What's Holding You Back from Success in a Foreign Country? Expat Problems and Their Solutions

 WHAT'S HOLDING YOU BACK FROM SUCCESS IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY? EXPAT PROBLEMS AND THEIR SOLUTIONS


Around 3.1% of the entire global population are expats. But according to estimates, 40% of overseas assignments fail due to the challenges expats face abroad.

This guide explores the common expat problems and provides possible solutions to those problems. It will help the expats in gaining confidence, motivation, and productivity to combat the hurdles and succeed. After all, they have heavy expectations from their family back home. You can use online money transfers from ACE to send remittances back home as a means to portray your success.


5 Common challenges that expat face and their solutions

  1. Creating a new social circle is tough. 

One of the hardest things to do is establish a social life in another country. Expats struggle with making new bonds when trying to adjust to their new surroundings. Making new friends and creating a life around them is challenging, especially when you are dealing with everything you have just left behind (family and friends). You need these people the most when you are processing all the new experiences of life in another country.

It is always recommended to expats to make new friends and establish new interests and activities, but this can be the toughest part. An expat has to say goodbye to their loved ones and hello to strangers at the same time.

Superficial friends can be found anywhere. The real struggle is finding close friends on who they can rely. It is always a calming thought to believe that maybe others are also looking for close friends. 

Solution

  • Search the internet for expat forums, sports clubs, organisations, or expat groups.

  • Regularly visit your nearest cafes and pubs.

  • Introduce yourself to your co-workers and neighbours and make friendly conversations on a daily basis.

  • Check out where you can do volunteer work.

  • Never share personal life during the first encounter, as it can scare some people away.

 

  1. Sending remittances can be expensive. 

Most expats like to send money home to their loved ones as a token of love. However, the fees involved with international transactions can be extremely expensive.

Solution

  • Use online money transfers instead of bank transfers.

  • Ask fellow expats about what methods they prefer.

  • Use a cash pickup service if your recipient does not have a bank account.

 

  1. Language barriers can drain your energy

One of the biggest expat problems is understanding and speaking a new language. Expats have reported breaking down at the most unexpected places, like grocery stores, while reading labels just because they were unable to understand what was written. The communication gap due to the language barrier makes them miss out on a lot of social and professional opportunities.

Learning a new language is time-consuming and requires effort. The process cannot speed up without proper guidelines. However, a few tips and tricks can definitely work for the expat community.

Solution

  • Take an intensive language course as early as possible.

  • Make friends with native speakers and practice their language with them.

  • Download helpful language apps to practice the basics.

  • Watch the local television programs and listen to the radio often to improve your language skills. 

 

  1. The troubles of adjusting to the new diet are often underestimated

There are many famous cousins, such as Chinese, French, and Italian, that are tried, tested, and loved by the majority of people. Then there are some pretty depressing cuisines, including American, British, and Dutch. It is obvious that each part of the world has its own vegetables, herbs, and spices. An expat would struggle to find the food that they were habitual of eating in their homeland. The same fruits and vegetables might differ in taste due to differences in growing practices and weather conditions.

Some expats consider sticking to their traditional foods even in a foreign land. However, with time, they find this food routine frustrating due to unavailability or unaffordability.

Solution

  • Prepare yourself before moving abroad by reading about the local cuisine. You can also try finding a restaurant nearby that sells that foreign cuisine.

  • Use expat forums to learn about supermarkets or restaurants that sell your traditional foods.

  • Ask friends and family to ship the products you miss the most to you.

  • Try growing your favourite fruits and vegetables yourself if you cannot find them in the supermarket.


  1. Healthcare is of extreme importance

Healthcare should never be ignored if you are moving abroad. Moving to a new region of the world can affect your health and body. If you do not take good care of your body, you will never be able to achieve success due to a lack of motivation and energy.

Check out what their healthcare system is like. Make a few comparisons to your country’s healthcare system. Do not feel overwhelmed when you reach the stage of sorting out healthcare. Here are some tips to follow to streamline the process.

Solution

  • Look for any potential health hazards in the new country.

  • Check for the differences between local and expat healthcare in the new country. In some countries, expats will have to turn to private hospitals due to certain healthcare laws.

  • Check out the different healthcare insurance to determine which one suits the best for you.

  • If you are on some sort of medication, check out how quick it is to receive a prescription for any medication.


How to send money home smoothly as an expat?

ACE Money Transfer offers affordable money transfer services for all expats living away from family. ACE realises the need for affordability in this service as banks charge hefty fees for international transactions. A big sum of your money often gets lost in transfer fees and exchange rates offered by the banks. Hence, it is best to shift to ACE Money Transfer for ease and affordability.


No more waiting in long lines to get your transfer initiated

One of the biggest selling points of ACE Money Transfer is that you can send money from anywhere. You can sit at your office desk or lounge couch and initiate the transfer without any hassle. It is best for the elderly lot who do not like waiting in lines for their turn.


The speed of ACE is unmatchable

ACE Money Transfer reaches even the most backward areas swiftly. All international transactions are completed within 24 hours. The delays that you often experience with banks and other financial institutions will never happen with ACE.


Adjusting to a new community can come with its own challenges. Solutions are always there if there is will. ACE Money Transfer is your perfect remittance-sending solution. Sign up for free today to make unlimited money transfers to your loved ones at the most affordable rates.


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