The Big Move: Which country?
A quick note: The Big Move will be a series about preparing to immigrate. Migration isn’t magic. It takes preparation. This series will help you out starting with this post. Also, if your partner is from another country and you’re trying to figure this out, check out Where is our home?
So you’re thinking one of three things. 1) You think my answer will obviously be Argentina. 2) Why is she even asking this question? 3) Please help me decide between x and y country! First, I don’t recommend that everyone go to Argentina. In fact, I tend to recommend that retiring US citizens check out Mexico. It’s close to family, familiar, yet distinct. Second, while it’s a very personal decision, it is totally understandable to seek out help in deciding where to go. 3) I won’t tell you to go to x or y, but I’ll give you the tools to decide for yourself.
Immigration is a super personal thing. Whether you’re moving your working life abroad or retiring abroad, the final destination is dependent on You. Everyone’s situation is different. But I believe I can help you narrow it down.
The very first thing you should do is make a list of all the countries you wuold possibly be interested in living in. This is different than visiting. Many people would like to be able to visit the entire world. No one wants to live in every country on Earth. Don’t worry if your list is large at this point.
The first thing you should do is make a list of countries you’re interested in living in.
The next things you want to think about are your priorities. Narrow down your list by scratching off countries that don’t meet those. What do I mean by priorities? I’ll give some examples.
Are you LGBTQIA+ and need a country friendly to that? Do you have medical concerns and if so, which country meets them? If you’re going to school there, can you study what you want? Do you need a local job and if so, is there demand for your skillset? At what distance from your family are you comfortable?
A related question is what problems are in the countries with your priorities? Are they manageable for you in your particular situation? Sometimes this step can end the search. If it doesn’t, continue reading.
The final step
Go to the country to which you connect.
Many people finish the first section and can’t decide from there. Then they ask me for advice on which country to go. But this is the part I can help the least withn as it’s the most personal. However, I’ll give you some advice: Go to the place that you enjoy more. That you connect to.
I cannot emphasize this enough. You need to be happy where you’re moving. Period. No amount of pay or lack of paperwork will ever make up for homesickness or a lack of friends.
I’ll go over a few situations that I’ve seen come up. If you’re debating between two places because one has friends and family, but the other has less paperwork, go to the one with the friends and family. The smallest amoutn of paperwork is going to feel like a mountain if you don’t like the people you’re around. Conversely, the mountain of paperwork will feel like nothing if you do like the people you’re around. They may even help you with it.
If you’re debating between one place that pays more, but you don’t know the language and another place where you know the language but it pays less, go with the place you know the language. First, the lower pay probably still pays living costs. Second, if you’re paid well, but struggle with the language, you’ll be more alone and isolated than ever. And likely get very homesick as you won’t be able to integrate. Also, knowing the language of a place indicates some form of cultural familiarity, meaning less culture shock.
Sometimes you may not have foreign connections and are debating between countries within a cultural region like Latin America. Not having connections means you probably haven’t visited, but have significant wanderlust. In this case, visit the countries. Try to visit for at least a month. Or at least do some less-touristy things to get a better sense of the place while you’re there. Then figure out which you like better. And that is an extremely personal preference.
A friend once told me that your Patria (homeland) is the place in which you are happy. Hopefully my tips help you find your new home : )
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