The poor state of affairs in the US job market seems to be compelling many to look abroad, and secure jobs abroad. If you’re working for a large corporation, congratulations. You’ll have it easy as the hassle of visas, finding temporary accommodations and permanent dwellings will be handled for you. If you’re working for a startup, welcome to the club! You get the joy of doing most, if not all of it, yourself.
Either way, you’ll soon discover that the Internet may be universal, but devices, services, etc. are not. Netflix. iTunes. App stores. ISPs. Cable providers. They are different and governed by a different set of rules. Brace yourself. The rules have a tendency to make sense.
I’ve found these to be technological necessities so far:
- Unblock-Us. When you’re wallowing in confusion and despair over the big change you just made for reasons you don’t remember, it’ll be comforting to log into your US Netflix account and watch Frasier episodes, if for no other reason than to laugh for awhile. And you’ll be able to log into your US iTunes account and download the latest episode of something that yet available on Netflix. Such small comforts are not to be taken for granted, nor left behind at the border.
- Google Voice account and paid Skype account. If you don’t have them already, get them. Both will be invaluable to you for calling home, or anyone you know back in the States. And they are a heck of a lot cheaper than even “international calling” on your new local carrier. I’ve set my Skype account to display my Google Voice number. Whenever I call using Skype, which is often, family and friends answer because my Google Voice number has been programmed into their phones. If I’m at my computer, I can easily call and text people from Google Voice, and people can call me. It’s a local US number, so a local call for them, saving them money as well.
- Cell Phone in new Native Country. I know it seems like a no brainer, but you’ll be tempted to live off WiFi of your US phone if, for no other reason, that the phone itself is familiar. You already know its quirks, its feels and best position for talking. You may also not have the funds just yet to purchase a new phone and corresponding plan. So, shop around for cell phone plans. In Canada, they don’t have an “unlimited data” option, but there are often promotions and it’s worth checking those out and taking advantage of the one you like best. For me, I checked all the carriers out. Rogers. Telus. Fido. I was steered away from Rogers as I couldn’t find someone who had anything good to say about their cellular service, or their customer service. Fido seemed to limiting, too many add ons to get what I wanted. Telus had a promotion on that suited my needs, and even when the promotion ends, it’s still the better deal.
- A TV and game system. Lame? Perhaps. But after you spend the first three months watching your US Netflix off your laptop, a TV is most inviting. And since you’re in a new country where you most likely know no one, a game system is a good ice breaker. Invite people over, or rent some games to learn how to play so you can participate at someone else’s house. It’s a good “in” too, as gamers love to share their favorite games and, if you’re a newbie, are also often happy to let you borrow them. And that means you’ll have to meetup again to exchange games.
- Extension Cords. They make a big difference in positioning your electronics. If you’ve got ones you like from your home in the States, bring them, along with surge protectors you like. They’re not quite the same in Canada, and you may have to do some hunting to find good ones. Best to save yourself a step or three and bring them from home. Just pack’em in your checked luggage and you should be fine.
- Power Adapters. If you’re moving to Europe, you’ll need them. In Canada, not so much since Canada uses the same outlet configuration as the States.
Through some trial and error, you’ll discover that though an app is available in the App store, it won’t always work on your new Native Country device. The Google Voice app, for example, while available from the App store, doesn’t work on my Canadian cell phone. Skype, however, does. And my phone prompts me, when making a call, to either use “Phone” or Skype.
There’s a way, too, to setup your Google Voice number to ring Skype, which, in theory, would mean my cell phone would ring. Right now, I have Google Voice open on my cell phone browser, and check it every now and then. I respond to texts sent to it, and if I have to call, I use Skype. Little cumbersome, but text messaging seems to be the preferred way people talk to me these days. If they’re not on Twitter, anyway.
What do you use?