Country Guides April 14, 2022

Be Prepared for Moving to a Big City – Here’s What to Expect

Steven Rogers

Apart from sharing Captain America's name, our freelance writer Steven is also a big fan of moving, history, and geography.

Moving to a big city from a smaller town brings a huge change in lifestyle, especially when moving internationally. Life in the big city is different. It is natural there is anxiety involved when leaving the place where you have spent a significant portion of your life and where you feel comfortable.

But that is exactly why relocating to a new, bigger location is a great decision to make. You’re going to have to step out of your comfort zone and show independence and self-reliability. There are many great reasons to live in a big city, and people usually come out as better individuals from this experience.

We Know That Moving to a Big City May Feel Scary at First

It is completely understandable to feel anxious when relocating to another bigger location, particularly when moving abroad. A lot of people have gone through this, and you should take full advantage of past experiences when going to live overseas. Here’s what we’ll deal with:

  • What emotional and psychological challenges await you,
  • How to adjust to the different environments,
  • What to do if you are relocating without a job.

When relocating across the world, it is important to be equipped with the right knowledge. Therefore, knowing how to move to a big city alone will be quite useful if you are in such a situation.

Moving to Another Country? Free Estimate

A New and Unknown Experience Like This Can Be Emotionally Tough in the Beginning

If the decision to relocate abroad alone has been made, you have to come to terms with the fact that you’re going away from your family and friends. A different environment means that you’re going to be surrounded by unfamiliar people. During the first week or so, there probably will not be much time and space for socializing as there will be a lot of home arrangements.

Hence, you should take advantage of numerous available communication applications and stay in touch with friends and family during this period. You may feel homesick and lonely, especially at the beginning of your overseas life. However, there is no reason to suppress these emotions. A pleasant conversation with your loved ones will always be reassuring.

Don’t Be Afraid to Meet People in the New City

Populous areas and diverse communities are two hallmarks of all large cities. If you are an outgoing person, there probably will not be much problem establishing friendly relationships. On the other hand, if you are more on the introverted side, a bit more effort will have to be invested in this department, but look at it as a challenge for self-improvement.

One way or another, there is no reason to be afraid. After all, we are sociable creatures. Wherever you choose to go, foreign countries are generally friendly. With a positive attitude, you will be accepted in no time, and there are plenty of places where friendships can be established. Starting from your neighbors, then on to the workplace or educational facilities, to various organizations that you may become part of, be prepared to meet a plethora of different individuals.

When Moving Overseas to a Large Town, You’re Going to a Different and Diverse Cultural Environment

You may feel apprehensive about the well-known culture shock. True, there is going to be a period of adjustment to a different country, but that is a completely normal part of adaptation. Address this issue from the following standpoint: When going to live abroad, you’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in a different culture and learn a new language. Very few get such an opportunity in their lifetime.

Do Research Before the Relocation

Luckily for us, we have the internet. It is a great idea to learn all that you can about the place that you are relocating to. Things like the cost of living, public transportation, and neighborhoods should all be taken into consideration before any final decision is made. Although this is not mandatory, coming unprepared to a big town can feel overwhelming.

Photo of a monitor
If you want to alleviate the impact of culture shock, do research

Living in a Large City Entails Major Changes in a Person’s Lifestyle

We cannot deny the fact that small towns have some advantages, especially when it comes to organizing your daily schedule. You have certainly grown accustomed to taking a ten-minute walk to your workplace or a quick visit to the bank to pay bills during lunch break. Organizing a schedule is not so difficult in a small town.

However, in a metropolitan area, the story is different. Depending on the location of your office or school, commuting alone can be quite lengthy. Therefore, if punctuality is not one of your strongest points, there will be plenty of time to correct that. Knowing how to organize your day is extremely important in large cities.

You’ll Have to Learn How to Organize Your Budget

We are not assuming that you are wasteful with money. However, in a small community, there are not that many places where you can spend money. You’ll suddenly find yourself in an environment filled with shopping malls, bars, restaurants, and whatnot. No matter how comfortable the cost of living feels, squandering your monthly income has never been easier in a metropolis.

Be Open to Adopting Different Beneficial Habits

We have already mentioned that you will come in contact with all sorts of individuals. Like you, the chances that a lot of them have also migrated are high. This means that there will be a lot of different viewpoints, habits, and practices. Be open-minded at all times and pick up anything that may be beneficial. But also, keep in mind that you will have the opportunity to share your culture and habits as well.

