The following blog post is from the FIDI-FAIM blog. Starline Overseas Moving is proud to be a member of FIDI and the only FAIM accredited moving company in the Province of Alberta, Canada.

If you’re moving abroad, you’re leaving the world you know and making your way into a new, strange and often baffling environment. It stands to reason, therefore, that the first thing would-be expats ask is “where can I turn for help?” Happily, there is no shortage of advice and support out there, and we have listed the principal sources that you may use as you start the process of moving to a new country.

Ask The Expat Community

Other expats are typically the best source of support, and their direct experience is not only valuable but willingly shared with others. Expat communities are most easily divided into online and offline groups, but the distinction often blurs since few expat communities will exist without an online presence.

Online Communities

Often inspired by the personal experiences of former expats, a number of blogs and online communities are available that contain a lot of information and support. Some focus on specific countries, some are simply personal memoirs of experiences abroad, but they are a rich source of information for expats and well worth a look. A few examples include:

https://www.internations.org

http://www.internationalexpatsclub.com

http://expatriateconnection.com

http://www.expatforum.com

http://www.expats.org.uk

http://www.transitionsabroad.com

These links will offer a lot of broad advice, but they are also an excellent starting point and will often lead you to very focused groups and communities that deal with your specific destination and circumstances.

As the world’s favorite social media platform, Facebook also has plenty to offer in the form of expat groups. (Although be aware that Facebook is not as ubiquitous as you might think, as Western expats moving to China may realize.) The easiest way to find them is to search within Facebook, or to check out some of the lists of useful groups, such as this one provided by the International Expats Club.

Local ‘Offline’ Expat Communities

Once you arrive in your new host country, you will tend to seek out other expats for support (at least at first), and some of the online research you have done may lead to some useful contacts ‘on the ground’. There are also communities built around schools (especially non-local-language schools), sports and neighborhoods. Your decision on where to live (or where the accommodation agency suggests) will often be based on previous expat experiences, so the chances of living near other expats is high. Also look out for newspapers in your language, commonly available in larger cities; they will include plenty of information on where to find expat communities and other valuable resources.

Another good angle to consider is to seek the advice of expats making the reverse journey, ie people from your future host country staying in your current home country. They clearly have in-depth knowledge of the place you are travelling to, and are in an excellent position to compare the two. Another advantage is that these often tend to organize in groups, online and offline. Making it easier for you to locate them and get in touch. Just be sure to get in touch before you move.

Talk To Colleagues And Customers

Many expats are invited to relocate by their employer, in which case this is an obvious and (hopefully) highly-organized support resource. But those who travel independently will nonetheless often be working – whether this is part-time or in a freelance capacity. The colleagues and customers that you come into contact with can be extremely useful, especially for professional advice.

Check Out Resources In Your New Host Country

There are also resources provided by your new host country. Tourist information services can be extremely useful, and many countries have other services dedicated to helping expats thrive while in their country. It is of course in their interests to be as welcoming as possible to foreign investment, which is in effect what you are. Local business communities and Chambers of Commerce are also often available.

Another source of support that is often misunderstood is your national embassy or consulate. They are there to represent the interests of a country overseas, but strictly from a legal and sometimes political viewpoint. Embassies will be able to help with certain scenarios, particularly involving administration such as lost passports or legal difficulties, but they are not there to ‘bail you out’ if you encounter problems. Since they often comprise just a few staff members serving an expat community that can number in the thousands, they are often overworked and reluctant to get involved in non-urgent matters.

Get Advice From Your Mover

One of the advantages of using an experienced, certified mover is that they are not just there to move your belongings. They can advise in a number of different areas, ranging from how to pack and what to take with you, to managing the first few days in your new home, and dealing with much of the red tape, customs clearance and administration. For FAIM certified movers, this kind of support and advice is all part of the service.

Books, records, weights and other heavy items need to be packed if you plan on making moving them as easy as possible. These items can make a box extremely heavy and hard to carry. Below are some tips we use at Starline Overseas Moving to ensure heavy items are properly and safely packed.

Use Proper Moving Boxes

We highly recommend using proper, strong moving boxes for the packing of heavy items. Heavy items should also be packed into a smaller carton. For example books should be packed into a 2 cube. This goes the same for weights, records or anything else that has significant weight. Packing them in a big box could make it awkward to carry.

