The LGs Share Their Tips For Moving Abroad

Move when the time feels right. I’d been living in London for six years, loved it and always thought I’d end up back there. But I knew it was just the right time to move abroad. Loads of my friends were doing it, I wasn’t tied down by a relationship or a house and work-wise, it felt like the perfect moment to take a break. It was really a ‘now-or-never’ kind of decision.

Choose a destination based on opportunity and affordability. I’m studying for a master’s degree and that was a big factor in my decision. I needed to be somewhere English-speaking but honestly, cost of living also played a huge role. The South African rand is much weaker against the pound, which made it more affordable. Plus, South Africa had been popping up on my Instagram feed a lot and I was intrigued. It was a bit of a risk but everything I’d heard was positive – especially about the Western Cape. So I went for it.

Prepare financially and research the essentials. For about a year before I moved, I saved up to prepare for both the living costs and the course fees. I didn’t do a huge amount of research on South Africa itself, just mostly about the university and the lifestyle there. I didn’t know anyone in South Africa at all, so I spoke to a few colleagues who’d been there before and they’d all loved it. 

Face your fears and expect to face the unknown. South Africa’s reputation for poor safety was definitely on my mind. But when I arrived in Stellenbosch, I found it was actually regarded as one of the safest places in the country. Of course, you still have to be cautious but it wasn’t as bad as I’d expected. I was also worried about the usual things – whether I’d like the course, make friends and adjust to everything. But really, those are just standard fears.

Embrace the challenges. It was very hot when I arrived – February is one of the warmest months and I actually saw people fainting in the streets. That was a challenge. Also, when you move, you can’t bring everything with you, so you end up needing to buy a lot of stuff. I stayed with eight other international students for the first six months and that was amazing for getting to know South Africa and the people. But when they all left and I moved in with South Africans, I started noticing cultural differences. South Africa is still quite conservative and religious, especially in my area. And of course, there’s still racial segregation, which is something I have found hard to get used to. It’s something people don’t always talk about, but it’s definitely present.