Living Abroad- The trials and tribulations.

After you have decided to give living abroad a try you need to start thinking about what you need to take. If you are planning on backpacking then you need to pack light, but if you plan on staying in one (or only a few places) then you can afford to pack a little more but be careful.

Major airlines will allow you unlimited baggage but if you, like millions of others, choose to save a some extra cash and fly with one of the many low cost airlines such as EasyJet or Ryanair. These airlines however restrict you to 20Kg for your main peice of luggage and one peice of hand-luggage which can be quite tasking when you need enough clothes and other items to last you for the duration of your stay.

You will get charged around £6 a kg if you are over your allowance. This means you should only take what you really need. Once you have packed and decided on the essentials that will accompany you on your journey you can sit back and wait for the day.

So you have packed your bags and chose your flight. The time has now come to board the plane and the journey begins! One thing to point is before you go, its best if you book a hostel or bed & breakfast for the first couple of nights just so you have time to look for a flat.

You may be feeling a little nervous (especially if its the first time you have left home) but I assure you, you will have the time of your life. The plane lands and you make your way to the pre-booked hostal. If it is not too late at night, drop your stuff off and have a wonder around the town to get a feel for whats about.

Travelling with somebody is always better as you will have some company but the danger is that you find yourself in a comfort zone and dont meet any new people. Meeting new people is a major part of living abroad as you can experience new cultures and you will also pick up the language so much quicker.

Try and ensure you mix with others in the area as it will make your experience even more worthwhile and enjoyable. There will always be others in the same situation as you (especially if you go as a student) so make the effort to meet new people.

Settling down is very important as once you have everything in place you can start enjoying yourself. The first and most important thing to do is find yourself some accommodation.

Finding accommodation can vary in difficulty depending on where you are. You can obtain lists of flats from the local council which, in Europe, are normally based in the town halls. These lists will come with the names and numbers of all landlords who have accommodation available. My advice is to try and share a flat with some people your age and preferably from the country you are in, this will allow you to practise your language and absorb yourself in the culture.

Go to the local mobile phone shop and get yourself a pay-as-you-go phone so you can contact anyone you meet during your time there. You may miss out on nights out if they can't contact you! Depending on your situation, you may want to get a part time job to help with your finances, if so then you will need a bank account. Take your passport with you so you can set it up.

Once you have a place to live and a phone and bank account you are pretty much set up. Now all there is left to do is to find your feet, meet some new people and have the time of your life. There may be times that you feel it is all too much but the experience you will take from it all will stay with you forever so enjoy while you have the opportunity.

After living in Germany for a period of time there are a few things you should note. There is quite a lot of paperwork you need to fill in once you have arrived in the country.

You have to go to your local council and "register" yourself. This allows the government to know you are in the country. You need your passport, anything with your living arrangements on and information from your place of work. If you do not have all the details then you will not be allowed to register and if you have a job, you wont be able to get paid!

I also lived in Spain, here is a lot more liberal than in Germany. No "registration" is needed so all you need is a bank account if you are working.

These are the countries I have lived in so can't speak for each individual country but it is definately worth checking what you need to do before or after your arrival in the country.

One thing to ensure you have when you move abroad is insurance. The last thing you want when you are in unfamiliar surrounduings is to fall ill or need emergency medical assistance.

An extensive travel insurance policy will give you peace of mind as well as protection against any problems regarding your health and well being that may occur during your time abroad.  You can obtain a competitive policy from a range of places, highstreet companies can offer decent deals but it is online where you can find the best prices.

All the major insurers can be found online and you can compare the prices from them all. Having a good policy can be the difference between the trip of a lifetime and a trip from hell.