Moving abroad looks simple from a distance: pack up, leave, start fresh. In reality, there's a lot that nobody prepares you for in advance. Not because they don't want to, but because it genuinely can't be described until you've lived it yourself.

Here are ten things worth knowing before you go.

1. Bureaucracy will get you before you've even unpacked

Residence documents, local registration, insurance and banking depend on your citizenship, the length of your stay and its purpose. Start with official guidance and allow time for administration. There is no single sequence that applies to everyone.

2. You have to actively build friendships

In a new city, friendships don't happen on their own. Adult relationships abroad are built deliberately: language exchange, sport, a course, anything that gets you around people. Going out alone for the first time might feel a bit awkward, but it's worth it! Expect the first six months to feel quite lonely on this front, that's a completely normal part of the process.

3. You'll still feel like a foreigner after a year. And that's fine

A sense of belonging doesn't arrive automatically. Sometimes not even after years. It doesn't mean you made a mistake. It just takes time and a little kindness toward yourself.

4. The cost of living is different than you expect

The apartment looks relatively affordable, until you pay the deposit, possibly an agency fee, and two months' rent upfront. Build a detailed budget before you leave, and include startup costs. The first month abroad is usually the most expensive of the whole stay.

5. Your language skills aren't as good as you thought

B2 from a language school and a phone call to a Spanish insurance company are two completely different disciplines. Speaking imperfectly is always better than not speaking at all. And people appreciate it more than you'd expect. :)

6. Home food will hit you at the most unexpected moments

Czechs abroad bring each other kofola, tatranky, and rohlíky. And there's a very good reason for it. Nostalgia in the supermarket aisle is completely normal!

7. Things break at the worst moments and you'll have to handle it alone

You lock yourself out. The hot water stops working. The internet dies before an important call. Back home you'd call your dad, abroad you message ChatGPT. And then you feel like a total superhero.

8. People at home will stop fully understanding you

People back home won't quite get why you don't come back, or why this isn't just "a long holiday". It's a mutual drifting apart. And it's part of the process. It just shows you how much you've grown.

9. You'll experience both at the same time

The biggest adventure of your life and the loneliest Friday evening, in the same week. Both are true. Both are fine.

10. It's worth it, even on the bad days

In a year you'll know yourself better than five years at home would have shown you. You'll do things you didn't know you were capable of. And one day you'll be sitting somewhere on a beach, thinking: YES. This is exactly what I wanted!

Turn this into your own plan

You don’t need to tackle all ten points now. Choose the one taking up the most space in your head and turn it into a specific question. Instead of “I don’t know if I can manage”, try “Who can I contact if I don’t know where to go on my first day?” or “What do I need for my first evening?” A concrete question is easier to answer.

Next, separate what you can check from what you’ll discover once you arrive. You can confirm your school’s address and accommodation arrangements. You can’t plan whether you’ll make a friend on day one. Make room for what remains unknown and focus on preparation that will actually help.

Come back to the list after you leave. Some things will match your expectations; others will be completely different. Write down one thing you’d tell your pre-trip self. It might eventually help someone who’s hesitating in exactly the same way. ✈️

Homesickness when living abroad is almost universal. Yet people rarely talk about it honestly: it either gets dismissed ("you chose this") or overdramatised. In reality, it's a completely normal part of expat life, and it deserves a bit of attention.

Homesickness is just love with nowhere to go

This one lands every time. Homesickness isn't a failure to adapt. It's not a sign that you should pack up and go back. It's a natural response to caring about people, places and moments that are currently far away. That's a beautiful thing, even if it stings right now.

What helps (and what really doesn't)

❌ What doesn't help

• Telling yourself you have no right to be sad because "you chose this".
• Scrolling Instagram and watching photos of friends back home.
• Isolating yourself with the thought that "it'll pass".
• Replaying everything you're missing: birthdays, celebrations, Sunday lunches.

✅ What actually helps

• Calls with family, but without pressure on frequency. Once or twice a month, fully present, beats calling every day out of obligation.
• Cooking food from home. Comfort food is a genuinely powerful thing.
• Planning visits in advance. Knowing you'll be home in three months is calming even on the hardest days.
• Finding community here. Other expats, fellow countrypeople, people with the same experience. Nobody understands better than someone who's been there.
• Keeping a journal. Things that would sound trivial at home suddenly make sense on paper.

When is it normal and when does it deserve attention?

Homesickness that comes in waves and then passes? Normal, expected, part of living abroad. Homesickness that paralyses you, drains your energy and isolates you for months? That deserves attention. A therapist, a coach or at least an honest conversation with someone you trust.

Homesickness doesn't mean you made the wrong choice. It means you have somewhere to come from. And that's a gift not everyone has.

Ask for an ordinary kind of connection

Sometimes you don’t want to explain everything you miss. You just want a familiar voice and a little piece of everyday life at home. You can say that directly: “I’m missing home today. Have you got ten minutes this evening? We don’t need to talk about anything big. Just tell me what’s new.”

An agreed time can feel nicer than spending the evening checking who has replied. Leave space for life where you are too. After the call, you could make tea, take a walk or get something ready for tomorrow. A small plan gives your evening somewhere to go next.

You don’t have to choose between belonging here and belonging at home. You can enjoy a new place while missing a family lunch, a friend or a familiar street. If you don’t feel like doing much, choose one small thing you’d enjoy today. Tomorrow may feel different again. 🤍

Opening an account in Spain? I’d start with a specific account and a question about documents, rather than an assumed sequence of official appointments. Requirements depend on the bank and your residence status.

Ask about documents first

Banco de España says EU citizens may be asked for a passport or national identity document together with their NIE. Non-residents may need evidence of that status. The bank may also request evidence of the source of funds.

Before signing anything

• What are the account and card fees?
• Does the offer require regular income or another product?
• What will you pay if you stop meeting those conditions?
• What do the services you actually use cost?

Ask for the pre-contract information and take time to read it.

A message you can send

Hello, I’m an EU citizen interested in account ___. My residence status is ___. What documents do you need, can I apply online, and where can I read the full terms?

Take a short list to your appointment

Write down what you’ll use the account for, such as rent, everyday purchases and employment income. Then ask questions based on your own life. If part of the offer is unclear, ask for a concrete example and take the information away to read.

One useful Spanish phrase is “¿Me lo puedes explicar con un ejemplo?” It means “Can you explain it with an example?” To ask for written conditions, try “¿Me puedes enviar las condiciones por escrito?”

Keep the account name, conversation date, contact details and unanswered questions in one note. Use the same questions for each offer you compare. Leave a gap where you still need an answer and follow up later. Being at the branch doesn’t mean you need to decide there and then.