You’ve decided to move yourself and your family halfway around the world . It may be a country you’ve been to before or it may be a place you’ve hardly heard of. Before major apoplexy sets in here are a few tips to help make a big international move successful.
Moving so far from home can be thrilling and terrifying. What do we bring? What should we not bring? What if they don’t have our favorite (clothing, medicines, toothpaste, etc)? Setting up home, especially in a new country, can be daunting. Not knowing where to find things in your new location can be worrisome, especially if you or your family have special needs or requirements. Here are some tips and ideas I’ve gathered from my expat friends as well as my own personal experience.
Find a friend: If you are being moved by your employer you may be given a relocation specialist to talk to about the actual logistics of the move (housing, schools, banking, etc.). But specialist or not, it's most helpful to find a person currently living in your new home country and use them as a resource and a reality-check. Before I moved to Singapore I connected with another mom (friend of a friend) who had one year under her belt and she immediately set my mind as ease. Not only did she give suggestions as to what items were necessary to bring but also what things weren’t necessary. She was also enormously helpful when I needed recommendations for doctors, dentists and other specialists.
Shipping and sending: Depending on your budget or moving parameters you may be able to bring a small portion of your house or perhaps most of your house. I’ve known families to bring as little as their clothing and personal affects as well as families that literally bring every single vase, photo frame and end table to their new country. Be sure you verify how much you’re allowed to bring with you (i.e. the size of your shipping container) as well as what the typical housing size for your new destination. Think carefully about your prized possessions or furniture and be honest about what you must have versus what you want to have. We avoided bringing precious wood pieces because of the severe humidity and declined to bring irreplaceable items in case of breakage during the move.
Stock up: We had been advised by our new Singapore friends that certain items, although easy to find here, were much more expensive. So we stocked up on sunblock, preferred medicines, contact lenses and the like. Having a several month supply of necessary items gave us some time to look for these things upon settling in. Remember, after moving so far from home and suffering the inevitable jet lag, it’s nice to not have to search all over town for something that you or a family member absolutely needs.
Make connections: Most major cities have international organizations to help with your transition. Usually the local US Embassy can connect you with social or professional clubs and serve as a resource for expats. Having served as an expat outpost for over a century, Singapore has several well-established and well populated clubs like the American Association that offer professional advice, social events and serve as a local resource in our native language. Most of the time these organizations are the perfect place to gather information about where to live, what to do, where to go and can offer a nice home-away-from-home.
Finding furnishings: Even if you are able to bring furniture from home with you you may still need, or want, to purchase items for your new home. Never underestimate the influence of a new country on your own personal style. I’ve known plenty of people to eschew the idea of Asian furniture only to come back from living in Asia with a huge collection of Buddha sculptures. Living abroad will give you the unique opportunity to slowly shop the local style and bring back pieces that are both interesting and meaningful. That being said, expats are usually glad that resources like Ikea are available world-wide; especially when all you need is a table lamp, garbage can or linens. Local expat clubs and organizations are also a good resource for needed items. Often times expats are leaving the country just as fast as new expats are arriving and there are plenty of opportunities to find used items at good prices.
Electricity: Before our move I’d never given two thoughts about transformers, adapters or wattage numbers. Inevitably you’ll be bringing electronics with you and it will be important for you to learn the wattage as well as the plug configuration prior to your move. Much of the world functions with 220 wattage while the US is 120 watts. If your appliance is designed for both 120 as well as 220 then it should work, however you’ll still need a plug adapter (to make the plug actually fit in the new plug configuration) and possibly a transformer. As a general rule, appliances with motors (hair dryers, blenders, etc.) may work but probably won’t work well over time so try to buy those items in your new country. It’s a good idea to bring at least one plug adapter and transformer before you leave as you’ll need to immediately charge equipment like cellular phones and laptops. Once you are settled in you’ll have time to make sure you’re purchasing the correct equipment for your own household needs. Here is a comprehensive guide about electrical systems internationally.
