5 Things Expats Can’t Live Without
Work Abroad? You’ll know what I’m talking about!
Everyone has something they can’t live without. Whether it be coffee or cigarettes, certain items make our world go round.
When it comes to expats, possibly some of them the craziest people in the world, what are the items that we need the most?
Well, I detailed the 5 most essential items that all expats need.
Are you thinking of becoming an expat? Make sure you have these 5 things before your flight.
1. Passport
Let’s get the most prominent item out of the way. Passports are essential for everyone, but for expats it’s worth triple their weight in gold.
Want to stay in your country and work? Want to leave back to your home country? Want to prove to police you aren’t illegal? Well, you need a passport at your side.
Some of the most significant heart attack moments come when an expat misplaces their passport, so keep it tight to the chest. You won’t want to be one of the unlucky few who lose it.
2. Portable Chargers
Whether new or old to a country, a portable charger is a must.
Unless you’re fluent in your country’s language, you’ll need your phone alive to make it home.
Where I live in China, everything is handled on our phones, from paying taxi drivers to getting on the bus. If I’m far from home and my phone is dead, I’ll be in significant trouble. That’s why I always have a portable charger with me.
3. Translating App
Again, if you are not fluent in the language of your host country, you’ll need a translating app.
Translating signs, using voice to text to communicate with people, and overall enhancing quality of life, translating apps are godsends for expats.
Of course, you should start learning your country's language, but that takes time. The translator app always pulls through when you get in a bind or need help.
4. A Sweet Pet
Let’s be honest; not everyone wants a pet. Yet, most of my expat friends adopted dogs, cats, or birds.
When in a foreign country, you WILL experience loneliness, and there’s nothing better than having a furry friend to come home to each day.
However, getting a pet is a 10–15 year commitment. Don’t be one of those assholes who adopts a cat and plans to strand them when you leave the country. Only get a pet if you can care for them financially, have enough time, and plan to take them with you when you go.
I got my cat, Yuumi, during my third month in China. She’s been my best friend throughout the experience, improving my life. I’m so excited to take her to America someday soon!
5. An Open Mind
Alright, admittedly, this isn’t an item. But it is a must-have.
Going to a new country requires you to keep an open mind. Want to get an experience you’ll remember forever? You’re not going to have that if you don't try new things.
Don’t be one of those jaded expats who only eat McDonald’s and Burger King; get out there and try new things! You’ll thank me later.
These 5 things can make or break your time abroad.00
Make sure you take into account each of these items.
Your passport is the essential item on this list. Please keep it secure, and never move it unless you have to.
Keep a portable charger, get a translator app, and don’t get a pet if you end up abandoning it. Pretty simple stuff, I’d say.
What are your essential items? Comment down below so we can chat about it.
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