Emigrating Abroad

Hello there!

My name is Carol. It was my birthday recently – the forth one since I immigrated to the UK (the land of my birth) after a lifetime spent in Africa. During my birthday party I had what Oprah Winfrey calls ‘a light bulb moment’ – one that I want to share with all who will listen!

This was the first birthday that I no longer felt like a ‘visitor’ – and it was such a great feeling! I was surrounded by friends and family - my son lives here in London but it also so happened that my son-in-law was over from Dubai to share the occasion too. Somehow I felt that I had lived here for ever; it took a while and, as I am sure all who move countries will agree, it does take time to make new friends and to get into a routine of life that is both enjoyable and practical.

But believe me, the day does come that your new country will feel like home. You just have to believe that and to actually work at it. I was fortunate at the time to have my daughter and her family living nearby. She had a friend who was moving to the States and who wanted to rent out her lovely little flat just a few blocks from my daughter and my adorable grandchildren – what a win! They moved to Dubai about a year later but at least they were there in the early days.

Then a friend of my daughter’s bore my CV off to her child’s school where it was picked up by my present boss’s wife…and here I have happily beavered away at The Overseas Guides Company for nearly four years!

Part of my job has been to travel abroad, to have a look at various property options and to meet all the property professionals that many of the OGC readers have come to use and rely upon.

I have talked to literally hundreds of folk who are taking the plunge and moving abroad and I have personally contributed to many of the Property Buying Guides that the OGC provides – you may want to look at them on www.emigrationguide.com. It struck me that it may just be useful for me to share with you what I have learnt, both from my own personal experiences and from listening to the many concerns, experiences and tales shared with me on a daily basis.

So do join me weekly as I chat about various aspects of moving abroad…You never know, there may just be something that will help you, inspire you or just plain bring a smile to your face!