Estate Living Magazine #liveyourbestlife - Issue 46 December 2019 | Page 60

L I v E
Read up on the culture
By understanding a little of the history, customs, festivals, food,
and religions, you can easily ascertain if this country intrigues
and appeals to you, or seems like an alien planet far removed
from your idea of normal.
Engage with the locals
Ask questions. Word-of-mouth recommendations are the best
way to find your new preferred doctor, dentist, electrician and
plumber, and who better than the residents to give you the
insider tips regarding restaurants, coffee shops, hair stylists and
sports clubs?
While you can probably get by with basic English and expansive
gestures, you’ll find this a lot easier if you have a few basic
phrases mastered. Download a language app like Duolingo a
few weeks before your LSD trip, and practise every day. And
be realistic about whether you believe you will ever be able to
communicate in the language of your adopted country, or if the
language is going to be an endless source of frustration in your
day-to-day life.
Money matters
Pop in to the bank to see what the queues are like – and count
the ATMs on street corners.
S M A R T
Go back to school
We all want the best for our kids, and most of their time is
spent at school, so we need to find the best one for them.
Visit international, public and private schools, and get the
prospectuses to compare the curriculums, sports and societies,
ethos and accessibility for each one.
Accidents happen
Hopefully you will not have an emergency, but it is best to be
prepared, so wander into the local hospital to get a feel for it, and
investigate the various medical care schemes – especially if you
will not be able to ‘export’ your existing one.
Shop like a local
Forget the curio shops and high-street stores selling designer
labels, and head to the supermarkets, bakeries and delis for your
groceries, toiletries and cleaning materials. This will give you a
good indication of the cost of living, and also offer an opportunity
to practise your language skills.
And take time out
Once you have completed all the hard LSDing, take time out
to have some fun. Check out the beaches, bars, nature spots,
MTB trails, dog-walking hotspots, dive sites, museums and
entertainment areas, because you’re thinking of emigrating to
have a better life. And that means a life that is more enjoyable.
Di Brown