I recently moved from the US to Dubai due to my husband’s job offer. Moving halfway across the globe has its challenges and adding a six-week-old baby into the mix definitely made for some interesting stories (i.e. bathing him in a sink for a week until our shipping container arrived).
This wasn’t my first move to another country. I thought that since I had done it before, the transition would be a breeze. I even wrote about this very topic before, but boy was I wrong. This move was an eye opener. Here are some things I learned along the way:
1. Don’t rush
I so badly wanted to hurry up and get to Dubai to join my husband that I didn’t think everything through. I was more concerned with physically being there than making sure things made sense. For us, our housing wasn’t ready and our shipping container hadn’t arrived, so we wasted loads of money on a hotel, which could have been avoided had I just waited two more weeks. My advice is: If you aren’t crunched for time, move when you are really ready and can transition into a comfortable scenario.
2. Tie up loose ends at home
Before you move your life to another country, sort out the fine print at home, change your mailing address to a relative/friend’s house, pay all the outstanding bills or set it up online through your bank, and store whatever items you aren’t taking in a safe location so that someone can easily access if you need him or her to fetch a document for you.
3. Don’t move during a holiday
We arrived two days before the biggest national holiday of Eid. The country closed down for five days. If you know anything about living in the Middle East, Asia, or Europe during a holiday, then you know how impossible it is to get anything done. In my experience, only in the US do businesses close for one day then open and resume like normal.
4. Familiarize yourself with the city’s geography
Simple, but I didn’t do it, maybe because I was dealing with a newborn? But please look at a map of where you are moving. Familiarize yourself with the city layout, roads, neighborhoods, etc. Dubai’s map is constantly changing due to the new construction, but I should have explored Google Maps or a tourist attraction map. I felt so un-oriented for the first month and it made the city seem larger and more daunting than it really is.
5. Socialize on social media
We moved into an employee compound, and luckily, I had done a quick Facebook search and found a group just for the neighborhood residents. It was nice to virtually meet some neighbors and hear their thoughts and advice on the houses and locale. I felt somewhat part of the community before I even arrived.
6. Stock up on essentials
Any name brand items or products that are essential should be bought in bulk and taken with you. If you use a specific face wash, buy enough to last you until your return visit home. Chances are they don’t have the exact item abroad, or it will cost you a fortune if they do. For me, these items included my bathroom toiletries (sensitive toothpaste, face wash, makeup, electronic toothbrush heads, razor blade refills, etc.).
7. Create easy communication
Just because you’re moving away doesn’t mean you have to stop talking to your family and friends back home. However, you most likely won’t have time and energy (and don’t forget about the time zone difference) to talk to each individual person daily.
Some ideas to keep communication open and frequent are to create text groups via iMSG or WhatsApp (a huge hit abroad), establish a blog and create private photo albums, or make a calendar on Tiny Beans. This last one is my favorite. It’s simple, secure and will automatically update my friends so I don’t have to do extra work. Of course, there is always Facebook and Instagram, but those aren’t as intimate.
8. Make acquaintances before arrival
If you know anyone living there, reach out to them ahead of time. If you don’t know anyone, then ask around. The world is getting smaller; someone you know is bound to know someone there. Take their information and keep it handy because you never know if or when you will need them. I had friends put me in touch with their friends who ended up being life savers and good friends of mine.
9. Pack smart
These days, most luggage arrive with you to your destination, but there is always a chance something can get lost, delayed, or stolen. Pack an emergency bag to protect yourself in case this happens. In your carry-on, consider having two days worth of clothes, bathroom essentials and all your jewelry, money, medication and electronics. Anything worth a substantial amount of money or importance should not leave your hand or sight.
10. Have an open mind and go with the flow
Self-explanatory.
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