You’ve packed your bags and said your farewell. You have a job, a work visa and a place to stay (or so you thought). Nothing left to do but board that big-old 747 and head towards the unknown!

Exhilarating. Daunting. A little bit of both. Photo credit - yetto.

Living in a foreign country can be an experience both exhilarating an daunting. And if you’re heading to a developing country, that view would tend to skew towards the negative. Malaria? Kidnappers? Dengue? Just a few of the many things you need to beware of! Here are some tips to help you enjoy your stay on your quest to experience the world.

Preparation

Keep your passport safe at all times! Photo credit - leon~.

1. Plan and Budget

Prepare a well-laid plan before you embark on your travel journey. How long will you be staying? What will you be doing? Where else will you be traveling, and when? How much will you be spending? This helps you keep to your budget, and you’ll be less likely to run out of money during your stay.

2. Prepare an Information Card

Have a small note card with your personal information, along with your address, phone and country of origin, and have it with you at all times. Just in case you get too drunk, or passed out from tiredness having explored too much too soon.

3. Keep Your Passport Safe, and Your Permit with You

When you’re abroad, your passport is the single most important document that you must not lose. Keep it safe at home. Don’t carry it around. Your working permit however, is another thing altogether. Keep that with you at all times, as some countries can be quite strict when requesting for identifications.

4. Talk to a Doctor

Several developing countries may have various diseases, viruses and infections that may not be present in your home country. Talk to your doctor and find out whatever extra precautions and information that you may need. Get injections ahead of time and make sure you are protected.

5. Know Your Food & Drinks

Plenty of developing countries serves delicacies that may just be your newest favorite food. But take extra measures when embarking on these culinary adventures. Don’t take things for granted. The tap water in most developing countries are not drinkable.

Getting Around

Always good to have a map with you. Photo credit - Ed Yourdon.

6. Local Numbers

One of the first things you should find out when reaching a new country is the local numbers for emergency (police and or hospital) and information. Find out as well the number of your country’s embassy and its (usually) toll-free help line.

7. Get a Map

One of the first things you need in a foreign country. Ask around when you are lost and in need of direction, but keep a map with you to confirm the direction. Some locals may not be able to speak English and help you out, and some others may just not bother!

8. Learn the Language

Basic courtesy. Try to have a general knowledge of the local language, after all, you are planning to stay here for a good few months. Pick up a rough guide book or grab a listening CD. Practicing with the locals is also a great way to get to know them better.

9. Befriend a Local

Local knowledge and help are absolutely invaluable to foreigners living in a foreign country. Better yet, the locals can help you get the best deals for room and board, show you the unique places to visit, the tastiest restaurants and many more. Incidentally, the easiest way to befriend a local is to simply find room for rent, as opposed to a whole house. You’ll most likely find a local family with an extra unwanted room. Or you can try staying in the student hostels as well.

10. Local Cultures

It pays to know a local who can guide you in the know-how of the country. You can find out what are the local cultures and traditions that you should know before you end up offending some of the locals, or even worse, getting in trouble with the authorities. In Dubai for example, it is forbidden to hold hands between couple. In some states in Malaysia, kissing (and even pecking) in public is not allowed. These extreme restrictions are few and rare in between, but you should know about them before hand.

11. Religious Taboo

Similar to above, you should find out as much as you can about the major religious taboos that exists in the country you are visiting. In India for example, slaughtering a cow is forbidden, because of their religious belief which holds cows as sacred. In Indonesia, Malaysia and many other Muslim countries, you should refrain from sharing that beef jerky with your host – it’s most probably not Halal.

And Finally…

You're gonna stand out. Better get used to it. Photo credit - televiseus.

12. Keep an Open Mind

You’re about to stay in a brand new country for a good few months. So don’t balk at the local cultures or traditions and stubbornly keep to the way you do things. There is a reason the locals does it their way, and you’re most probably better off following suit. Be adventurous, but be wary as well.

13. Soak Up the Pressure/Limelight

As a foreigner, you’re (most probably) going to stick out like a sore thumb. This may put you at ease, or give you untold misery. Brush off these gawking stares as simple curiosity. Just as you are intrigued by this foreign land and culture, thats how they feel about the 6-feet tall blonde-haired monstrosity that is you.

14. Keep in Touch

Update your blog, upload your photos, call back home regularly to just let your family and friends know how you are doing. Share with them what trip or activities you are planning to do, and let them know that you’ll be getting back in touch in the next day or two. That way, they will know to expect your call, and can raise the appropriate alarms should that call doesn’t get through.

15. Get-Out-of-Jail Card

Just in case things didn’t turn out for the better, ensure you are able to get back home if you suddenly need to. This can be in the form of an emergency fund stashes away, or an open air-ticket back home, or even a distant relative staying nearby that can bail you out from whatever it is you have gotten yourself into.