This article will focus on the perspective that you have applied to, and secured admission at your preferred university. Bearing this in mind, we’ll share 5 useful tips to help you make the most of your preparation phase as you plan to move to your new country.
Budget for essentials: Considering the fact that you may be moving to an unfamiliar terrain, it’s important to keep your finances within a very safe zone. Don’t spend your money carelessly, you don’t have to buy everything before you relocate. For instance, you may find that the gadgets you bought before relocating are cheaper in your destination country. Relocation requires a lot of money and you want to ensure you don’t run out of money to spend. Write a list of the most important items you’ll need and allocate an appropriate budget.
Travel Light: We know you’ll miss home. We’ll miss you too but travelling with every single parting gift your boyfriend or relative gives you is a no. If you choose not to travel light, you’ll run the risk of paying extra fees for pieces of luggage. The less you have to carry, the more spontaneous you’d be. It is wise to travel with only things you will need.
Find a Community of like minds: For first-time immigrants, moving to a country with a completely different culture usually seems like a big deal. We want to let you know that this is normal. It’s usually not a new thing for new students to experience culture shocks. The way of life of the people of your new home country may seem totally different from what you are already used to. There are language barriers to deal with, lifestyle, social etiquette, etc. so it makes sense to begin to find a community of like-minded people both from your home country and your destination country. One way to find communities of like-minded people is by attending meetups related to your interest. It’s quite easy as there are apps and trusted platforms that specialise in publicising these meetups. A second way to go about this is by joining campus groups. Campus groups for international students can serve as a way to build a sense of community.
Prepare and Package Valuable Documents: As an immigrant, the chances that your educational, personal, and work-related documents may be requested as you voyage is highly likely. You don’t want to find yourself trying to convince law enforcement agents of your destination country that you’re a legal migrant. Prepare and package every single valuable document. It is better to carry with you all your documents and find that you didn’t need some than to find that you need them and they are nowhere to be found. Birth certificates, admission letters, academic transcripts, and medical records top this list but above all, contact your destination country via the embassy and your school to find out what documents you’ll be needing.
Research your new destination: Researching your destination country is such a good idea because it will help you know what to expect. When researching, look out for essentials like grocery stores, malls, security posts, hospitals, parks, etc,
It is important to cultivate a positive mindset towards relocation. Relocating to a new destination can feel overwhelming but regardless of how overwhelming it may seem, it is doable. Set your mind on the possibility of a hassle-free travel. Like Marie Forleo said in her book “Everything is Figureoutable”, “In order to solve a problem, or achieve any dream, we must first make a change at the level of belief. Because when you change a belief, you change everything”.