Creature comforts: Even with the most minimal of moving you’ll probably want to have certain items that remind you of home. For my own children, precious stuffed animals and toys as well as their own bedding were an absolute must for our move. In an instant their new room looked almost like their old room and provided them a good sense of security. As adults our “toys” may translate into favorite books, tchotchkies or photos and usually don’t take up too much room. Our new home, stylistically, doesn’t look at all like our old home. But bringing some of our favorite decorative items give our new place a sense of comfort.
We’d love to hear about your own advice about setting up home in a new country! What items were you most glad to have brought with you? Which items do you regret bringing with you?
Image: TheMuuj via Flickr licensed under Creative Commons
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The timing of this article is crazy coincidental! My husband and I are moving to Barcelona, Spain in September and I have been blogging about all of these topics at: thebarcelonastory.blogspot.com
Great minds DO think alike!
I actually moved the opposite way: As soon as I graduated college, I moved to Beijing, and so all of my furniture was furniture I had there.
Then in January, my husband and I had to make a move to San Francisco, and we were going through our things trying to decide what of our home we really wanted to keep to remember. The IKEA sofa? Not so much, but the antique wood carving that used to be part of a gate? Absolutely. It still hangs above our bed.
And of course we had to take the dog... :)
For shorter-term moves, bringing some meaningful items from home can have a big impact. I did two year-long stints abroad in my 20s. The second time around, I brought a few things that weren't "necessary" but much enjoyed and appreciated: my favorite coffee cup, a down comforter and a well-loved duvet cover, and my three most-used kitchen knives. Having some familiar things around went a long way toward making me feel at home.
We moved to Switzerland for almost 5 years, and there were a few quirky things which we stocked up on. Pain relievers for example. In Switzerland, they don't have the same brands or formulations that we are used to. When my husband put his back out, I can still remember the face of our Swiss pharmacist who sighed wistfully while he read the ingredients list of our depleted package of Robaxecet. Also, in Switzerland, you are not allowed to buy more than a blister pack of 10 regular strength Tylenol a day, so bring large sizes with you. My husband had a devil of a time finding relief for a headache when he was on a business trip to Germany, as there you need a prescription for even aspirin! (much of Europe is like this).
So come with a well-stocked pharmacy for most places would be my recommendation.
We're from NYC and moved to Switzerland for my husband's job, then to the UK. We were allowed one huge container of tax-free household goods for the move from the USA to Switzerland. If we could do it all over again, we probably would have just filled it up with laptops, cars, clothing and shoes from America. We had to replace practically all of our furniture with stuff from Ikea because their furniture is sized for European living spaces, whereas American furniture most definitely is not. We have these giant dining chairs from Restoration Hardware that were perfectly normal in New York and now they live in storage in London since they are just ridiculous -looking to us now, even if they are comfy. Such a poor deployment of space! What's disappointing about home furnishing in Europe vs. America is that there aren't a lot of options other than Ikea, unless you really want to pay a LOT of money on top-of-the-line, designer furniture. There's no Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, CB2, or other mid-price home furnishing options. It sucks. That means everyone's home is like an Ikea showroom unless you can really afford to spend the big bucks. You get used to it, though. Also, in NYC I was a craigslist addict and was constantly buying and re-finishing things - there's really no equivalent in Europe that I've found, as even used things in Europe command a high price, so it's not really worth the risk or effort.
It's also important to keep the size of your bed frame in mind when moving overseas. They are not universally standard! So, if you need to replace a mattress, get new sheets, or whatever, this can become a real headache. I ordered a crib from Pottery Barn Kids and had it sent to us in Switzerland by very good friends, and this turned out to be a mistake, even though I really thought we wanted one of those huge American drop-side cribs. Shipping hassles aside, the crib is really too big for any Euro bedroom (I got an Ikea one for our second kid and it's so much easier to deal with), it constantly requires expensive shipments of additional sheets, waterproof mattress pads, and attending gear. You need this stuff more often than you realize. Also, the mattress I chose for this crib turned out to be crap despite its price, and now I can't replace it - I'd have to junk the whole frame to replace the mattress and ugh, it's all such a headache. My best advice is: see what the locals are doing and just copy them.
