Relocating to a Southeast Asian country for work is not the same as going on a 4-day vacation in Hanoi. It takes careful consideration and thoughtful planning on your side to make it work. Southeast Asia is crowded, noisy, hectic and utterly alluring. Even if you’ve been on holiday here, you will experience extreme culture shock initially after moving. You’ll have to get used to the languages, customs, politics and the aromatically spicy food. To make your transition to this fascinating part of the world as stress free as possible, read ahead:
1. Learn the language
The majority of the masses in any given Southeast Asian country speak little to no English. Other minor lingua franca like French or German are spoken even less. So becoming familiar with the basics of the language of the country you are moving to is essential for a smoother transition. For example, if you are moving to Cambodia, you can browse online for lessons on basic Khmer greetings and phrases. Listen to subtitled audio tracks to tune your ears to how the language sounds.
2. Get international medical insurance coverage
Before you start packing, call your health insurance provider and ask if you are covered for medical emergencies overseas. If not, immediately expand coverage or buy a good international medical insurance policy. The only country in Southeast Asia with medical facilities comparable to that of in developed countries is Singapore. It also comes with comparably hefty hospital bills. Most local hospitals in this region are government-run and are very basic. You might need to find a private hospital for treatment for certain health conditions. These places have highly inflated medical costs. Therefore, get health insurance before anything.
3. Contact a fellow expat
It’s highly recommended that you find another expat already living in the country you are moving to for valuable advice. It’ll be an added advantage if this expat is also from the same country as you. An expat who has already gone through the procedures you are about to is the best person to give you advice about visa requirements, renting, job environment and so on.
4. Get your employer to find you an apartment
If you are moving to Southeast Asia for work, ideally your employer should find you a place to stay. Generally, local landlords inflate rental prices if their tenant is a foreigner. If your new job contract doesn’t include accommodation, try to negotiate with your boss. If not, thoroughly research about renting at your destination country to find a good location for a reasonable amount. Do not buy property until you’ve lived in the country for at least a year.
You can make your transition much hassle-free if you can contact the local expat community. You will most likely find contacts online. If not, your embassy or the consulate will have cultural centers that can help you. Make the most out of freely available resources offered by your embassy.