House purchased, check. Moved in, check. Belongings arrived at your new destination, check. So what now? Once the move is over and you begin the reality of your new life abroad, it can all suddenly become very daunting. Don’t panic!

Now all you need to do is sort out all the little things that can easily be forgotten about until they become needed. Things such as your new land line and internet connection, talk to neighbours if possible, to find out which is the best provider. It is always a good idea to ask lots of people for recommendations and start to build up a clear idea of who to use and who to steer clear of.

Gaining a feel for the local community by taking part in activities, classes and generally being talkative and friendly will help you greatly to understand the local people, culture and way of life. Try your best to always accept any invitations to social gatherings, even if it is just dinner at neighbours, as there are bound to be other people there that you can get to know. The more you do this, the more you will feel a part of the community and are less likely to feel isolated. Researching on local customs/traditions/dos and don’ts will give you a helping hand in avoiding any social faux pas, especially if you have moved to a particularly religious or traditional area.

If you have taken children with you, try to get to know some of the other parents at the school, and encourage your children to have friends over after school. This is a quick and easy way for you to get chatting to parents and it will also help with your child’s confidence. Joining in local activities such as walking or joining the gym is a great way to get to know people. You will start to recognise faces and saying ‘hi’ can lead to a brand new friendship.

If you are retired but feel that you would like to give something back to your new community, how about volunteering? Search local papers and magazines for charity work, or again, talk with the locals and see what they do to fill their days. You could even try your hand at some volunteer work if you are looking for a job. It will look really good on your CV and may also provide you with experiences you may not have the opportunity to do otherwise.

Don’t be afraid of meeting new people, generally foreigners are more than welcoming. If there is a potential language barrier, always try to speak their language; it won’t matter if you get it wrong, they can see you are trying and that will count for a lot more than expecting them to speak English.