ASSIGNMENT

PGD – SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

Name: Ashar Hashmi

Batch 4 – Organizational Management

Challenges in Settling in a Foreign Country

Living in a foreign country can be an exciting and a challenging experience. One can expect
to face a lot of problems and challenges when he/she move abroad in a foreign country.
Foreigners need to learn the culture, traditions, customs, values, language, manners, and
language of the foreign country in which they are settling. As an outsider in a foreign land,
these things can be difficult to understand.
Depending on your personality and situation, it can take a while to get settled into your new
lifestyle. An individual will face so many changes at once, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed.
A person may not be facing these challenges alone, as all individuals must face these
challenges when they move abroad.
Here are some of the challenges that people face when settling in a foreign country:

Challenge 1 - Having a Hard Time Fitting In

Learning a new language can be difficult, learning the new culture can be even more
challenging. Every country has its own customs and traditions. No matter where you are, it’s
important to respect the local culture and follow it.
When an individual is planning to move abroad, they must research about the customs of that
country before moving there. It is very important to have a basic understanding of the cultural
norms before you arrive.
If you are moving to a new office, you should ask your boss if there is anything specific you
should do to prepare for the new role. It will be easier to adjust into a new job if you have an
idea of what to expect.
Once you have arrived, one can connect with other expats. They can be a great source of
information. Other expats can help you navigate the landscape and provide cultural insight.
If your company employs other expats, ask them for advice so you can learn from their
experiences.
Challenge 2 - Struggling with The Language Barrier
Unless you’re fluent in the language before you move, you can expect the language barrier to
be a challenge. You’ll need to learn the language if you want to fit in.
Challenge 3 - Housing
Navigating your way through a housing market in an unfamiliar city can be difficult. One
should ask other expats for any advice they may have and seek out resources to help you
through the process.
Challenge 4 - Problems in Money Management
When it comes to personal finance most foreigners will face challenges. Taxes, retirement
benefits, you’ll need to know how this will impact your finances.
It can seem overwhelming to figure out the details, so do as much research as you can before
you move. If you move to your new home with an understanding of how it will affect you
financially, it will be easier to adjust once you’re there.
Challenge 5 - Feeling Lonely
Foreigners will feel lonely by living in another country and when they don’t stay in one place
long enough to form lasting friendships, it can often feel lonely.
The first few weeks in an unfamiliar location are usually the most challenging. But it can also
be one of the most exciting times in life.
When you’re living in a foreign country, it’s essential to form relationships. Look for events
and activities that you’re passionate about. Try to bond with people that share a common
interest with you. Foreigners should discover a new passion or hobby in the process.
Adjusting to life as an expat can be tough. Prepare yourself and learn about the local culture
before you move.
Learn the language and explore activities and opportunities to make new friends.
Give yourself some time to adjust and prepare yourself to fit into a new culture. If you
embrace your discomfort and face your issues, you’ll easily adjust into the new culture.
Challenge 6 - Saying goodbye to friends and family back at home
It goes without saying that moving to another country means being unable to see much of
your friends and family back at home. True, WhatsApp and Facebook have made it a lot
easier to stay in touch. But it doesn’t replace going out for drinks with your friends, being
there for the birth of your niece, or giving your grandmother a hug.
Moments like these are the ones that make expats feel the most homesick and the reason for
poor mental health of expats. And while just over a year ago one could easily hop on a plane
and land in their home country hours later, this is no longer feasible due to the COVID-19
pandemic. Between testing requirements, mandatory quarantine, and the risk of getting
infected, the distance between expats and their friends and family back at home certainly
feels more real.
Challenge 7 - Adapting to a new business culture and work environment
There can be several business cultural shocks and new work environments that expats will
need to get to grips with such as:
  Level of formality and seniority required in the workplace, which will impact the
interaction between colleagues and between employees and their bosses
 Appropriate workplace attire
 Attitudes to arriving at a meeting late
 Gift-giving etiquette in the workplace, which will impact whether you should give
gifts (and if so, what kinds of gifts), as well as how to react when receiving a gift
Challenge 8 - Getting access to healthcare and health insurance
Living abroad also comes with the challenge of trying to navigate the local healthcare system.
Expats will need to consider two main questions: First, does the country have a good public
healthcare system? We’re talking about quality healthcare, without long wait times. Second,
do expats have access to the same level of care as locals? Even if the answer is yes for both
(which can be quite rare), there may be issue of language barrier.
The solution to this problem is easy: a private health insurance plan. While many expats may
already have a group health insurance plan from their company, the plan may not be
comprehensive enough. As such, expats are highly advised to investigate securing their own
health insurance plan – especially an international health insurance plan, as it’s compatible
with the expat lifestyle.
Challenge 9 - Expat spouse may not be allowed to work on a dependent visa
One should check the details of their visa and what your spouse can and can’t do. Some
countries allow them to work on the visa, some countries will require them to get additional
approval to work (though this tends to be easier than securing a work visa), and some outright
ban them from working on a dependent visa.
If the case is that your spouse can’t work on a dependent visa and is unable to secure a work
visa on their own, then they’ll need to make sacrifices in terms of their career, and you’ll also
need to account for the loss of income. However, there may be other things they could do
with their time such as freelance work and volunteer work.
Challenge 10 - Expat children may struggle to settle into a new school and country
Similarly, things also get much harder with children. You’ll need to find a good school for
them. Chances are, they’ll need to go to an international school (especially if English isn’t the
language of instruction at local schools) as this will ensure that they are in the position to
relocate back home or to another country, with minimal disruptions in their education.
Going to an international school will also help children settle into their new country, though
there could still be challenges. For starters, expat parents will need to know how to raise
multicultural kids. This is because their children may end up spending their early years in a
foreign country and may struggle with their own culture, facing an identity crisis into
adulthood.
Challenge 11 - Expat families may lack a childcare support network
If expat families need a helping hand looking after their children, they may also find that they
lack a childcare support network. They tend to miss out on grandparents and aunts and uncles
as babysitters. This is especially handy during the summer months when kids have long
holidays.
Of course, they could make their own childcare support network abroad with other expat
parents – especially if they’ve lived in the country long enough. But that doesn’t change the
fact that their kids are away from their extended family. Kids grow up fast and distance could
affect bonds.
Challenge 12 - Finding a job
If you haven’t moved abroad as a result of a job, then finding a job could be another
challenge that you could face depending on the role that you are looking for and the
destination that you are moving to.
Not all countries provide high level of information, and some are certainly easier to
immigrate to than others. While not strictly necessary for all common immigration
destinations, we always recommend that one should have a job in place before moving
overseas. Securing a job offer or sponsor prior to moving is one of the biggest obstacles you
will likely face but doing so will help to ensure your financial security and peace of mind.
Challenge 13 - Finding your favourite foods from home
You may be very excited about living in another country that provides a different kind of
cuisine to what you are used to. However, this also comes with the issue of potentially
missing the foods from your old life and being unable to purchase in the country that you
have moved to.
Fortunately, globalisation has made once-elusive food and drink items more easily accessible
abroad, especially in countries where e-commerce is well-established. Moving to countries
with large ex-pat communities also increases the likelihood of being able to get your hands
on your favourite foods and drinks. In fact, you may find new favourites as you try foods and
drinks native to other foreign countries as well as your new home.