Relocating to a new country can be both an exciting and a nerve-wracking experience. There are many factors to consider, from visa requirements to finding a new home and getting accustomed to the weather conditions. It is a challenging task that requires a lot of planning and preparation. However, sometimes even the best-laid plans can go awry, leaving you stranded and stressed. This is the story of an IT professional’s international relocation from India to Canada, where everything that could go wrong did. When the mobility team of your new company messes up with the planning, the transition can become a nightmare. In this blog, let’s discuss how to survive an international relocation, with a sneap-peak of the struggles faced by this individual during the smooth transition.
Our protagonist was excited to move to Canada for his new job. He had made a checklist of things he needed to do before his travel, such as arranging a visa and documents for immigration, foreign exchange, hotel accommodation, and packing winter clothes. The new company’s mobility team booked flight tickets and assured a smooth transition experience, including destination services like Airport pick-up, orientation to the new city, assistance with setting up a bank account, obtaining Social Insurance Number, provincial healthcare, and Home Search Assistance. He felt confident as he crossed off everything on the checklist, and the rest would be taken care by the mobility team. The day before the journey, he tried reaching out to the mobility team for contact details of the destination services partner, and he was told that there was a change in the plan and destination services would not be provided. He was beyond shocked and tried escalating this issue, but it was too late at that point.
Bidding farewell at the Airport is an emotional moment when moving to a new country. It can be tricky to leave behind family and friends, and the uncertainty of what lies ahead can be daunting. The goodbye hugs, tears, and promises to keep in touch can make the departure even more emotional. It is a reminder of the significant change that is about to happen and can be overwhelming. However, it is also an opportunity to start a new chapter, explore new prospects, and embrace a new culture. Saying goodbye at the airport is not easy, but it’s a necessary step in the relocation process. To add to the woes, the connecting flight was canceled due to bad weather conditions, leaving him stranded at Delhi Airport for hours. The mobility team of his new company did not respond to his calls or messages, leaving him feeling helpless and unaided.
While waiting for the airline staff to show up at Airport for assistance, a new mail with an alternate travel route via New York pops up. He tried convincing the travel support team that this would not be feasible as he doesn’t have a US Transit Visa. This confusion added a lot of stress and anxiety to an already nerve-wracking situation. After an hour, the airline assistance team showed up, and after a couple of back-and-forth discussions, he booked the same flight for the next day. The airline group provided accommodation for the night, and he convinced his worrisome family that things were alright. On the side, he contacted his teammates, who helped him calm down and sleep peacefully.
The next day, hotel management was not mindful of the flight timings and messed up with the transportation to the airport. Time was running out, and the luggage wasn’t fitting in the bus which had all the passengers. Additionally, Uber taxis were required to carry the left-out passengers alongside their luggage. This mismanagement caused a significant delay in reaching the airport. By the time passengers reached the airport, it was closing time for check-in and immigration. Our protagonist rushed to the check-in counter only to find that his winter jacket was left behind on the bus. He tried contacting the hotel to hold onto it till one of his friends walks-in to collect it in person, but they were unresponsive and elusive. He had to board the flight without a winter jacket bearing the anxiety of landing in the extreme Canadian winter.
Things didn’t get any better once he landed in Canada. Coming from a tropical-climactic hometown, the Canadian winter is definitely a challenge, and without a winter jacket, which is essential for the winter, it was a tricky game. Figuring out things on your own in a new country is undoubtedly overwhelming. Buying a new winter jacket, getting a phone plan, obtaining SIN/Health Card, opening a Canadian bank account, and finding a long-term accommodation facility are some of the basic things one has to sort out after landing in Canada. These are all critical aspects of settling in a new country, and the lack of support made the process much harder.
The next step was to navigate the new city and culture, understand the Canadian tax and healthcare system, and significantly, make friends and socialize. All of these take plenty of time and energy, leaving anyone exhausted and stressed. Merely overcoming challenges is part of the journey, and tough times are vital in building a strong mentality.
In conclusion, relocating to a new country is a significant undertaking, and it’s essential to plan & prepare well. However, sometimes things can go wrong, and it’s crucial to have a contingency plan in place. If you are planning to relocate to a new country, make sure to do your research, plan things in advance, and have a backup plan in case things go wrong. This will help you avoid the stress and anxiety, that come with a poorly executed relocation. Don’t assume that everything will go smoothly, and be prepared to face challenges and obstacles along the way. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to speak up and advocate for yourself if things are not going as planned.