Distribute The Weight and Use Lots of Paper/Filling

When you are packing heavy items into a box make sure that you are distributing the weight throughout all 4 corners of the box to make it less awkward to carry. Do not put all the weight on one side. Also, make sure that you use lots of paper or other items such as towels to fill out the box, ensuring the heavy items do not shift around in transport or while being carried.

Label Boxes Properly

On an international move it is very important that all boxes are correctly labeled with their contents and that those contents are recorded on the inventory. Most of the time if you are transporting electronics, you will need to write the model and serial number on the inventories. Please check with your move coordinator to see what is required as different countries have different rules and regulations. If  your mover is packing for you, they will handle this process.

Call Starline!

If you are not comfortable or have questions about packing and moving heavy items, please feel free to call us for a moving quote and/or moving tips.

The following blog post is from the FIDI-FAIM blog. Starline Overseas Moving is proud to be a member of FIDI and the only FAIM accredited moving company in the Province of Alberta, Canada.

Every year, new lists are published showing the most expensive cities for expats to live in. They change slightly from year to year (mainly due to currency fluctuations) but the same names crop up regularly.

But if you look closely at the list, you will see two types of city – and their reasons for appearing in the list are fascinatingly different. Here’s why.

Hong Kong: A Big City with a Big Cost of Living

 In the list published by Mercer in June 2016, Hong Kong was listed as the most expensive destination for expats. The figure was calculated by taking into account the cost of more than 200 items from housing and transport to food, clothing and entertainment.

Hong Kong’s position as the most expensive place to live will come as no surprise. It is one of the world’s most vibrant business centres, a place that attracts investment from big businesses and wealthy individuals that work for them. It is sophisticated, developed, and desirable. No wonder real estate is so precious, and the cost of living so high.

A similar argument applies for many of the other familiar names in Mercer’s ‘top ten’. The facilities, the infrastructure and the sheer desirability of Zurich, Singapore and Tokyo makes them expensive places to live for expats.

Luanda: A Billion Dollar Shanty Town?

But what of Luanda, Angola? It is a city with creaking infrastructure, unstable government, and increasing levels of gun crime. Over half of its 3 million inhabitants live in poverty. So why is it so expensive for expats to go there?

The economics are fascinating. Angola’s wealth of mineral resources attracts the world’s biggest mining companies, and Luanda is therefore an important destination for their people, brought in from overseas for their essential skills. Yet because the city itself offers so little, the laws of supply and demand make it fabulously expensive. There is very little accommodation of the standard expected by workers from developed countries, which causes prices to skyrocket.

A city surrounded by desperately poor people also presents a security threat – another significant and unavoidable cost to expats. Western goods need to be imported – and are also subject to steep tariffs imposed by a government keen to leverage the presence of overseas workers – making everyday items many times more expensive than they were ‘back home’. The combined effect of these factors is to push the cost of living sky high – and in so doing, to widen the gulf between the haves and have-nots – the gated expat communities and the sprawling shanty towns – in this divided city.

Luanda is not an isolated case either. Among Mercer’s top ten most expensive expat destinations you will also find Kinshasa and N’Djamena, the capitals of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Chad respectively. They may not be popular holiday destinations, but working life in these rather unglamorous cities is far more expensive than New York, London or Paris.

Do Your Research…

However, it is unwise to draw sweeping conclusions. The world’s least expensive cities for expats, according to the cost of living survey, is the Namibian capital Windhoek, a city that has much in common (to the untrained eye) with Luanda. The two countries are neighbors, yet the cost of living for an expat differs hugely. The answer is to avoid assumptions – and to prepare carefully. Take advice from people who know – whether from other expats or from an experienced relocation consultant – and find out in advance what costs of living to expect. You may be surprised…

The following survival guide for expats is from the FIDI-FAIM blog. Starline Overseas Moving is proud to be a member of FIDI and the only FAIM accredited moving company in the Province of Alberta, Canada.

Ask other expats about their experience and you will get a hundreds of – often conflicting – tips on what to do and what not to do. We’ve been involved with a lot of assignments – and these are the pieces of advice that most will agree on.

1. Choose Your Accommodation Carefully

Do your research before you go and see where other expats in your host country chose to live. In particular, it is a good idea to try to minimize the commuting time. Life will be hectic enough without a draining commute at either end of the working day. Most expats either choose accommodation that is close to their place of work – or wish they had.

