The Moving Abroad Conundrum: Deciding What To Do With Your Possessions
Should you really only take 2 suitcases abroad?
Look, you can do whatever you want! You hate to hear it, but it truly depends!
It depends on how you envision your life abroad. It depends on if you have the budget and patience to ship all of your worldly possessions around the world.
It depends on if your target country will accept your items into the country.
It depends on if your stuff will be able to be maintained in your target country’s climate (think new bugs, possible heat, humidity, or cold).
It also depends on if your stuff will even fit inside your new home! Let alone the door frame or window, but actually in your bedroom or living room. Will your stuff fit? Different cultures and countries have different size expectations for homes.
We go into this in detail in the Moving Abroad with Intention course, but it comes down to this: what does a life well-lived abroad look like to you? What are the reasons for you moving abroad? Is hauling all of your belongings to another country in alignment with that vision? No one can answer that question for you, it’s truly up to you!
Moving Abroad Checklist:
Things to Bring:
Valid passport and visa/work permit
Airline tickets and important travel documents
Financial documentation (bank statements, credit cards, emergency cash)
Medications and copies of prescriptions
Travel insurance policy
Essential clothing and shoes
Personal hygiene items
Important electronic devices (laptop, phone, camera)
Power adapter and converter
Essential documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate, diplomas, etc)
Contact information for family and friends
Not easily replaced valuables (jewelry, expensive watches, etc)
Food items that are not easily replaceable (spices, etc)
Things Not to Bring:
Illegal items
Hazardous materials (chemicals, flammable liquids, etc)
Unnecessary excessive clothing, shoes, etc
Items that are illegal in the target country
Items that are unnecessary for your lifestyle in the target country
Expensive or sentimental items that can't be easily replaced in case of loss or damage
Items that are bulky and hard to transport
Items that are hard to maintain in the target country (for example, certain plants)
Have some insight to share? Drop your comments below and let’s continue the conversation.
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