Moving overseas to a new country is indeed a big step. Not only do you have to deal with being away from friends and family that you have lived around and grown with but you also have to deal with climate change, new schools and new jobs. When moving overseas, you should put things in place to make it easier on yourself and your family especially the young ones who will be the first to admit that they are homesick. Since the little ones will find it much harder to adjust to living overseas, it is up to the parents to ensure that the fear and stress that the child feels is alleviated long before it has really begun.

One way for you to get your kids comfortable is by taking a few days off from work to make sure that they are happy and content and get familiar with their new surroundings. If you do not already have a job at your new location, it would be best to hold off on applying for a job for a while just enough to be there for the kids. If you are able too, try to reach out and make contact with your closest friends and family that you have left behind. With the advent of the Internet a friend and family is just an email or instant message away. The little notes and emails that you share with them will bring them closer to you than you think.

Check out the health care systems that are available in your area to see if it is the place that you would want to take your child for her annual vaccination. Of course moving will also mean that you will be leaving your child’s pediatrician behind. Make sure that the pediatrician that you choose is compatible with your child and one that your child will have no problems getting along with.

29 Days To A Smooth Move

MOVING DAY! It’s finally here. Everything is packed (hopefully) and loaded or ready to be loaded, the movers (professional or otherwise) have arrived, and it’s time to get out of the old house and get into the new one. And, it arrived a lot sooner than you thought.

Rooms should be emptied one at a time. Once the room is completely vacant, one more check should be made, especially in closets, behind doors, and in secluded corners. Once that is done, the room should be swept, mopped if necessary, or vacuumed, depending on the flooring. The door should then be shut, and everyone informed that that particular room is “sealed”, “cleared”, “empty”, whatever, and there is no need to re-enter that room again.

Keep some spare bags and boxes on hand in case something was missed, or to pack those items that were being used right up until the last minute. Make sure they are labeled properly, and not forgotten.

Important papers and documents should be kept totally separate from packed items that are being loaded. In fact, they should probably go in a separate vehicle with a responsible adult, and carried into the new residence as soon as possible. Additionally, keep out any medical, baby, or other necessary supplies that may be needed during the day.

Ensure that the utilities have been turned off, or that the companies have been notified to turn them off at a certain time. The sooner after the house is vacated, the better, as no one wants to pay for unnecessary electricity, gas, or water.

Try to take some time to just stand in the middle of the old house for just a few minutes and let the memories wash over you. If this causes a few tears, that’s OK. Everyone will understand.

Packing is only a small part of the moving process. There are other things that must be done before everything is completed.

This is another area where a list can be of utmost importance. As each item is completed, it can be checked off. This will ensure that everything that needs to be done has been or will be done.

Arrangements must be made for utility services to begin at the new residence and end at the old residence. If at all possible, both need to occur on the same day.

Change of address forms must be obtained and sent to anyone and everyone who may possibly need the new address. Additionally, arrangements should be made for mail to be forwarded to the new address, at least for a little while.

E-mail is a good way to accomplish this, especially where friends and family are concerned. Those with whom you conduct regular business will probably need to receive an official change of address notice card such as those provided by the Post Office.

Manuals and instruction booklets pertaining to any appliances left in the old house should be put out where they can be seen by the new owners. Additionally, any other information that you think the new owner may need concerning the house should be left in a conspicuous location.

The location and presence of all household items that have been packed, shipped, stored, or otherwise relocated should be accounted for.

Arrangements should be made or have been made to have the address change reflected on any legal documents that may require it. This includes driver’s licenses, passports, visas, etc.

A final inspection should be done of the house or apartment. This will not only ensure that nothing has been left behind or forgotten, but that any requirements necessary for receiving a security deposit refund (if there was one) have been met.