When moving overseas do not forget you also need a social life!

There is an interesting post in the Egyptian sections on the forum from a student who is in the country for a few months but looking to practice karate, football, rugby and basketball in his spare time. This prompts an interesting question about arranging your social life and social activities before you even venture into a foreign land on a long-term basis.

In the rush to arrange a move overseas many people seem to forget that while work or perhaps retirement is their main reasons for moving they also need to accommodate periods of relaxation and a social life. If you are working overseas for any length of time it is actually unhealthy to be working 24 hours a day seven days a week without a break for periods of fun and laughter. While many people are prepared to “put their heads down” and work exclusively when they are overseas there can be a detrimental effect on their productivity.

Expat community

Each and every country in the world is highly likely to have an expat community which you can appreciate and mingle with. How often do you see people from your homeland while on holiday and very quickly they become “your best friend”?

While at home if you were to see a stranger in the street you may not even acknowledge their existence, it is often so different in a foreign land if we see somebody from our homeland. Expat communities are very useful if you require assistance or advice on any aspect of local life although in some ways they can shield you from a more genuine experience of the country you are in.

Social activities

Many expat communities will have either pubs or clubs where you can visit and mix with new friends or else they may also arrange a number of sporting activities such as those mentioned in the original post. There is also the fact that as more and more people move overseas this can induce a local interest in “foreign sports” such as karate, football, rugby and basketball which historically may not have been as popular in the region. The bottom line is, if you do not ask and put yourself around you will never find out exactly what is going on possibly under your nose.

Socialising does not have to cost big money

Many people who move overseas for work in particular often feel guilty if they spend money socialising when they are supposed to be building up a nest egg for themselves or their families. However, socialising does not always need to cost big money and there are many sites to visit and experiences which will literally cost you nothing but take you away from your working life and give you a break for a short time. Working every hour you can will eventually demoralise and exhaust you which can then place more pressure on you at the time when you need to be relaxed and focused.

Conclusion

All work and no play can make you a very boring and potentially stressed person!

Tagged as: Egypt, social life