2. Learn About Your New Country

It may sound obvious, but do your research in advance to learn about what to expect. Look for contacts within the company, or in your own personal network, with knowledge of that location. And when you arrive, try to get into the local routine quickly, rather than sticking to the habits and timings of your previous life. In some ways you will be forced to adapt (weekends may fall on different days, for examples) but it is also down to you to take note of the way your new neighbours live their lives (eg market days, rush hours, travel tips).

3. Learn a Little Local Language

Even if you only learn one or two key phrases, this not only exposes you to the language but also makes a positive and polite gesture to your hosts, both professionally and socially. They don’t expect you to become fluent in their language: but they will be proud of it, and pleased that you acknowledge it.

4. Make Social Efforts

It’s a new chapter in your life and a chance to do something different. You will also have new opportunities that were not available back home. Whether it’s local cooking classes, surfing or dancing the tango, give it a go. Also make the effort to integrate yourself into the expat community; you’re all in the same boat and the support it offers can be very valuable – both for you and your family.

5. Be Realistic

It won’t all be plain sailing. You know that, and one of the characteristics of the most successful overseas assignees (which means the whole family) is the ability to take the knocks and not give up at the first disappointment. You’ll have bad days; but if you have the right attitude, the good will outnumber them by far. And form your own opinions. You will have read good and bad things about your new country but don’t let the media dictate your experience. It’s your assignment, it’s your life.

6. Be Positive

Many of the expats who fail are the ones who expect it to fail. Your assignment is a wonderful opportunity for you and your family. See it as an adventure and try to enjoy every day.

This article was written by Rob Chipman, President of FIDI, and CEO of Asian Tiger Mobility in Hong Kong. Rob is not just a renowned global mobility expert, he has also done his fair share of expat assignments himself – an experience that he draws on here.

When I accepted my first expat assignment, my employer had me watch a video that described what to expect in terms of how I might feel in the days after my arrival.  I remember this quite vividly and after quite a few years, I still recall how accurate it was and how it set clear expectations. One of the points that has stayed with me is how there are four distinct phases of expat life. So if you are planning to do your first assignment, you can expect to experience each of these in turn.

1. The Preparation Phase

This is when you prepare for your new assignment, and share the news with your business colleagues and personal friends. You will find you begin to disengage from your current life as you prepare to take on the new adventure. You arrange for movers to pack up your home, take your kids out of school, and begin to say your goodbyes.

The preparation phase is exciting but hectic. Your departure may seem a long way off, but it will come round quickly and those who plan early are not only more likely to make a success of their assignment, they will also minimize last-minute panics.

2. The New Arrival Phase

Upon arrival at your new post, you will probably feel an equal mix of excitement and trepidation. You will probably be working off a high energy level as everything is new, interesting, curious and intriguing.  Expectations about your future assignment are probably at a high point. There are remarkable parallels with the honeymoon phase of marriage.

3. The Settling In Phase

Once the newness has worn off, there is a natural inclination to settle back to a more sustainable level as routines are established. But there can also be disappointment and even some depression. In this phase, the quirky and quaint idiosyncrasies that you found so charming during your initial phase, may now become tedious and, in some cases, can even be annoying. It is natural and to be expected that you compare your new surroundings with your original home, and your new post my come up lacking. Don’t despair; this is natural and not unexpected.

4. The “In-The-Zone” Phase.

In the final phase, you become more comfortable as you adapt to your regular routines. You may identify a favorite restaurant, discover transportation links, maybe even pick up a few words of the local language. You will also probably begin to pick up on the more nuanced cultural differences.

Professionally, you will have become more settled and reached normal productivity levels – although the risk of becoming professionally disengaged from the home office can become a factor. It is in this phase where the difficult questions regarding your future career path can weigh heavy on your mind.

All too often, when the employee in question has finally reached this phase, the employer may decide this is the time when they need the person in yet another location, or even back to the head office. At this point, the cycle is complete, although a different set of phases describe the equally challenging experience of repatriation – which I hope to explain in a future post.

Starline Overseas Moving is proud to be the only FIDI-FAIM accredited moving company in Alberta. FIDI is the global alliance of professional international moving and relocation companies, specialized in moving household goods and personal effects from one country to another, from one continent to another, according to the best quality standards.

