Today is our final day in the Culture Transition Tip Tuesday series.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the tips and look forward to hearing from you! here is Tip #10. 

If you’d like to cast your vote for the next topic covered in a video series related to transitioning
cultures, just click here!

It’s Culture Trasition Tip Tuesday once again!

Here is Tip #9

Relocating to a new place unfortunately brings the likelihood that you may feel depressed once in a while for a myriad of reasons I’ve mentioned before on my blog.  We can never have enough strategies to beat depression so here are a few tips in case you’re in the blues:

1. Get outside.  Feel the fresh air on your face, even if it’s raining or snowing, just go outside and be reminded that there is life outside your door.
2. Pet a dog. (Or cat, or horse…) Somehow, animals are magic when it comes to depression, and spending just a few minutes with the animal of your choice can work wonders.  If you’re allergic, take a Claritin or whatever your favorite allergy medecine is and find an animal to pet!  Don’t have one or live near someone who does? Find the nearest pet shop and ask to hold a dog or cat even for a few minutes!  No pet shop?  Try an animal shelter.
3. Do one thing on your to-do list.  It doesn’t matter how small – buy the tube of toothpaste you need, go to the coffee shop you’ve been meaning to try, wash the laundry – just do ONE thing.  Action steps help draw you forward and get out of the “I’m stuck” feeling.
4. Call or email a friend.  Pick one person, let them know what’s going on.  Don’t isolate yourself.  Try to unload one time, and promise yourself, and your friend, you’ll work on strategies to pull yourself out of the depression, starting the next time you contact him or her.
5. Throw out clutter.  The act of throwing out all those papers and boxes and whatever else is causing a mess is very therapeutic!

* Want to learn more ways to beat depression and settle in to a new culture? Check out The Personal Success Method! *

Some of you out there are no doubt considering a move to a new city or country for love, or might in future. It’s wonderful to meet and fall for someone in or from a different country, learning about a new culture, perhaps a new language, and it can even feel exotic.  But, before you make the move, you may want to think about a few things so you avoid moving half way round the world and learning that you had no idea what you got yourself into.  Here are a few tips to help you make the right choice.

1. Find out if you’re allowed to work in the country you’re moving to.  If you are moving someplace where you are legally forbidden to obtain paid work, consider how you will feel if you are currently supporting yourself or helping provide – are you ok with becoming a dependent?
2. Find out your potential spouse’s view of your role – working, childcare, housemaker, etc.  In some countries, the woman is expected to be more traditional – perhaps doing most of the cooking and cleaning, and raising children.  Again, discuss this with your potential spouse and find out if this is an expectation, and, if so, one that you’re comfortable with, or one that can be negotiated.
3. Visit your potential home before moving there.  Get a feel for whether you’re comfortable living there, how you feel there, the architecture, etc.  This will also give you a chance to get somewhat familiar with the new landscape, and perhaps enable to you to feel a little more independent when you move for good.
4. Make sure to spend a chunk of time together in YOUR home city – see if you’re still in love when you play host and guide and your loved one relies on you completely.  I can tell you from experience you may feel like you’re in love with a totally different person.  Before you get whisked away, make sure you experience your loved one in each of your respective home countries.  Usually you get accustomed to being the guide/leader (if you live in your home town), or the follower (depending on your loved one to take you around, make decisions about what to do, introduce you to people, etc.) when you meet and live in the same place for a while.  When you return to the other person’s home, these roles will reverse, and it will feel very awkward at first – make sure you’re still in love. It can be surprising and disappointing to learn that the feelings you thought you had fade after experiencing this role reversal.  If the feelings DON’T fade, then you know you have something strong!

* To get more tips and strategies to prepare for your new life together, Consider working with an Expat Coach! *!  *