If one wanted to leave the US and live abroad, what are good books or resources

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   ChristinSposted 11 years ago

   If one wanted to leave the US and live abroad, what are good books or resources to learn how?
   
   If one was interested in living abroad, most likely permanently, how do you begin researching the process? Are there good books or other resources on how to leave your native country and start elsewhere with a family? We've thought about trying to give our sons a different cultural experience and perhaps a better education to boot, how does one go about looking into this, especially if you aren't certain where you would want to go?

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2. 82

   gregasposted 11 years ago

   It's called the Internet. That's what we used to plan a trip through part of Europe. It works very well. I am not being a smart a??. It is just that what you can find on the Internet is a lot more current, up-to-date. Greg

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      ChristinSposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I understand that, but I prefer books and maybe writings from people who actually had the experience. Thanks for your answer though.

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3. 0

   christiananrkistposted 11 years ago

   I have actually done some thinking about this. I personally would first do research on the countries themselves you would consider. Pick maybe a top 5 and narrow you search by things that are important to you and your family. (education, politics, weather...). once you pick the county you would like to live, I would study what it takes to possibly become a citizen and learn the language. I also would never move anywhere without finding out if getting a job is possible or even likely. I would also study up on manners and customs of the area you want to move to. Maybe even find a sort of pin pal are chat on someone online about it to get more details. So i guess the only reading I could suggest is to get books on whatever country your would consider. Sorry for kind of rambling and not being much help. These are just things I have gone over in my mind.

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      ChristinSposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I hear you - the same kind of things have been rattling around in mine thanks

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4. 75

   johnsonrallenposted 11 years ago

   I've done this three times in life. The first I was young and relied on my parents, so I can't comment. The second, I had a friend in the other country helping with the transition (a better option than a book, I think). The third time, my then future wife and I moved to Thailand. We just picked up and left, believe it or not. We had no jobs, didn't speak the language and had no plan. It ended up being one of the best decisions we've ever made!
   
   I personally feel you should research books on culture and some of the travel books like Lonely Planet to get an idea of transportation and cost of living. Find someone who lives in the country (a native is always best) to help with transitions.
   
   I think it's a great idea! I was 13 when I first lived overseas and it permanently  shaped my entire life. I think your kids will thank you for it down the road.

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5. 37

   Borsiaposted 11 years ago

   It is going to depend a lot on where you are planning to go.
   I'm an expat and have lived in China, Colombia, Panama and I now live in the Philippines. Every one is very different with entirely different required knowledge.
   There are the obvious questions like what language will be spoken. Keep in mind that claims of a large English speaking populace are usually wrong. More often you will find a few people who speak some English. In China (2 years) even the English teachers didn't really speak at all well and mostly knew parrot phrases which they didn't really understand.
   In Colombia there were a few more but not many, Panama was the same.
   I speak Spanish, but the fact is that every country speaks a different Spanish and even different local twists can throw you.
   As an example; in the US and Mexico a standard greeting is "que pasa" basically what is going on? In Colombia saying "que pasa" will get you into trouble really quick because you are saying "what are you up to?" in an accusatory way. Even if you can get it across that you didn't mean it that way you will be distrusted until they really get to know you. There are a million of these "little rules" that you just have to learn.
   You are also, depending on location, going into a strange physical world with hazards that you may not be accustom to watching for. This will be far more true if you are talking about going into the 3rd world and if you are going as an example to the tropics from cooler climes.
   As for books I will through in a shameless plug and suggest you read my book "How To Become a Smarter Safer Traveler" I'll be happy to send you a free copy if you send me a private message at Borsiawriting@Yahoo.com, be sure to put something in the subject line so I don't accidentally delete it as spam.
   Other books would be specific to the region you want to move to.
   Do a lot of research and be sure to take extended exploratory trips before you break ties or make any serious commitments. Changing countries is an expensive venture in the best of times doing it repeatedly even more so.
   it is very hard to know if you have a good fit until you have been in a place for an extended time. Often what seems really nice gets old after a year or two.

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