Moving Abroad

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 11:00am

Has anyone here done it (without it having to do with school)? I very much want to, but I am really scared of all the little things I don't know. There are the larger issues, like language barriers, as well as the more practical ones, like how to get your pet and all your stuff across the ocean and into a foreign land.

Does anyone have any advice or resources that could be helpful in the future?

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 11:31am

Shameless, self-serving bump...

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 11:33am

I have never done it, although I am considering it.

There was a link in one of YWIW's threads about moving to Hong Kong about taking the pets, I think it may have been an 'ask.com' article.

There were other links on that page about other concerns.
So if you can find it, grand.

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 11:35am

Research immigration laws. You can't work unless your current employer sponsors you in the other country. There may be time parimeters as well.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 11:51am

Really? Wow, SOMMS, I had no idea it was that complicated. But that's why I started this thread.

Come on, penguin, move to Italy with me and we'll start a Sondwhore colony. It'll be great.

Any other thoughts are immensely appreciated!

[pndmnd]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 11:52am

For pets, if you do a google or ask.com search, you'll come up with some pretty good articles on it. I don't really have much info. on employment and visas and such, because the people that I know who have moved internationally have had duel citizenship, had married someone from that country, or were students.

I have flown a dog cross-country, though. There are a lot of things you have to be aware of. Most airlines have rules about the minimum and maximum temperature that it can be when flying a pet if it has to go through Cargo. If it's small and going as carry-on, those rules change. They also have regulations for size and types of crates that can be used. It's best to check with the specific airlines. Also, non-stop flights are usually best. If you have a layover, and the pet is in cargo, it will be more traumatizing and lengthen the time before the pet can get out. Plus, if your layover is in a different country than your final destination, you won't be able to take the pet out of the airport without going through customs and security again, and if it's a country that requires quarantine, you won't be able to take it out at all.

Internationally, there may be vaccine and even quarantine rules. Each country has different policies on this. These are things you can find out on-line, but it's probably best to verify them before you travel.

Where are you thinking about moving?

[Calvin]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 11:54am

I'll go, SG. I minored in Italian studies in college, so I can speak the language. Sorta. Well enough that I know what Fabrizio was saying in Piazza.

[Love4Cheno]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 11:55am

If it weren't so complicated, I'd be living in Paris instead of NYC.

Unless you go for school, like SOMMS said, you need work sponsorship. It's costly and time-consuming, so unless you're in international finance, consulting, etc. it's very difficult to get sponsorship.

Without a work or school visa, you can usually stay up to 3 months- for Western Europe, at least.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 12:22pm

Are you leaving us, SG?!?!?

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 12:26pm

Oh, I'll never leave BWW.

It's just that I've always wanted to live abroad, but always thought that it would be too difficult or that people like me just stayed in their own country and never lived elsewhere. But why shouldn't I be able to live in Italy if I want?

And, Calvin, right on. You can be my interpreter.

[katygrace84]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 12:27pm

Go live with those Italians and leave your cat here with me!

C U Next Tuesday,
Your Roomie

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 12:28pm

Oh, you're going to Italy. I may tag along.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 12:36pm

Shut up, katygrace! I'll never leave LoLo with you! You'll mistreat her just like you do now, only worse. You know she hates you. All that cuddling and purring is only so she can get close to you and figure out your weak spots. Watch out.

And, cookie, you're always welcome to come with me. We'll have a BWW field trip!

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 12:38pm

I am in.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 12:39pm

Yay! We can all get a place together in the Italian countryside and each create one song for a brilliant musical about a group of crazy message boarders who pick up stakes and move to Italy.

Genius, I tells ya!

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 12:47pm

Under the Tuscan Sun - BWW Style?

[Calvin]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 12:48pm

Mine will be a comic song about a guy who thinks he speaks Italian because he studied it five years ago and the garbled conversation he has with the natives.

Uomo: Ti piace il burro?
Io: No, ma grazie. Non mangio carne.

[katygrace84]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 12:52pm

Hey, SG! Your cat just called. She's typing up her Dear Mom letter as we speak.

Calvin, I once saw a magazine article that included, in my opinion, the two most important phrases for traveling to Italy: "Your mind makes me breathless," and "Your pecs are like sculpted Carerra marble."

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 12:55pm

I understood that. I know more Italian than I think....

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 12:55pm

As always, you are the definition of helpful, katygrace.

[Calvin]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 12:56pm

See, it's funny because burro means butter, but most people would assume it means donkey, so... Um, OK, it wasn't funny at all.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 12:57pm

Actually, a LOT of foreign countries offer foreign teacher sponsorship.
London, for whatever reason, is encouraging of American teachers to teach...English!
Obviously, the Asian countries do the same(I looked into Japan and an acquaintance was actually working in Korea).

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 12:58pm

I still got that!

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 12:58pm

Now that you explain it, that is pretty funny, Calvin! You're such a clever Calvin.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 3/28/06 at 12:59pm

bway, what if I'm not a teacher, but would be willing to teach? Is that possible? I mean, my degree is in English, so I'm definitely capable of it.