When You Have to Re-think About Relocation to A Western Country
He lives in a 4 bedroom house with a swimming pool, has an SUV, has a private driver (chauffeur), has two house maids and even has a gateman/security guard at home. His children go to a private school—dropped off and picked up by a dedicated driver or the parents.
In the West, this person could only be a millionaire footballer, a millionaire music star or a millionaire in a certain field. Even top politicians cannot easily have this enviable life.
Back in Africa or Asia, this person could be any ordinary person who has figured out his life or a person slightly flourishing in business or working in a well-paid job.
Therefore, if you intend to relocate to the West, you should ask yourself—am I going to heavily compromise on my lifestyle and how long can I entertain or sacrifice the life I’ve known.
As an expert UK immigration lawyer, I always argue that if you intend to relocate to the UK—you should critically evaluate what you are giving up and what you plan to achieve. Just don’t jump because everyone is jumping.
More importantly, if you are 40 years and above, you must double-think about relocation—especially the intended outcome. And the level of lifestyle cuts you are ready to accommodate to achieve that outcome.
I’ve heard many stories of people who had house helps back home and relocated to the UK or Canada with their 3 or 4 children (without these house helps)—only to realize that they cannot afford the level of support they had back home and have found themselves in serious problems (depression, regret and painful adjustments).
The absurd adage, “no pain no gain” may be true. But sometimes, you don’t have to re-live a pain which you have already lived somewhere.
We all have one life and if you’ve managed to find a comfortable footing or lifestyle in a certain country, don’t just uproot yourself to go and start afresh somewhere else to suffer. What if you die 2 years after relocation while still in your struggling stage?
How many of us are willing to go back to secondary school and University (for about 5 years) all again—even if it means we will get slightly increased pay?
The thing is, if you are 19 years old or 22 years old, you can easily relocate, adjust and take the pains of relocation with ease. But if you are 40 years old with some level of comfort or roots in your home country, relocation wouldn’t be that easy.
Life is a daring adventure. But always think twice and consider many things, including even the effect of the cold weather on you as an older person. It shouldn’t all be about the money—it should be about the total “lifestyle” awaiting you.
You should even consider your personal or religious ideologies including your position on same-sex relationships or dealings, smoking, racism, food and culture. Are you open-minded enough to sit next to same-sex couples or have your children be loudly taught about same-sex relationships, atheism and different things to which you may hold strong objection?
–Chris-Vincent Agyapong, A Hedonist, Contrarian, Lawyer, Atheist, Thinker, Writer, Minimalist, Polygamy Evangelist, Soft Life Ambassador and A Professional Truth Sayer