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