When you first decide to become an expat, it means to leave your home country and embark on a new journey. One point of view is “Great! I’m really excited for the new adventure!” but more of us start to think about the things we have to do and take care of before we leave. It’s nowhere near as easy as going on a 2-week vacation and pack your bathing suit with a bottle of sunscreen (maybe two bottles) and you’re good to go. There must be a thousand thoughts going through your head, especially if you’re a first time expat. When I decided to move to the UAE, I had to figure out what to do with my property, my car, my dog, and the list goes on. But instead of listing out all the things (I will write about that in another post) that you need to check off, I want to share 5 common pitfalls of a first time expat and how you can avoid them to ease your transition.
#1 – Getting too attached to your belongings
There is always that favourite book or toy that you grew up with as a kid. There may be certain items that hold a sentimental value in your life. You will get into self-conflicting moments whether to bring your favourite sweater or a picture frame you got as a gift from your friend when you graduated high school. I remember packing my life into 2 suitcases when I became an expat in the UAE. TWO suitcases containing my entire life! I literally packed all things business (dress shirts, ties, dress shoes, suits) in one suitcase and essential personal items in the other (casual clothing, electronics, sports gear). As an expat, as you travel and move around, you learn to pack light and only bring what you need.
As a first time expat, the lesson here is to learn to let go of your belongings. There is a sense of freedom that the less you become attached to these tangible items, the more growth you develop as a person. Change your perspective of sentimental value to all the memories and experiences that you have rather than tangible items that you’ve collected over the years.
#2 – Staying in your comfort zone
You’ve already decided to go so why hold back knowing that you will see and try new things. Open your mindset and be more aware of the culture and food in the country you’re heading to. Do some research online – there are many websites out there that describes the culture of the city. Even looking up things to do or places to see on TripAdvisor or LonelyPlanet will give you an idea of what to expect.
At the end of the day, you know that there will be things that may first seem foreign to you. But if you keep an open mind, you learn to take those chances and turn them into positive experiences.
When I first arrived in Hong Kong, I settled in and started my commute to work everyday using the Metro Subway (MTR) which took about 15 minutes door-to-door. This was the only way I knew how to get to work. After 2 weeks, I was talking to a co-worker and found out the streetcars or trams actually stop right outside my apartment! I had no idea but in talking to another expat, who’s more than willing to help, I took the streetcar to work the next morning – 7 minutes door-to-door. These small things will add up and the more you become accustomed to the new lifestyle, the more comfortable you will be in stepping out of your comfort zone.
#3 – Expecting everything to go as planned
First thing you’re going to do is find out how to get to work. Then you’re going to open a bank account and get a local credit card. Find a place to live and start buying furniture. You know you want a 60” TV with a 5.1 surround sound system so you put that on the list. Somewhere in between, you’ll make time to join local communities and social groups to make new friends and expand your social circle. You’ll go out every Friday with your new friends for a few drinks. Great, you got a plan!
Reality check – not everything will go like how you planned it. It rarely happens and not just for relocation. It happens all the time; at birthday parties, where someone forgot to get a cake or on a vacation where you didn’t bring the charger for your phone.
Accept that in new cities, in new countries, things may work differently than what you’re used to. I couldn’t open my bank account in the UAE until I had an Emirates ID (the local ID card). My Emirates ID couldn’t be issued until I had my residence visa approved. I wasn’t able to get my residence visa until I went to a medical center to do a few tests first. And lastly, I couldn’t get a spot for the tests until I had a local mobile number. You see what I mean?
The lesson here is that it’s okay! It’s fine to set timelines for yourself to be settled into a new city 4 weeks in. It’s also fine to not meet that goal because you couldn’t find a place you liked until the 3rd week. Trust me, you’re not the first one to go through this and you won’t be the last.
#4 – Stop planning for your financial future
As an expat, depending on where you’re located, some employers will cover your financial planning such as pension contributions, RRSP, or stock options. Some other employers simply pay you the package on a monthly basis and you will manage it however you like. In the latter scenario, this is where you need to learn a bit more about personal finance. By no means am I an expert in this field and I am also learning as I go. But the one piece of advice that I consistently hear about is that it never hurts to start early, especially for first time expats. By that, I mean you should take control of your finances and learn a bit about investments, retirement planning, and personal finance.
Being an expat places you in a very different bucket than the rest of the world. There are different tax laws and rules to follow, depending on your residency. Since I’m Canadian, I can only share my experiences around the Canadian tax regulations. Declaring non-residency, under the right circumstances where you have minimal or no ties to Canada, will give you the benefit to not declare any income from non-Canadian sources (i.e. your employer abroad).
A great place to start your research for a Canadian first time expat. It highlights, in relatively simple terms, what it means to be a non-resident and how that will impact your tax situation.
In terms of the investment options you have as a Canadian expat, take some time to read this article.
For those who are expats in the UAE, this is a great blog for financial advice.
#5 – Everyday is exciting and adventurous
Moving abroad is definitely exciting, there is no doubt about that. You will slowly adjust your lifestyle and become well versed in due time to live just like a local. You make new friends and travel around your resident country to places that you never dreamed of going. You’re given opportunities to travel to new places for a fraction of what you would pay back home. That’s amazing, isn’t it?!
But not every single day will be exciting and full of adventure. Living as an expat means you also have to go through the down times as well. Becoming an expat does not mean that everything works out in your favour, no matter how detailed your plan is. I became an expat 3 years ago to further my career but I was in a long-distance relationship. The situation wasn’t ideal but we made it work (read my post on why I became an expat).
Your time is what you make of it. I’m not saying that you won’t have the time of your life because it is very possible that you will. There will be times that you have second thoughts about why you became an expat in the first place. Then you ask yourself “Is this worth it?” Then tell yourself…Absolutely.
You aren’t alone – there are over 250 million expats out there!
Feel free to share your experiences or pitfalls when you became a first time expat in the comments below.
