rips may be quite different to the meals that you find yourself eating when you're shopping and cooking for yourself in your new home.

But these problems are minor when compared to adjusting mentally to living in what is very often not only a differe

Sitting at home and picturing yourself with a new life in a new country it is very easy to paint a very rosy picture, but how does this compare to the reality once you've made the move? Well, the answer of course is a little like asking how long a piece of string is.

The biggest problem is that there are so many variables in the equation and so many factors which are simply unknown. It's easy, for example, to say that you're not worried about the fact that you don't speak the language, believing that in the short term you'll probably be able to get by in your mother tongue and that in the long term you'll be able to pick up enough of the language. But just how good are you at learning languages and how easy is it to pick up the language of your chosen country?

By the same token you may well be looking forward to all that exotic food, but just how will a long term change in your diet agree with you and your health? All that wonderful high quality restaurant food that you've been used to on holiday trips may be quite different to the meals that you find yourself eating when you're shopping and cooking for yourself in your new home.

But these problems are minor when compared to adjusting mentally to living in what is very often not only a differen

string is.

The biggest problem is that there are so many variables in the equation and so many factors which are simply unknown. It's easy, for example, to say that you're not worried about the fact that you don't speak the language, believing that in the short term you'll probably be able to get by in your mother tongue and that in the long term you'll be able to pick up enough of the language. But just how good are you at learning languages and how easy is it to pick up the language of your chosen country?

By the same token you may well be looking forward to all that exotic food, but just how will a long term change in your diet agree with you and your health? All that wonderful high quality restaurant food that you've been used to on holiday trips may be quite different to the meals that you find yourself eating when you're shopping and cooking for yourself in your new home.

But these problems are minor when compared to adjusting mentally to living in what is very often not only a differe

in the short term you'll probably be able to get by in your mother tongue and that in the long term you'll be able to pick up enough of the language. But just how good are you at learning languages and how easy is it to pick up the language of your chosen country?

By the same token you may well be looking forward to all that exotic food, but just how will a long term change in your diet agree with you and your health? All that wonderful high quality restaurant food that you've been used to on holiday trips may be quite different to the meals that you find yourself eating when you're shopping and cooking for yourself in your new home.

But these problems are minor when compared to adjusting mentally to living in what is very often not only a differe

ountry?

By the same token you may well be looking forward to all that exotic food, but just how will a long term change in your diet agree with you and your health? All that wonderful high quality restaurant food that you've been used to on holiday trips may be quite different to the meals that you find yourself eating when you're shopping and cooking for yourself in your new home.

But these problems are minor when compared to adjusting mentally to living in what is very often not only a differe

rips may be quite different to the meals that you find yourself eating when you're shopping and cooking for yourself in your new home.

But these problems are minor when compared to adjusting mentally to living in what is very often not only a different country, but a very different society and culture. Many of those things which you have found curious or fascinating during short holiday visits may prove quite difficult to adjust to when they become a part of your everyday life.

If you look carefully at many countries with a substantial expatriate community you will often find that the community has developed a substantial support network, often including an expat club which holds regular meetings, organizes outings and events, publishes its own newspaper and much more. Indeed, you will often find than many expat lives revolve around the expat club and its activities, which might lead you to ask why these people have moved to a new country.

The truth in many cases is that, once the novelty wears off, many expats regret their decision but have cut off their retreat so that they now have no choice but to stay put and make the best of their situation.

Now, before you find yourself thinking that this chap clearly falls into the 'not so happy'