Moving Your Teaching Career Overseas - Driving

I'm sure you're addicted to your car and the convenience of driving everywhere. You shouldn't take for granted that you'll be able to drive legally where ever you end up moving to... or that you'll need to drive at all!

6. International Driver’s License

An international driver’s license is not a new license and doesn’t require you to take a driving test. It’s a document that you use abroad to make your national driver’s license acceptable to foreign officials. An international driver’s license is a little booklet that you hand over with your license when it’s requested.

An international driver's license is a translation of your license into a number of prominent world languages so that officials in other countries can figure out what vehicles your driver’s license permits you to drive.

Even if you don’t intend driving overseas, it’s a good document to have because you never know what the future holds.

Little known and harmless 'sneaky' trick: many tourist places will accept it as deposit ID so you can keep a hold of your passport!

Moving your Teaching Career Overseas - international driver's license

Moving Your Teaching Career Overseas - What if there's an emergency?

It's probably safe to say that you have all your important numbers on-hand, and could easily find them in an emergency. This is something we tend to take for granted in our lives. But when we move our whole life abroad, we can lose sight of the important stuff in among all the minutae of details.

5. Emergency numbers

You probably won't be taking your whole filing cabinet with you when you move overseas, so plan ahead and make a record of the numbers you think you'll need.

You need to take these contact numbers with you, at least:

* A responsible member of your family
* Your bank
* Your credit card company
* Your insurance company
* Your Doctor
* Your travel agent

Now, you can probably find most if not all of this on the internet. But in an emergency, like your wallet being stolen, do you really want the hassle?

Moving Your Teaching Career Overseas - emergency contact details

Moving your teaching career overseas - vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate!

If you've been living in a developed country all your life, you have probably been innoculated against TB, Polio, Tetanus, etc. But are your vaccinations up-to-date? When was the last time you had, say, an Oral Polio Booster?

4. Vaccinations and a vaccination certificate

You are going to be living and working abroad, which means that you’ll be exposed to all sorts of new organisms. Check with your doctor or with a travel clinic to see what vaccinations are recommended for the country to which you’re moving and be sure to let them know that you’ll be living there long term rather than just going on holiday for a week or two. If you’re traveling to Thailand for a holiday the recommended vaccinations are different to the ones recommended if you’re staying here a while.

Get a vaccination certificate to prove what vaccinations you’ve had and ask your health professional to make a note of when you’ll need to get any booster shots. Many vaccinations are good for a number of years, but some need a series of shots before you are covered for any appreciable length of time.

If you've got kids and you're moving to Asia, think about getting them vaccinated against Rabies. There are a huge number of dogs and cats living on the streets and I know of two children that have been bitten and had to be innoculated later (not that the animals are rabid, but you never know when you'll come across a carrier!)

Moving your teaching career overseas - vaccinations

You can't afford to leave your medical records at home when you are moving your teaching career overseas

Even if you're as healthy as a horse, you still need to take your medical records with you when you take up your teaching post overseas.

Why? Because it gives any physician treating you for the first time a head start... Be prepared as Sir Baden Powell would say:

3. Medical records and adequate supplies of medications

Anyone in your family that has an ongoing medical condition should request a copy of their medical records. For your children you should have or get a copy of their vaccination record.

Additionally, take a two month supply, at least, of your regular medications with you. This will give you plenty of time to check out the provision of medical services in your new country and to find and register with a new doctor.

FYI...

Some medications are sold under alternative brand names in different countries. It took me ages to figure out that Tylenol was the American brand name for paracetamol. Ask your doctor for alternative names for your regular medications before you leave home.

Moving your teaching career overseas - doctors and nurses

There are some things that you can't afford to leave at home when you are moving your teaching career overseas

Going abroad is exciting, but when you're moving your whole life abroad for a considerable number of months, there are some things you can't afford to leave at home, under any circumstances.

This is the second installment of my 'Moving On Out – Top Ten Things To Take With You When You Move To Your New Teaching Job Abroad' series.

2. Original documents that prove who you are and what you know

Government departments don’t tend to accept copies of foreign identification or certification documents. Ensure that you take all your original documentation. If you don’t have it, then get it.

It’s always good to leave a copy at home with someone responsible too, either with a family member, a lawyer or in a safety deposit box, so if you can, get duplicate originals. An extra set is insurance against theft, fire or natural disaster and makes good sense.

My parents have a file in their filing cabinet with all my important documents, including my will.

You’ll need:
* Birth certificate
* Marriage certificate
* Police clearance certificate
* Degree certificates
* Your will
* Teacher certification
* Recommendation letters

Moving your teaching career overseas