Contact solution (and other toiletries similar) are crazy expensive in Europe... and found only at the doctor's office. (At least in CZ.)
I'd recommend expat websites for Q&A & recommendations.
You do not need a prescription for aspirin in Germany. You do, however, have to ask for it at a pharmacy, rather than picking it off the shelf at a drugstore...
@sansblague - have you tried john lewis? heals? habitat? if you're not in London lots of smaller towns have their own independent department store or there's always the out of town places.
I don't really know anyone other thant fresh-out-of-uni people that have a home that looks like an ikea showroom. The options are out there, they're just not the same as the US ones.
Have you found gumtree? In London it works just as good as craigslist and I've got the most beautiful antique bed and dresser for free from freecycle.
And for moving to a foreign country, I like to take at least one set of sheets from home (and a vacuum packed duvet if I'm not going to a hotel, so I don't have to find and buy a duvet before bed), more knickers that you think you'll need (don't want to have to rush to the laundrette within a week) and some flat decor (like photos or small prints, takes up no space in a suitcase but feels like home). Plus maybe a jar of marmite and some ribena, but that's just me.
Other than that, the things you'll need to stock up on vary from country to country, so I'd say follow the advice in the article and find a friend ahead (if you don't know one, there'll be someone on the internet!)
Having just moved to France with all our stuff, including lots of electronics, I can't emphasize enough how important it is to get some good transformers for your most used items, and power surge protection. And, as many electrical items run only on 220V, make sure any lamps are switchable to that system, and bring many extension cord, strips, and plug adapters, etc. because they may not be available (at any price, but certainly not Home Depot cheap) abroad. Also bring lots of sheets to fit your bed if queen/king size, blankets, duvets, as they are different here and quite expensive. Wool and cotton are much more expensive as is wood, solid or ply. Also bring enough of what you take regularly as far as supplements, medicines, shampoos,contact lens solution and eyeglasses. Also exorbitant. That said, become part of the culture with an optimistic curiosity and all will go much smoother. Interact with your neighbors and find out the best markets and local eateries, stores and handymen. They will be happy that you want to be a part of the community, and less likely to give you the evil "foreigner" eye, (even if you were born nearby once upon a time)!
One fundamental thing one has to do before moving to another country is learn the local language. It's not at all sure that everyone over there speaks OUR language. A relative of mine got married to a woman from the US almost ten years ago, and she still can't speak the local language. This really frustrates me.
Also there are many mid-priced furniture options in all countries, not just IKEA. Surf the Web and you can find great many things. Drive around the suburbs of major cities and you can find many many shops selling furniture of good quality and sensible price.
@annabelvita: thank you! There are certainly a lot more options here in London than there were in Switzerland. But in general, they do cost a lot more than the average Pottery Barn or Crate & Barrel for the same or inferior quality (what else can you expect with 20% VAT baked into the cost of everything)? I've found Gumtree to be not as user-friendly as CL because most things seem terribly overpriced, as a lot of users seem not get that if something is used for a few years it shouldn't cost the same price as buying it new. Another advantage to IKEA - a place I used to avoid when I lived in America - is that not all places in Europe have the same kind of online inventory listing dimensions of all the products. I do like Maisons du Monde, which has an ok website, too. There may be other options out there but I have 2 babies so I don't really get to explore them. All I'm saying is, it's a lot easier in the USA to quickly pull together a nice home for a reasonable budget, and it takes some getting used to not being able to do this as easily anymore.
