How to Get to Know Your New Area/Town

By InternationalMovers.com

Congratulations on your exciting move abroad. Once your international movers have left there will be a lot of things to sort through. It isn't easy to adjust to a new place – especially when you have to settle-in to a new country. Although there isn't exactly a proven method to adjusting after a move, there are some useful tips that sure can make moving abroad easy so that you can make the transition and know your area.

Buy a Map and Drive Around.
Driving is great way for you to check out your new town and mark places that are of use to you. But getting lost on your first drive isn't a nice experience, which is why you should first purchase a good map. The driving exercise will help you find grocery and home stores, recreation and entertainment areas like golf clubs and swimming pools, and other useful facilities like car mechanics and hardware stores.

Meet your Neighbors.
Knowing the people in your new neighborhood and being close to them is very important when you move abroad. Use a weekend to visit your neighbors to introduce yourself. If you are a bit shy or don't have the time to visit each neighbor individually, arrange a housewarming party on a Saturday night. This way you can meet all your neighbors in one sitting and will not only introduce yourself, but also strengthen the neighborhood community. Ask your neighbors about the new area and the good places around there. If you don't speak the language, find expat groups or take language courses, which will also help you to get acclimated.

Join Forums and Attend Events.
When you change the location settings on your social networks such as Facebook and Twitter, you will receive invitations to local events and clubs. These events are a great way to become part of the wider community and find people of your interest. The events will also make you familiar with the various venues across the new town, which is helpful if you need to organize or plan an event for your family or company.

Tours and Travels.
Joining tourists on a bus trip is a great way to explore a big city. On average only a small proportion of residents fully enjoy and avail the facilities their city offers. Bus trips are great in giving a thorough overview of the city and its facilities, plus they are also extremely time-efficient. But if you are not particularly fond of bus tours and decide to venture on your own, at least read a few promotional brochures by travel companies in your city.

City Websites.
Most city councils have their own official websites with a full city profile. These websites list the important information about a city as well as where its facilities are. Here you can find all emergency contacts and essential telephone numbers and emails of institutions like hospitals, pest control, local police and the fire-department. The first few weeks in a new place make you feel like a stranger, but helpful tips like these make you utilize these weeks to become part of your new international community that you will eventually call home.