FIDI created a certification program called FAIM. This is the most rigorous and the only quality certification program dedicated exclusively to the international moving industry. It was developed by taking ideas and best practice from the best of large, small, private and public international moving companies from all over the world. It is explained by FIDI below.

“The FIDI-FAIM certification program requires that international movers have a periodic independent assessment of their inter-continental moving activities through an independent audit which is performed every three years.

This ensures that FIDI companies work to a worldwide common standard for managing and performing international moving services in a uniformed, quality-minded and effective way. It also provides a transparent mechanism that ensures that the standards remain high.

From an end customer’s point of view, a FAIM certified company gives the person who moves and the HR department who is organising his move, confidence that the company knows the business and has the resources and know-how to do the job properly.

FAIM is administered by the FAIM Coordination Centre (FCC) based at the FIDI office in Brussels.

The on-site assessment is independently performed by international assessors Ernst & Young.”

Grandfather clocks are very difficult to move. They are also usually an expensive antique. We reccomend hire a Professional Moving Company such as Starline Overseas Moving to correctly dismantle, pack, and move your clock. The steps below outline how we prepare and relocate a grandfather clock.

1. Carefully remove all the weights one by one and pack them separately in bubble wrap or packing paper. Make sure you label the wrap/paper LEFT, RIGHT, and CENTRE after you pack them. Although the weights might look similar, they do not all weigh the same, so it is imperative for you to know where each weight should be placed when you put the clock back together.

2. Never leave any shelves or shelf parts inside of the grandfather clock. Remove them all very carefully. If your grandfather clock came with glass shelves remove them one by one. Pack them separately with bubble wrap or packing paper. Make sure you write FRAGILE/GLASS on the wrap/paper.

3. Always remove the pendulum and, if possible, pack it in the original box it came in. As you remove it, watch out for the suspension spring at the top of the pendulum. All the parts should be protected with bubble wrap or wrapping paper and placed in a small box that is labeled with its contents. If your clock door has a lock and key, it is a good idea to put the key in this box as well.

4. Remove the decorative spires on top of the clock if possible. Most of them are simple dowels and pop out. If you cannot remove them, make sure you are extra careful when wrapping the clock so you do not put too much pressure on them and break them off.

5. Once your clock is prepped, you can wrap it in a furniture blanket and tape it so that it does not get scratched or damaged. As an extra precaution, we recommend putting cardboard over the glass front and taping the cardboard to the furniture blanket and marking it GLASS.

6. When transporting the clock, make sure it is standing upright and secured by straps. If you transport it laying down, the glass becomes much more vulnerable and easier to break.

If you have any questions about this process, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Moving internationally is an intimidating task. When you hire a professional and experienced international moving company like Starline Overseas Moving, we take all of the pressure off you. Our team is experienced and highly qualified in the international importing and exporting of household goods. We work with moving companies around the world to ensure seamless transition to your new destination. Although we handle the shipping of your goods, we are often asked “what should I carry on my person?” That is why we have created a list of the essential items you should carry or pack with you.

ID

It may seem obvious, but you do not want to be sitting at the border and remember that your passport is in your nightstand drawer, which is packed in the moving truck. Always keep ID on you and handy. Whether it is your passport, driver’s license or any other form of government ID, it is always important to have on your person.

Money, Credit Cards, Checkbook

Again another no brainer as the vast majority of people keep their wallet on them, but sometimes you are stuck in a situation where you need cash. Maybe your banking system is down, or not available in a certain country. Always remember to keep cash on you when you are moving. It may be ideal to also carry traveler’s cheques.

Documentation

Your international move requires a lot of documentation. You will be given a copy of everything pertaining to your move; contract, inventory of goods, customs documents etc. It is important you keep this on your person during your international move – ideally organized in a file folder or large envelope.

Learn how to feel at home in a foreign country, whether you’re there for a weekend, a year, or a lifetime.

After the excitement of moving abroad subsides, the hardest part of being an expat begins: settling in. Integrating into a new culture has its quirks and challenges, but it doesn’t have to be a struggle if you know how to handle the cultural adventure. There are many new things to learn and adopt, from business customs to local foods to dealing with being a hotel for all your friends and family that suddenly want to visit. Here are some helpful tips to help you settle into your life abroad like a professional expat.

