Living Abroad - Expat checklist

I've spent a large portion of my life being an expat. If I see an opportunity for adventure, I end up packing my bags and disappearing for a while. My expat life has led me to live in beautiful places like Barcelona, Melbourne, Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing (a lot of China - what can I say?!), a few months in Germany and Mexico. Like I said, I'm a sucker for adventure. For those of you wondering whether you should take that leap and move overseas, GO FOR IT! You only live once (ugh i hate saying Yolo, but YOLO). You'll learn so much about yourself, grow exponentially and create everlasting experiences!  And don't worry, your friends, family and favorite bars will all be there when you get home.  

Here's a quick list I've prepared for those of you starting your new life as an expat!

1. Clean the apartment and always get new sheets - You never know who was there before, so do a massive clean to start fresh in your new place!

2. Study a map of your neighborhood - Even better, walk around the neighborhood and get familiar with your new hood. I always make a note of which places I would like to explore more. This will give you a better understanding of the vibe in your neighborhood...and we all know how important vibes are right?!

3. Find your local EVERYTHING - grocery store (and do some shopping asap), laundry, dry cleaners, subway entrances and post office.

4. Get a local phone - I know we all want to keep our iPhones (and you can!), but it's smart to invest in a local phone as well so you can call all of your new local friends at no cost to either of you. Depending on your new country, you'll need a local phone to log into wifi at cafes and you KNOW you NEED WIFI!! 

5. Sign up for local language courses - If you’re living in a new city where English is not the main language, always sign up for a local language course and get to studying and practicing. No matter where you go, people LOVE when you try to speak their language. It shows respect and consideration - plus it's great to learn a new language!!

6. Get a local bank account - I know this one sounds boring, but believe me, it will make your life that much easier and save on all those fees. 

7. Buy a metro card - Unless you're buying a car or you've got the money to Uber everywhere all the time, you'll be needing a metro card. Head to your nearest subway station and buy a monthly card or put enough money on a new card to get you around for your first month until you can figure out how much you actually need to budget for subway transportation. 

8. Unpack, take a deep breath and embrace your new home! Congrats on your big adventure! 

* Here's a photo of me on Day 1 in Shanghai doing my big SHOP - new sheets, groceries, EVERYTHING! 

Be sure to share your your expat checklist with me below. Anything you would add? Where would you want to live if you were moving overseas?! Join the expat community!