I know there are plenty of people on CL who have made the move to another country.
Next month, I will be moving from UK to Thailand. Worked in different countries on short term (2-4 weeks) various times, but this will be the first time living in another country on a more permanent basis.
It would be great to read some advice, suggestions, even stories, from those who are currently or have previously experienced it.
Comments
Where abouts will you be moving?
but you might not want to apply the principle to some of the Thai ladies unless you want a surprise…
Found Facebook to be a good tool for finding things to do/hobbies, I used to join a weekly football group that played 7 a-side every Thursday. I'm sure there's similar in Thailand.
I've only really explored parts of Northern Thailand, did the Mai Hong Son (spelling might be wrong) motorbike loop with some friends over Lunar New Year a couple years back. Chiang Mai was really nice and the nature there is great. I also enjoyed Pai but it's very "backpacker" so depends if that's what you're into or not.
Language
Learn as much of the lingo as you can and get the confidence to use it. Sounds obvious, but the amount of expats in France that cannot only not speak French, but have not intention of learning, is staggering. (Put my house on it that they're the first to moan about people not speaking English here).
Advice
Get it from the horses mouth - eg local mayor, council office, research thoroughly online. For example, after dealing the people in the actual tax office, I've had arguments with non French speaking tax avoiding expats, who got their advice from the farmer down the lane. People tend to think the French farmer is the oracle when it comes to every aspect to living in France and even across the planet. Nb - most French farmer still plant their crops to the moon cycle (although they seem to do alright by it).
Friends
Choose your friend for who they are, not where they're from. Also sounds obvious, but the amount of expats we dealt with who only mixed with Brits (or French, Dutch etc who spoke English). We also found pretty early on that any (Brit) expat that went out their way to be your friend, were generally the ones to avoid. There's a lot of "networking" goes on amongst the Brit communities in France, from Stich & Bitch sewing groups, to walking groups, to just outright wino groups. We avoided them all, although a French and English woman did start up a French conversation group, aimed at the French and British, which was good for a couple of months until most of the people there were just never going to learn the language and were there only for the social. So, ultimately, our remaining friends from 12 years Frenchside are probably one English couple and a bloke from Borough of all places, then French, Dutch, German, an American couple and a Swede.
@stoneroses19 Are you doing EFL/TEFL by any chance?
I think when it comes to living overseas, there are two kinds of expats. The first kind (the majority) hang out with other expats, go to Western bars/restaurants, etc.. don't integrate. The second kind try to do what the locals do, eat where the locals eat, drink where they drink. If you're going to live in another country, just my opinion, but it's a more authentic experience to be in the latter and you'll learn a lot more and find more gems.
Not to say I didn't also frequent The Globe (British pub in Hong Kong) for a touch of home.
One of the other great advantages of living there is that you've got the rest of Asia on your doorstep and just a short flight away. Japan especially is a world of its own, must have gone there 7 times.
It's not essential, but it does help if you either speak the language or know someone who does. When it comes to things like setting up internet/TV/phone, companies have people who speak English. But if you need some work done, plumber, handyman, etc.. Then it's much harder.
Enjoy it mate, I'm jealous!
Apparently I'm now considered boring and weird by the Brits and Irish (who seem the worst for not being able to let go) in work because I don't want to spend every weekend getting blitzed, watching premier league football in the British/ Irish pubs of Madrid.
It gets very tiring very quickly and honestly just ruins the experience of living abroad. Embrace the culture shock.
Thai people are very friendly.
Food cheap. Accommodation cheap, beer cheap.
Corruption rife, if you want something, pay the price (cheap!)
Somehow it works and I feel more relaxed there.
I don't like the rubbish and I don't like the way they treat animals, but nowhere is perfect!
I apologies! Another late goal conceded does this to you!
I lived in Taiwan for 5 years and China for 7...
During both of those experiences I thoroughly enjoyed having ready made community with other foreigners from around the world (and in Urumqi I'm talking a handful or Brits and Americans and a whole bunch of central Asians, Russians, Saudis, Pakistanis) who would seek each other out to socialise and e.g. form football teams etc. It brings people together in a way that you just don't get "back home". Like.... people are a lot more open to mixing with each other and less discerning about who they might socialise with...and...there are lots of positives to that. Whenever I've moved back to the UK I've missed thay sense of community and found it much much harder to make friends and find people to socialise with.
Having said that, at the same time I managed to learn decent Chinese and integrate well with locals through e.g. football, snowboarding, work...and...well...being single at the time.
So.... it's not an either/or... and I'd say that tapping into local foreigner networks in Bangkok is a good way to start to integrate into your new environment.....
I'm guessing you will be going with the Mrs (remember you got married recently). It's different for western women in SE/E Asia... in a whole manner of ways. There are (as far as I experienced) far fewer western women living in the orient than men. There are a wide range of factors at work, but not insignificant amongst them seems to be just feeling big compared to local women. That's what I was told, anyway.... but yeah... Foreigner communities could also be useful in that regard.... as well as, crucially, making those connections with the locals...
Hope that helps. Feel free to pm me for any reason.
Love Thailand .... especially the diving... and just...how easy it is to travel there and how friendly the general feel is to the place
You've made me want to move there just from bringing it up. Have a great time