There Will Be a Lot of Exploring

We are aware of how convenient smaller places can be. Being able to go from one side of the town to another in fifteen minutes is awesome. However, in a metropolitan area, things will be much different. It may happen that your new neighborhood is larger and more populated than your entire hometown (just to illustrate what the difference can be).

Naturally, you will want to find your way around as quickly as possible. For a start, it is great to meet your close neighbors. They can provide you with all the information like the nearest and most affordable supermarkets and other services. Furthermore, this is a great way to break the language barrier. Also, the good idea is to contact the expat community before relocation and ask them anything that might interest you.

Public Transportation Is a Great Way to Explore the New Environment

Large cities usually have well-developed public transportation systems. It is a great idea to venture out one day, buy a bus or a trolley ticket, sit down, and enjoy the sights. By doing this, you’ll easily learn where all the important places are. But you’ll also get the idea of the time needed to get to the post office, for example. Thus, a daily schedule can be made.

It Is Certainly Best to Explore the Area With a Car

With a car, everything is more convenient. You’ll have the luxury of choosing when to begin exploring and where. However, another important issue arises here – namely, the overseas shipment of your vehicle. Here, it is best to hire international movers as they can provide you with the service of overseas vehicle shipping.

Photo of an SUV
Having a car in a metropolitan area is exceptionally convenient

Exciting Career Prospects Await You in Metropolitan Areas

Often, a person relocates because their employer has offered them a position in a foreign office. If that is your situation, there is nothing much to worry about. Be prepared to meet different colleagues from whom you can learn different approaches to your work. But also, you’ll have the chance to present your own methods. Nonetheless, the opportunity to climb the career ladder is ample.

If You Are Thinking About Changing Your Career, Metropolitan Areas Are Ideal for You

Let us be frank. Smaller places are not ideal if you desire to change your career path and break the monotony that is often the main reason for doing so. However, in a metropolitan area, things are different. There will be many opportunities, regardless of what you choose as your new path. Automatically, confidence will be much higher.

A man and woman shaking hands
Employment opportunities will not lack in metropolitan areas

Relocating Without a Job Is Absolutely Manageable

At first, the thought of relocating without employment is surely frightening. However, you just have to be active. Metropolitan areas always have plenty of job openings. The only thing that needs to be done is to follow ads and contact employers whenever you find something that suits your personal interests.

Luckily, everything can be done via the internet here as well. It is a good idea to find a local newspaper that publishes in the English language, and bigger cities are bound to have at least a few such newspapers. There, you will probably find a lot of work offers from various employers. Finally, looking for employment should be at the top of your priority list, so start looking long before the actual relocation.

Do Not Be Afraid of Bridge Jobs

We understand that bridge jobs are not ideal. After all, we would all like to work in our professional fields and develop careers. Sometimes, it happens that a person cannot immediately find the desired employment. But that is not the end of the world. Larger towns have a lot of bridge jobs to offer at any time, and there is nothing wrong with getting temporary employment. Opportunities will certainly arise, and here is a useful video on how to start looking for jobs online.

Professional Movers Can Help a Lot in This Situation

Relocating abroad checklists are usually quite long. You’ll have to invest a lot of time and effort in preparing your home possessions for transportation. Therefore, having professional packing services can make your move much more efficient. Moreover, appropriate storage services will be available as well, and you will not have to worry about your belongings getting damaged.

By having an international moving company relocate your belongings, you’ll have much more time to dedicate to other issues, such as the research that we have mentioned above. Relocation is by no means a simple task. You will have to know how to appropriately pack everything, from fragile items to pieces of furniture.

Two movers carrying boxes
Professional movers can make a huge difference, especially when relocating overseas

Living in a Metropolitan Area Is Overall a Beneficial Experience

As you have been able to read, there are many good reasons to move to a larger and more populated area. Whether you choose to live somewhere in Europe or in Asia, the challenges will be pretty similar. Finally, you can never know whether such a lifestyle will be suitable unless you actually try it. There is always the possibility of going back to your old home, and that is completely understandable. Not everyone finds life in a metropolitan area better. But, as an experience, it can really be beneficial to your self-improvement.

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