunities that come by.
It is a mirage to hold back and be settled just because now you have a family abroad…at the very best, the family is a social security but guarantee limited economic success.
Getting jobs Abroad
Having a job is very important abroad because one way or the other, you will always need to pay your bills in time and support yourself.
People moving abroad live under this illusion that job opportunities are just all over…that you quickly land a job as soon as you arrive.
The truth is that in developed countries, job openings are more transparent and opportunities are more equal than in highly populated developing ones.
So if you are someone moving from for example Asia or Africa where unemployment is high, the likelihood of getting a job is high.
However, you must proactively apply for the jobs, make applications, develop job networks, sign up to job sites and many more. Without being active, you may stay for months on end without a job yet bills will not wait.
The job opportunities in most cases categorised depending on which set of skills are required. In most cases, you will realise that the employers are every particular about the knowledge and skills base that they require for any job.
In countries with advanced employment and labour market, the focus is on practical skills and abilities. Yes, theoretical knowledge has its place in the job market but it is more beneficial if you are able to put that into solving real life issues.
Theoretical knowledge will only take you so far in job seeking but the but skills matter a lot .
