Whether you’re moving across the world or to the country next door, being out of your comfort zone is the biggest trigger for nerves. 

Once the initial madness of planning and moving had slowly ebbed away, you’ll be left with the task of settling in and finding your new routine in a foreign place. The good news is, culture shock is extremely common, and once you feel more at home, you’re likely to get over it fairly quickly.

But what can you do to ease the transition?

Before you move



Get to know your destination prior to your arrival. Ideally by visiting your new hometown – or at least country. You’ll be able to figure out what you do and don’t like and what you’ll need to get used to in your new home. This provides you with some control when you first land, as you won’t be caught completely off guard and will have some familiarity with the place already.


Researching your new home is a great alternative for those who can’t visit it. However, it’s also recommended even if you have had the opportunity to check it out. Reading blogs, watching youtube and learning from those who have gone through the same as you will help with the knowledge you’re not alone.

Meet other expats and locals before you move. That way, you already have a network when you arrive. Knowing you have someone to meet for coffee or a glass of wine with will make a huge difference to the first few weeks when it can all seem overwhelming. The best way to discover others in your area is via Facebook groups and the MeetUp app.

Pack some home comforts to ensure you feel connected to where you used to live. Nobody knows the sentimental value in your belongings like you do. By using a self-packing moving company, you can prioritise what goes where and what to take with you, and you’ll be saving money! Having familiarity in your new home will make a huge difference, and with 30 years in the moving business plus an owner who has moved countless times internationally himself, UPakWeShip knows the value better than anyone.

After you’ve moved

Don’t compare your new home to your old one. This is a whole different adventure, so keep an open mind. Staying positive about the changes and the new culture will lessen the impact if you see the differences as a good thing.

Use your hobbies to meet other people through groups. By meeting people at groups in something you’re passionate about, you’re more likely to meet genuine friends who have things in common with you. You’ll feel more ingrained in the community rather than as the odd one out, and it’s a great way to meet locals. The other huge benefit to this is familiarity. If you took salsa classes at home, going to a new salsa group will show your brain that your life still has some continuity.

Make an effort to learn the language. This may sound obvious, but you’d be surprised (or maybe you wouldn’t) by how many people rely on English being the universal language. The truth is if you ever really want to become a part of the community you’ll need to have some willingness to learn the language. Even the basics will allow you to have more of a grasp of what’s going on around you and make you feel less alien. On top of this, attending a local language school will help you make friends.

Start small by finding little bits of everyday life which you enjoy. From discovering a new coffee shop to talking to your local grocer. Take small steps rather than giant leaps to ease you into your new home.

Moving abroad? UPakWeShip is a reliable international mover with upfront prices, and with offices around the world, you can rest assured your belongings are in safe hands from pickup to delivery.

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Seeing you have the U Crate in advance of the collection day, we recommend that you practice loading so you get an idea of what will fit and where it will fit in the U Crate so on the actual loading day, where you have to load it outside on the   curb, driveway or garage, you will know exactly where everything with fit

Our UPakWeShip U Crate is the safest way to ship self pack boxes and furniture overseas. If you want an unbeatable international shipping quote that is all inclusive and a lump sum price look no further than UPakWeShip. The best possible rates when moving overseas, 5 star international moving reviews, friendly knowledgeable staff who more than likely have moved overseas themselves. Whether you are moving overseas to the USA / America, Australia, Canada or anywhere else in the world. UPakWeShip’s U Crate will get your personal belongings there, safely and secure for an unbeatable price.

If you would like an International Moving Quote, click here.

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Moving to the Netherlands, part two
Here are five slightly out of the ordinary international moving tips

Buy some voltage transformers. Although we are leaving most of our electrical appliances behind as the voltage is 220 in Europe and not 110 like the USA, there are a few electronic items we are shipping overseas.. Being a musician, I am taking a keyboard and my electric drum set for example. In order to buy the correct voltage transformer you need to check the total wattage consumed by the electrical device and multiply that number by 3. You need a converter at least 3x the watts of the devices to leave enough room for surges in power they may utilize. Of course, I own the only keyboard that does not tell you the wattage so have gone with a 300 watt, which I think, is more than ample. Talking of amples, you may find “Amps,” also known as “amperage” or “A”. If only the amperage is noted, multiply the input voltage by the amperage to find the wattage. Use the following example as a guide: Volts x Amps = Watts or 110V x 1.5 A = 165W.

Order new copies of marriage, divorce and birth certificates and get them Apostilled. An Apostille or authentication is a state certification of the signature of an official who has signed a public document. We went to the SC capital Columbia with our passports to get them done. You will probably need to produce these if you are looking to obtain a work visa in Europe.
You will need to register with the local municipality when you get there.

Make sure the hotel, Air B&B or wherever you are staying, allows you to use the temporary address for registration.

Obtain your medical records from your doctor to take with you and if you are on any medication, ask the doctor for a 90 day supply to hand carry with you so you will not run out.

Buy some USB chargers with European plug ends on them on Amazon and take with you so you can charge everything as soon as you get there.
More tips to come for moving to Europe.

Any questions, ask the International Moving Doctor here. See our all inclusive door to door lump sum international moving rates online here.

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The result: everything made it in good shape  thousands of miles from overseas but now was soaking wet!

What do we learn from this?

Intl Moving Tips:

Please be careful when packing or unpacking in the kitchen when moving overseas. Don’t leave packing paper or cardboard anywhere near hot surfaces or fires.

Take your time when packing or unpacking, don’t rush it and make mistakes.

Make sure you have adequate insurance for the unexpected.

Wine helps!

www.upakweship.com

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