{"id":15410,"date":"2017-01-30T11:58:28","date_gmt":"2017-01-30T11:58:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thesojournseries.com\/bavaria\/?p=15410"},"modified":"2017-01-30T11:58:29","modified_gmt":"2017-01-30T11:58:29","slug":"12-tips-successful-repatriation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.thesojournseries.com\/bavaria\/12-tips-successful-repatriation\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Tips for a Successful Repatriation"},"content":{"rendered":"

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This post is a bit of a work in progress given that it is a mere three weeks since we moved back.\u00a0 But, in the hope that it helps people about to make the same\u00a0jump themselves, here’s a list that I will probably amend several times and\/or expand to 672 tips instead of 12 as we encounter new hurdles along the way.\u00a0 I might make myself read it when\u00a0times are tricky though, to remind myself that: hey, if we have survived this move, we can survive anything!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It is obviously by no means an exhaustive list, if it was we\u00a0might be here all year…<\/p>\n

Make sure everyone’s on board.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong> As is\u00a0sometimes the\u00a0case when you relocate abroad, it’s often not\u00a0possible\u00a0(especially as a “work expat”) to choose\u00a0exactly when you come home (and whereabouts\u00a0you end up!) again.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If a repatriation\u00a0is to be\u00a0a success, make sure that the whole family’s on board with any and all decisions made.\u00a0\u00a0 Involve children right from the start, and constantly talk about any worries they might have.\u00a0\u00a0 That might sound weird to some – they are moving “home” after all, but when\u00a0children haven’t\u00a0lived in their own country for a while, it can be an unsettling and worrying prospect…<\/p>\n

Think of the positives.<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0You might really miss your expat location, but there’s usually something good about moving home again, from the lack of a language barrier, to not having to worry about any cultural rules and regulations.\u00a0\u00a0 From\u00a0being closer to friends and family, having an almost sensory overload at the amount of choice\u00a0each time you go to the supermarket –\u00a0to the\u00a0novelty of being able to chit-chat with strangers (even if it’s usually about the weather!!), and perhaps the best\u00a0thing of all –\u00a0a feeling like you “belong” somewhere again!<\/p>\n

Consider getting a relocation agent – <\/strong>especially if you are moving to an area you are not familiar with.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If you find someone local to your new destination, they\u00a0usually have great insider knowledge on locations, schools and housing, and more often than not can help secure the latter.\u00a0\u00a0 They typically\u00a0know the local estate agents personally, and\u00a0are the first to hear when new houses come on to the market\u00a0etc.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Most experienced relocation agents\u00a0have helped families settle back home countless times, and can be a\u00a0reassuring presence in what is an unsettling time (if you are looking for a\u00a0Cambridge relocation expert, look no further than\u00a0Clare at Relocate Cambridge<\/a>, she is just fabulous…).<\/p>\n

Visit<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0 Once you have decided on a location, visit\u00a0and spend time\u00a0doing the\u00a0ground work in what will be your new home – mostly to ensure that you have made the right decision on a place.\u00a0 If somewhere doesn’t feel right, go with your gut instinct and explore the surrounds instead.\u00a0 Talk to locals, and get online and research, research, research until you find what will work for you.<\/p>\n

Be prepared to be the New Girl again<\/b>.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0You might have high hopes of fitting right back into your old life, meeting up with the same friends etc, but as much as they are usually over the moon to see you,\u00a0people haven’t been sitting around waiting for you to come back.\u00a0\u00a0 Plus if you have moved\u00a0to an entirely new area, you will need to find an entirely\u00a0new network.\u00a0 As is often the case when you move abroad, be prepared to be the new girl for a while.\u00a0 Be the person that says hello in the playground.\u00a0 Force yourself to go to things like play groups with younger children, and consider things like book groups (more often than not more like\u00a0wine groups in my experience!) to meet new people.<\/p>\n

Schooling<\/strong> – If you think you will be on the move again in the future, consider keeping your\u00a0children in an international school to help with the transition.\u00a0\u00a0 Alternatively, if you think you will be at home indefinitely, then do your research about local schools to give your\u00a0children\u00a0the chance to\u00a0put down roots and make long-term friends in a less transient environment.\u00a0 Talk to them about schools, and involve them in any decisions and visits (some schools do an orientation day which is really helpful).<\/p>\n

Choose your Moving Company wisely<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Before any new employment contract is finalised, stress to your future employer that you wish to have a say in who will move you.\u00a0\u00a0 Having done both now, I much preferred getting an amount of money to make our own decisions with, rather than ending up with an unhelpful obstructive, and often difficult company as we did this time around (do email me for the name if you would like\u00a0to avoid using them)!\u00a0 Likewise, if you do get the luxury of choosing, don’t skimp on costs, and look for as many good references as possible.<\/p>\n

Get a Health\u00a0MOT<\/strong> Before you repatriate, fit in as many medical and\u00a0dentist appointments etc. as you\u00a0can.\u00a0\u00a0 You will be so busy with other things in those first few weeks\u00a0that you will be glad that you did.\u00a0 In the same vein, register with doctors as soon as possible,\u00a0and obviously inform all necessary parties about new additions to the family in order to be issued with NHS numbers and the like…<\/p>\n

Reverse culture shock is an actual thing<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Try not to have the same expectations of a place.\u00a0 Not only have you changed, but “home” may well have done too, and it’s easy to find yourself slipping into a weird\u00a0kind of parallel universe constantly comparing your old life to your new one.\u00a0\u00a0 Give yourself time, and before too long the road to adapting and feeling settled will become much simpler and clearer.<\/p>\n

Credit Rating Resets<\/strong> – After you have been away for a while it might come as a shock to find your credit rating might be lower or even none existent.\u00a0\u00a0 Get some form of utility bill with your address on it as soon as you can.\u00a0\u00a0 A letter from your new employer giving details of your new salary is also helpful (along with a copy of your contract) as is getting on the electoral roll.\u00a0 Before long you should find it builds again through paying rent or through approved finances such as phone contracts, cars and the like (don’t be shocked to be turned down by some companies though, that trusty red and white phone company so prolific throughout the UK didn’t want me as a customer as I was “too foreign” having lived abroad!)…<\/p>\n

Tie up any loose ends in your last country<\/strong> – Finalise any taxes and reclaim housing deposits and the like.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Don’t forget to cancel insurance policies, health insurance companies and\u00a0phone contracts and the like (easier said than done in Germany, believe me!).\u00a0 The sooner you can put all your energy in to your new life, the sooner you will feel more settled.<\/p>\n

Fill your Calendar<\/strong>*.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And, when it all becomes a bit too much, book a holiday<\/a>!\u00a0 Somewhere, anywhere, even back to your previous destination for a catch up with your old life if you must!\u00a0 I always find having\u00a0a bit of travel to look forward to helps most situations!<\/p>\n

*this is a collaborative post.<\/h6>\n

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