As for buying paracetamol in Switzerland (@mschatelaine) - I've never heard of this rule before - we were living in Geneva - but of I had encountered it, I would have just walked a block or so to the next pharmacy for more, since no one's checking. I used to stock up on drugs from the USA but then realized 1) they have a shelf life and 2) I trusted the Swiss brands more - after that McNeil recall of all kinds of things I'd spent precious suitcase room to pack, I realized that Dafalgan and Algifor were my friends, especially in suppository form for my teething infants!
I've completed 4 international moves in the last 8 years. The best thing to bring with you is patience and a sense of fun, otherwise every little thing will bother you.
Best thing to bring with me: My dog.. Leaving an animal behind just because you are moving country/continent is unacceptable to me.
Worst thing to pack: Most of the Quick delivery some companies do (where you are allowed 4-6 boxes to be flown in and be delivered and used at the service apartment). Use that space to move your luggages and try to fly yourself as light as possible in the plane, that makes it so much more stress free.
The one thing that always saves us is: Lists and more lists. Take the time to sit with your family members after breakfast and make lists and calendars for everything and ensure you pad your times. There is never enough time.
When things seem to hit a rut, re-evaluate, take the time to be nice to each other, and go have a nice meal or a drink outside.
Oh, and save those lists in your computer somewhere, you never know when/if you will need them again: Our fourth move from Singapore to the US was relatively painless because it was easy to just whip out insurance lists (and just update) and old lists and use them as the backbone. I have a chronicle of our last move here: http://stripy-riding-hood.tumblr.com/page/6
220 voltage, not wattage. Wattage is power consumed, voltage can be described as pressure.
do I detect a tune of frustration "why it can't be like in US"? because it's not, people; live with that or don't cross the border
@sansblague
I suggest you start looking through british decorating magazines. I buy them in the states and see many attractive items which are from quality companies and are not overly expensive. They often feature more modern design which you cannot buy in the states unless you are paying top dollar. You can also buy a couple of yards of designer fabric and make/have made cushions without all the stupid nonsense of "to the trade".
I do not agree with your characterization of the american chains as being inexpensive and of good quality. Personally, I think much of Pottery Barn's stock is hideous and overpriced. I am also tired of walking into someone's living room and seeing that they buy everything at Crate and Barrel; they don't even bother to custom order the upholstery but take the standard covering. To describe the design offerings of the chains as middle of the road is being very generous.
While it is frustrating to relocate and in effect "lose" a lifetime of knowledge it can also be an adventure to discover new ways of doing things and adapt to a new environment. A little flexibility on your part will make you much happier.
We moved from Europe to the States- boy, some things you just don't realize until you're over. (:
Note that in Europe most rentals DON'T come with appliances!! So in your budget think of a stove, washing machine and so on. You can prep your move by only purchasing appliances with dual voltage. I do it here so when I -one day- move back to the EU, I can still use my stuff!
Some international home stores like Ikea that you'll familiar with help you to at least know what's available in that other country. Just go to the local website. It really helped me when we moved to the US to know that I wasn't going to have to live without some essentials we Europeans swear by (: I bet it's the other way around too.
Have peace with the fact that you can't control everything. That chair you gave away would have been great to have is Spain because they don't have your style...it happens |:
Best thing I did, is bring my some of own stuff. We're here for at least 7 years...but spending the money to have (some) of your beloved things with you is a way better deal that have everything in storage, buy new in your new home country and then come back and break your head over why the heck you had to pay $60 a month to keep the -now so out of fashion- couch. Best moving advice I ever got!
bringing linens can be a mistake if you don't bring your bed, too, as the beds are different size than in the US. Fitted sheets often won't exactly fit!
I second the tip that when packing light, it's a good idea to bring some personal things to make your new place feel like home. I brought a few paintings, some mexican folk art, etc. and it made a world of difference when I unpacked it.
my main regret: I didn't bring more of my shoes. AGH! they're really so expensive here in germany =(
Another thing to look into: I'm not sure about other countries, but in germany you have a full year from date of first move to have your stuff brought over, VAT free. This removes a lot of pressure to get it all done in one go.