We have just about 2 months left living in Malaysia… I can’t believe how fast time flies. It feels like we moved to KL just yesterday, but it’s already been almost 2 years.
Even for people used to moving between countries frequently, these transition times are always tough. Part of me feels like we’re leaving tomorrow so I shouldn’t buy any groceries or anything I can avoid (this just leads to spending large amounts of money on unnecessary take-out). Another part feels like two months is so long, I just want to get the hassle of moving over with. The biggest part is pretty sad, though. We’ve had such a great time here in KL. Even though I’m sure we will love Bangkok just as much, it’s always sad to leave a place that has become home.
This will be our 4th move in 8 years – not too many for your average expat. I suppose it gets easier every time. So far we’ve learned to:
- Send cancellation notices as early as possible (for a lease, phone contracts, anything that requires a deposit refunded).
- Ship everything. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that it’s cheaper to sell everything and just buy things new at the other end. All those little items add up, and shipping isn’t as expensive as you might think (though it does help that all of our moves have been paid for by the schools I work for).
- Pack your bags before the shippers come to pack up your house. Last time we just kept everything out and got royally screwed when we ended up showing up at the airport with over 160kg of luggage (we only had a 40kg allowance on Austrian Airlines).
- Don’t worry about housing until you get there. Trying to find a home online or over the phone is a nightmare – and, most likely, you won’t end up with exactly what you want (but you’ll see it about a week after you move in, and be kicking yourself for the rest of your time in that country).
- Close your bank accounts and finish any business (including taxes) in country before you leave. No one will be interested in helping you after your gone. And good luck trying to get those taxes back when you’re just a fuzzy memory…
- Be nice to everyone that could have anything to do with your move. And I mean everyone. Despite the frustrations that will inevitably ensue, you can only expect poor service when you get angry and frustrated.
What else should we do to prepare?
You should prepare how to take your leave of good friends and colleagues. The year ends and BOOM! everyone is gone. Those last few weeks of school are crazy, esp. at MKIS with the variety show, graduation and other good things crunched into the last few weeks. You need to start planning how you want to say goodbye to them. Good luck with that part– it always rips at my heart when I try to do it.
Enjoy the rest of your stay in KL and don’t forget the memories you have created in the city 🙂 good luck on you next move!
Heh, we’re only moving a few miles away, but we’re still doing our best to consume the contents of our fridge, freezer, and pantry. Good luck!
Err… Take more pictures? 🙂
Moving tip for anyone with hamsters for pets.
1) In the wild, they hibernate through the winter.
2) Small portable ice box. Enough said.
Nice blog!
Good advice Kimbo, especially on the last point. I can see this one becoming harder and harder as we get closer to our leaving date (unless of course there are far fewer hiccups in leaving than I am expecting) argh.
I love living overseas, but hate, hate, hate that everyone is in a state of transition. People you get close to leave you behind as they begin a wonderful new adventure, and then eventually you end up doing the same thing.
The next couple of months will fly by crazy fast with all those things that are going to hurt my head, organizing shippers, tickets home, tickets to the new destination, selling cars, furniture, etc… but I don’t dread these things as much as I dread the things that are going to hurt my heart. I don’t want to say good-bye. I hate good-byes. And I especially hate the “weirdness” leading up to the good-byes : (
Wow, two months. Yikes. No wonder I’m not sleeping well anymore.
All good advice!
Susan,
It really is so sad. I feel especially bad about leaving this year because all of my colleagues and friends are so fantastic – I couldn’t even hope to have such a wonderful group of people again, it would be just too good…
duke,
Yes! It’s time to enjoy KL to it’s fullest! I almost don’t feel like I’m leaving because we’re just not moving that far, though. I need to pretend like we’re moving halfway across the world again…
Teacher A,
Last time we moved from Munich to KL I actually shipped some non-perishables. How much of a pack-rat am I? I had cans of beans and stuff sent over? Never again, though. Too obsessive, even for me.
Pelf,
You know once I start to feel like I actually live in a place, I hardly ever take any more pictures. Then I move and I totally regret it. I need to get over it. Now.
Ben,
Seriously, where is our benmaarof blog? We need these tidbits all day every day.
Livette,
Why, thank you.
Tam,
EXACTLY!
[…] eight years later, I have learned a thing or two… Now, I use the school’s, often very generous, shipping allowances to send my stuff […]
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