When love takes you overseas
It’s been a little over a month since you’ve said: “I do”. The euphoria you currently feel for your mate is heightened by all of the hopes and expectations that you envision for your married life. Finally, drowsy conversations due to time differences are a thing of the past! All those long flights just to spend quality time with each other are no more! Inveigling friends to surprise your significant other on your behalf has also come to an end. Certainly, along with your blissful expectations come genuine concerns regarding the logistics of making such a (hopefully) permanent move. In a previous article, we shared some practical advice for couples contemplating moving in together. Now we’d like to offer a few suggestions to our international couples, for whom the list of considerations maybe even longer.
Before leaving
This move marks the end of one chapter of your life, take the time to say farewell. We know that packing up your life is no small feat, but rather than viewing it as an absolute nightmare, why not embrace it? Really, is there anything better than having a fresh start in life? Packing up could represent a final moment to walk down memory lane and provide some closure to this chapter of your life. For some, it may even be a therapeutic exercise, especially if it involves a ceremonial bonfire of items from past, failed relationships. But we digress…on a more positive note, this task also presents an opportunity to declutter and get rid of anything that you do not presently use. It is impractical to think that you will be able to take all of your belongings with you overseas. So to help you get started, check out our practical tips for decluttering.
Now if you’ve been following our blog for a while, you know we always recommend starting early and making lists. If time allows, you can sort your items into four categories: to keep, sell, gift and donate. Take pictures of the items you need to get rid of. Share the lists and pictures with your friends in group chats, or post them to the Facebook marketplace. Rather than selling individual items, group some items in sets. For example, pots can be grouped with cutlery (spoons, forks, knives), or trainers can be grouped with exercise equipment. You get the idea. Persons will be more inclined to buy if they feel that they are getting more bang for their buck. You may well be surprised at how quickly your items will go, as the saying goes, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. You can give away items that are still useful, but just dump anything that cannot be gifted, donated or sold. Make the decluttering process fun. Invite a friend or two over to help; make sure there’s some chilled wine/beer and snacks to keep you light-hearted and well-fuelled during the process.
While getting things sorted on the home front, you may likely also have to close off this phase of your professional career. If you hold a position in upper management and enjoy an amicable relationship with your employer, it might be judicious to inform them months in advance of your upcoming nuptials and your subsequent migration. If your company values succession planning, your employer will be grateful for the advanced warning and will be able to engage in the necessary planning and training to ensure that your departure does not negatively impact staff morale or the bottom line. Additionally, make a list of accounts that you currently own – mobile phone, bank account, utilities, etc. Depending on your plans for the future, now might be the time to close these accounts and/or notify the companies of your change of address.
On arrival
Of course, once you have made the trip and closed the door to your new home behind you, you should have a plan of attack for unpacking and get settled in. If you are short on ideas, check out our article, You’ve Moved…Now What? and The Big Move: How to Let the World Know. For us though, the greatest challenge to moving in with your mate will be adjusting to living together without retreating to the comfort of your respective homes. Unpacking, like packing, can be equally as stressful, but you may find it even more challenging as the veil of wedded bliss quickly falls and the differences between how you and your mate do things become more apparent. So in this undertaking interpersonal skills and good communication are of paramount importance.
As newlyweds, unpacking and settling in can be viewed as activities that require a team effort. You each have your strengths and weaknesses, so why not discuss what needs to be done and assign the various tasks according to each person’s strengths? Even when emotions run high due to fatigue or feelings of not being settled, homesickness, etc., remember that as a team, you are both on the same side; working toward the same goal: creating a comfortable home that can be filled with beautiful memories for the both of you. So we implore you, to be patient, tactful, adaptable, and have reasonable expectations. If this is the first time that either of you has been married or lived with a partner, then these qualities are key as you both navigate these unchartered waters. In the grand scheme of things, whether the toilet roll is placed face side up or down, is really of little significance; so don’t sweat the small things. The most important factor once you’re living together is laying the foundation for a strong and lasting marriage.
Of course, please don’t forget that we do provide unpacking services. With years of experience in removal services, a sterling reputation in York and hundreds of satisfied customers, let us help you move beyond unpacking and on to creating new memories with your mate in your new home. Feel free to contact us for your quote today. We’ll be pleased to chat with you.
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