Once youve secured your new teaching job abroad, youll probably have several months to get yourself organized before taking up the post. Here are the top ten things you need to take with you when you move overseas. Read this now Arkansas Lemon Laws some of these can take time to prepare properly!
1. Passport (valid for at least the length of your contract)
You may think this is an obvious one considering were talking about relocating your whole life to another country. Tell me, do you know when your passport expires? Mine expires in 2015.
Depending on where youre living, a new passport may take up to 6 months to international conference call Its not wise to rely on the estimated turn around time on the form as in the past both the UK and the USA have had extremely long delays in issuing new passports to their citizens. Of course, if youre running short of time you can usually apply for an express service, at a ridiculously inflated cost.
So, go now and check when your passport expires.
Its better for you to have a passport thats valid for the length of your contract because its a real pain to have to get a new one issued from a consulate or embassy abroad. Trust me; Ive had to do it!
2. Original documents that prove who you are and what you know
Government departments dont tend to accept copies of foreign identification or certification documents. Ensure that you take all your original documentation. If you dont have it, then get it.
Its always good to keep a copy at home too, either with a family member, a lawyer or in a safety deposit box, so if you can, get duplicate originals. An extra set is insurance against theft, fire or natural disaster and makes good sense.
Youll need:
* Birth certificate
* Marriage certificate
* Police clearance certificate
* Degree certificates
* Teacher certification
* Recommendation letters
3. Medical records and adequate supplies of medications
Anyone in your family that has an ongoing medical condition should request a copy of their medical records. For your children you should have or get a copy of their vaccination record.
Take at least a two month supply of your regular medications with you. This will give you adequate time to check out the medical services in your new country and register with a physician.
Some medications are sold under alternative brand names in different countries, so ask your doctor for alternative names before you leave. It took me ages to figure out that Tylenol was the American brand name for paracetamol.
4. Vaccinations and a vaccination certificate
You are going to be living and working abroad, which means that youll be exposed to all sorts of new organisms. Check with your doctor or with a travel clinic to see what vaccinations are recommended for the country to which youre moving and be sure to let them know that youll be living there long term rather than just going on holiday for a week or two. If youre traveling to Thailand for a holiday the recommended vaccinations are different to the ones recommended if youre staying here a while.
Get a vaccination certificate to prove what vaccinations youve had and ask your health professional to make a note of when youll need to get any booster shots. Many vaccinations are good for a number of years, but some need a series of shots before you are covered for any appreciable length of time.
5. Emergency numbers
This is another one that may seem obvious to you, but guess what, you dont need only your Mums phone number for checking in once you arrive.
You need to take these contact numbers with you, at least:
* A responsible member of your family
* Your bank
* Your credit card company
* Your insurance company
* Your Doctor
* Your travel agent
Now, you can probably find most if not all of this on the internet. But in an emergency, like your wallet being stolen, do you really want the hassle?
6. International Drivers License
An international drivers license is not a new license and doesnt require you to take a driving test.. Its a document that you use abroad to make your national drivers license acceptable to foreign officials. An international drivers license is a little booklet that you hand over with your license when its requested.
Essentially its a translation of your license into a number of prominent world languages so that officials in other countries can figure out what kind of vehicles your drivers license permits you to drive.
Even if you dont intend driving overseas, its a good document to have because you never know what the future holds.
7. Contact details of the school, a copy of your teaching contract and a copy of all the communication youve had with the school (this can be in digital format)
It would be a nightmare to get to a foreign country and realize you dont actually have the phone number or address of the school thats supposed to be employing you, dont you think? Most likely, the school will have some kind of orientation programme in place to help you get settled in, and this may even mean someone meeting you at the airport. But, in case they dont turn up, have the schools contact details handy.
You should have a copy of your teaching contract to take with you. Its good to have a copy so that you can check your conditions and stand up for yourself if you feel you are not getting what was promised.
When I moved out to Thailand, I also made sure I had copies of all the emails that I had received. I gradually deleted them as I settled into Bangkok and acted on all the advice Id received prior to making the move.
8. Your childrens school records
Your children will probably be attending the same school where youll be working. Take all their reports and transcripts with you so that you can ensure they get placed in the correct levels. Knowing as much as possible about your child will help the schools administrators and counselors plan a suitable orientation programme for them.
9. A guide book, culture shock book
Dont leave home without a guide book! Take some time looking at different brands of travel guide. Different brands have different styles. I prefer a different brand for traveling than staying long term because of the depth of information provided.
The Culture Shock series is superb. Get the one for the country or region youre moving to and read it from Indiana Lemon Laws to cover. Youll get an insight into the cultural norms for the society you are moving into, and can prevent you from making any disastrous faux pas that could ruin your first few months abroad. First impressions count, make sure your first impression is a good one by doing some research.
10. Email addresses, mailing addresses and phone numbers of the friends and colleagues youre leaving behind
I also took the leaving cards I received from friends and colleagues. You may be tempted to pack these in your shipping or even throw them out. However, if you have enjoyed a great relationship with your colleagues then you will miss them. I found that having a reminder of them around me when I was dealing with the initial stages of culture shock reminded me of the good things Id left behind, but also all the stuff I didnt like! It helped me to refocus on the reasons I had moved my career overseas!
Having been a global nomad for more than 10 years now, Ive found that staying in touch with friends and colleagues at home is really up to me. I havent stayed in touch with any of the fabulous people I met and got to know in the first 6-7 years of teaching abroad, and its mostly my fault because I didnt make any effort.
Ive been much more conscientious in recent years and I believe its worth it. I love catching up with old friends when I go back to places Ive lived before; I always have a plethora of places to stay and have even hosted some of my friends when theyve visited my new home.
Bonus Tip for Women!
Check whether you can buy tampons where youre going! There are a number of countries in Asia and the Middle East that dont stock tampons on supermarket or chemist shelves. Check, check and check again if youre a tampon user!
Anyone sending me a package knows that they should use tampons as packing material rather than Styrofoam chips!
www.teachoverseas.info/freenewsletter.html">Kelly Blackwell is an international teacher with more than 10 years experience teaching abroad, click here to get her monthly newsletter and kick-start your own international teaching career! www.teachoverseas.info/overseasteacherstalk.html">Avoid the mistakes other international teachers have made by learning from the experts.
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