Business Culture is Not Universal

Learn local business customs. Don’t assume that everyone has the same attitude toward, for instance, payment schedules. Spend time talking to others in your company and your field to find out what to expect.

Eat and Drink Like a Local

Eat the local food. Okay, you don’t have to order deep fried bugs from the market, but give the local cuisine chance. You may be delightfully surprised. Also, adapt to local eating schedules. If you show up at a Spanish restaurant for lunch before 12pm or for dinner before 9pm, you’ll be eating alone. On the other hand, if you show up to a German or Dutch restaurant too late, you’ll also find yourself eating alone.

Changing Transport

In most parts outside of North America, you don’t need a car to survive. Walking is the most practical form of transportation in many places, especially small cities and towns. It’s a great way to get around, enjoy some exercise, and become acquainted with your new community – to say nothing of the cost savings over other forms of transportation. Bicycling is a good alternative depending on your stamina and the town’s geography. Many cities have city-owned bikes you can rent for a modest fee and leave in public lots, so you never have to worry about their security. It doesn’t mean they don’t get damaged or stolen; it just means that it’s not your problem.

Communication is Key

Phones are a must, and many expats don’t bother with landlines, they just use cell phones. If you have a factory-unlocked smart phone, you can keep the same phone wherever you are and simply change chips when you move from one country to another. A lot of expats start with a ‘go phone’, an inexpensive local mobile that lets you pay for calls without monthly or other fees. Once you have a feel for your calling pattern, an annual contract may prove more economical.

Keeping Yourself Entertained

Is it possible to live without TV? Yes, and if your new country doesn’t offer the kind of programming you’re looking for (say, movies in English), you may want to skip it in favor of the other options, or you can look into streaming services with shows and movies in your language. However, keep in mind that some streaming services are limited or not allowed in certain countries. If you miss English-language radio, check out podcasts on the Internet.

Guests: Making Their Stay More Enjoyable (For You!)

There are two types of guests: the independent ones and those who need a lot of handholding. Be clear up-front about the duration of their stay. Nobody wants a guest that says they are coming for a weekend and stay a week. Do a little pre-trip planning with your guests-to-be via email or Skype. If they will be staying with you, describe the accommodations; for example, let them know if there’s no TV or if they will be sleeping on a couch or inflatable mattress. Suggest that they do online research and come up with things they’d like to do on their own. Explain that while they are on vacation, you are not, and although naturally you’ll want to spend time with them, you will have other obligations to fulfill during their stay.

If you are considering moving abroad, especially if you are relocating the entire family, one thing you might need to consider is your pets. Pets are a big part of the family and it can be devastating for children if you have to leave them behind.

There are plenty of great pet relocation companies our there that can assist with global transportation of your pet. They are highly specialized and trained to carry out the process in a way that keeps your pet’s stress down and as comfortable as possible. They can also assist with any customs documentation, as most countries have strict guidelines you need to follow to get your pet into the country.

Things To Consider
– Are you bringing the pets with you? Moving kids overseas can be a difficult thing to negotiate at the best of times; the news that your pet isn’t coming too might be met with dismay from the other family members.

– What’s best for the animal? Consider that elderly pets may not do well on a long journey and unfamiliar new surroundings or climate.

– How long are you going to be away for? If it’s only a year or two, perhaps a trusted family member of friend can care for your pets during that time.

– Where are you moving? What are the local laws about bringing pets over borders?

– Should you engage a relocation service? This may be best left to the experts, and pet relocation services will ensure all the right paperwork is complete before the move.

Transportation
– Pets are transported in a secure cargo area in a plane in a kennel. It is temperature controlled area specifically for live animal transport.

– Putting a familiar smelling blanket or toy in the kennel will help your pet settle for the flight.

– Your pet should have a light meal before the flight. Obviously it should be walked before as well.

At Destination

– Pets need to be quarantined by customs at destination. Check beforehand to see how long they will need to be held and what the process entails.

– Where is the nearest vet and the nearest pet supply store?

– What’s the pet culture in your new location? Attitudes towards pets/breeds might be substantially different from what you’re used to at home.

– You will have to check that your new home abroad is suitable for animals. Are the fences secure? Is there enough room in the backyard?