21 Tips On Living Abroad

Cross-Cultural Twitter Interviews

Moving abroad for the first time can be daunting. And yet many international business professionals are faced with this option at some stage in their career.

The thought of living in a different culture raises a number of questions. And it’s natural to turn to others for advice. Here are some tips from twitter on what to do to make your move abroad an easy one.

21 Tips On Living Abroad

1. Know what your doing. Compare prices of movers. Haggle. Decide: Rent or Buy? Visit your destination prior 2 moving – @HoeferleConsult
2. Visit the country & talk to people who lived there, discard your expectations you have through books, movies or vacations – learning the language is essential but not enough …don’t underestimate cultural differences! If starting a company get cross-cultural advise. It’s disheartening to see, that so many companies from abroad fail in the US by not getting expert advise in cross cultural matters – Walmart in Germany could have been successful if they would have followed intercultural advisers - @transdomo
3. Expect the unexpected & to be challenged, be open-minded and flexible, learn the language… and finally…move out of yr comfort zone and the expat community – @culturematters
4. Study the language first. It will give u invaluable clues about socialization. Talk with people who lived where u go – @tdebaillon
5. A tip to people moving abroad is learn polite terms & greetings in host country & don’t be afraid to use them. – @DR4Ward
6. Listen 2 music by country’s most famous composer. Its spirit is part of personality of people u’ll have 2 work with – @XCulture
7. Really get in to your new culture and embrace it. You begin to value your own a lot more. – @jackyan
8. Don’t assume that your approach or solution, which may be common practice back home… is the default/preferred method. Culture affects how people look at problems and brainstorm solutions. In short, what may have worked back home may not work elsewhere!  Can I add one more comment on the last question?  Read, read, read! This will help you acclimatize. It will also help you lessen culture shock. – @CotterHUE
9. Engage with people before you go, build friends – @wisequeen
10. A tip for those moving abroad? Familiarize yourself with food, music, art; history can be gr8 icebreaker, equalizer to interact – @DoreenatDMS
11. Learn as much as you can of the language before you arrive. Helps you feel more comfortable in the first days and go with an open mind – expect things to be different – @pocketcultures
12. Be open to pushing your boundaries to “walk in their shoes”; e.g.,mostly I am vegetarian,except when I travel – @psitutor
13. Learn the language, visit the country beforehand & do some business with local people, before deciding to move there. – @culturalrealms
14. Before you move abroad, study the country and its history, read books, and talk with people living there. – @lyceum
15. Give yourself at least a month before you start working, and try to make friends pre-arrival, via web/Twitter. – @SeanJamesOliver
16. Attempt to learn the language & appreciate the way of life of the community you find yourself living. Also, have fun & explore! – @DavidComp
17. Embrace the experience you have, let go of unrealistic expectations. And get lots of sleep. Living in another country means going off cultural autopilot and that can be tiring! - @CateBrubaker
18. People moving abroad should take it seriously (even as permanent resident) and consider all parameters, exactly as investors do. – @MATCOM
19. Visit the place first – @JinanAlrawi
20. Make sure you check your assumptions! Behaviours may be different, and should be interpreted carefully. – @IENsinMB
21. Learn as much as you can before the move, but realize that you won’t learn everything about this new culture even after a year of living there.  Enjoy the experience and have fun. – @CindyKing

What Is Your Tip For Living Abroad?

Which tip do you like most?

• Do you have a favorite?
• Does one stand out and resonate with you?
• Do you have another one to add?

Share your tips on living abroad below.

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