I have never really thought of myself as a terribly adventurous or brave person, as you may have gathered from
my last article for Wonder. I have, however, upped sticks and moved to another country for a year, which required a certain amount of quiet courage.
It was only Paris, which is a mere hop on the Eurostar away. It was also only for a year, so it wasn’t as if I was saying goodbye for an indefinite amount of time. It was still mildly petrifying, though, largely because I was stepping into the unknown armed only with one overstuffed suitcase and sub-par French. Like most things which fill us with a combination of terror and excitement, the experience did turn out to be character building, as my dad would say. He packed me off on the train with a copy of George Orwell’s
Down and Out in Paris and London with the immortal words ‘it can’t be worse than this’.
During my time there, I embarrassed myself with stuttering and halting French (on an almost daily basis at the beginning); broke my nose by walking smack into a glass door before finding my way to what turned out to be a gynaecological hospital to have an x-ray (I can laugh about it now…); got lost in dodgy parts of the city multiple times and occasionally felt homesick. I also learned so much French; fell completely in love with Paris and became obsessed with learning about its history; met some of the kindest, most generous people I have ever known and learned that I’m actually pretty resilient and resourceful. After pretending desperately to be Parisian, I’m pathetically proud that by the end of the year, I was often mistaken for one.
Moving away, whether to the other side of the world or the other end of the country, is a time of major upheaval and change. It’s scary, but a good kind of scary. Here is my guide to how to get through it.
Research, Research and Research Some More
Don’t underestimate the amount of preparation you’ll have to do before moving abroad. The level of bureaucracy and red tape you may encounter varies drastically depending on your destination and whether it’s in the EU, but it is rarely plain sailing. Some of the advice may be daunting – I need HOW MANY certified translations of my birth certificate?! – but it’s better to be over prepared. Read up on healthcare, taxation, bank accounts and the like, and triple check you have all of the documentation you’ll need.
Only Take What You Need
I can still remember the trauma of making two trips across the city to move all of my stuff from my temporary accommodation into my new apartment. It was on the top floor of a five storey building which didn’t have a lift. Moving is so much easier when you leave behind the things you don’t really need, so declutter your life and downsize your wardrobe.
Go With the Flow
Once you get there, prepare to embarrass yourself multiple times every day in the first few weeks. You will be asking for directions, getting lost, bereft of the correct vocabulary and probably quite confused. It’s okay. You come to learn that being lost isn’t the worst thing in the world – unless you’re running late for something, then it definitely is – and that you will right yourself easily enough. It only takes a couple of weeks to get your bearings, and to stop waking up in your new room and wondering where the hell you are.
Look After Yourself
Simple advice, but even more important when you’re in a new place; be aware of your surroundings and keep yourself and your belongings safe.
Make the Most of It
Moving abroad can feel a bit like sensory overload. You’ll be meeting new people all the time, exploring new places, getting used to a new job and possibly doing it all on your own.
The only way to face up to the challenge and have the best time possible is to make the most of every opportunity. Use your weekends and your free time. See it all, explore. Paris was too beautiful not to walk around, mouth agape, seeing as much of it as I could. Pretend to be a local until you actually become one. Oh, and don’t forget to keep in touch with family and friends back home!
