Your boss asked you to work overseas. You've never lived overseas but you might like it. In no particular order, here's some general rules someone (maybe me) has learned the hard way since I started working abroad in 1994.

In the simplest terms, do your homework. Study where you may go. When you arrive, keep studying. Ask, read, look. There are many things you can't Google. Talk to others.

In short, digitize everything. Do your homework. Taking a trip across the city in a foreign country can be a major journey. The difficulties are multiplied when you're traveling with families and or groups. Network with others. The internet was just starting to explode when I first moved overseas. Keep two of everything you consider critical and can't buy at your new destination.

Get all of your bills electronically. Notify banks you're going overseas and that they'll be seeing action on your credit cards overseas. Use electronic bill pay.

You'll totally change the way you conduct your personal business. I mostly use cash while overseas. Rarely do I use plastic other than debit cards to withdraw cash to pay for my expenses. Travelers checks are useless. You can't find places that cash them. Currency exchange places...only in emergencies. They're thieves. Use ATMs. Banks will charge you a flat fee plus a percentage of the transaction for transactions abroad which is far cheaper than currency exchange or travelers checks. My bank charges two bucks plus three percent for each ATM transaction. My credit card company charges 1-2% for international transactions. Many local businesses accept only cash. Depending upon your destination and currency fluction, you'll have to decide whether to load up on local currency or hang on to your native currency. Local businesses may accept foreign currencies as a hedge against currency fluctuation.

I keep spare cash (I have U$D but Euros are accepted world wide) and an unused debit card with all other vital documents (passport, IDs, birth certificates, etc.) stored away for safe keeping. I've lost my wallet with everything that goes in it. My sister is a co-signer to my debit card...just in case. Keep an emergency travel bag ready for emergency/unexpected trips.

Make sure you have two debit cards, one for regular use and one for emergencies that stays kept away. Use the emergency debit card every few months as the bank will cancel the card for non-activity. I've had a credit card cancelled in the same week my debit card was cancelled by the banks. I had to travel about a week after the dual cancellation. Luckily, I didn't get stranded somewhere.

Have phone numbers and web sites for your bank. Get to know the local banker and use them to track down information for you while abroad. They may DHL your cards to you if you lose them.

Scan all of your important documents: passport, shot records, titles, etc., into PDF files. Keep original hard copies and duplicate PDF copies at home with someone who can email them to you if the need arises.

Include in your scan records, past taxes. There's nothing like an audit when you're overseas with you're proverbial pants down. Digital copies of past tax records can be like manna from heaven when you're being audited.

Put all of your addresses and other contact information in your computer. Back up your data weekly. Keep your computer and other digital goodies current and healthy. Consider cloud computing or store your data on CDs or DVDs sending copies of these disks home on a regular basis.

What about your stuff at home? House? Car? Who takes care of them while you're gone? Make sure you designate someone who will represent you in all of your financal matters in emergencies.

Pets...are they coming? The US, UK, and Australia have tough animal import laws that you might check into before you go...even for pets that are returning to the country of their birth. How will your pet be received when you arrive in your new country?

Get lots of medications, both prescription and non-prescription...sufficient quantities for the entire trip. My pharmacist told me I am his only client who buys medicine in bulk. You may be able to get prescription and non-prescription medications abroad but you may not be able to read the labels. Some medications just aren't available overseas.

On a vacation to Paris, I forgot my medications. I called my doctor but they wouldn't email me my prescriptions. They would only give me the information over the phone. The first pharmacy in Paris had two of my meds which they simply sold me without a prescription. Why can't prescriptions be this simple in the good old USA? The second pharmacy didn't have my prescription in stock but would get it the next day...again without a prescription. Suggest you have your meds written down and stored for emergencies just like mine.

Get a physical and dental check up before you go. Don't forget immunizations. State and county government medical divisions often handle immunizations for international travelers.

Get your precision dental and medical done at home before you go. Before my first international work assignment, I had a root canal. The dentist capped the tooth. Shortly after the capping, the tooth began to have shooting pains. The specialist said he could work on the tooth but not in time for my departure to Turkey. He suggested I see a dentist when I landed in Turkey. In short, the doctor offered me one solution, he could extract the tooth...after I just paid $500 to save it. Lucky for me, the pain went away.

I have two pairs of glasses and three sets of contacts...spares just in case...plenty of contact lens solutions. PDF copies of your eye prescriptions should be in your files as well.

Insurance...home, health...international coverage? Health insurance companies often require that you pay medical expenses while abroad and they're reimburse you. Foreign medical providers often require immediate payment for services rendered. Got cash?

Emergency insurance normally covers transporting people out of a country for medical or political emergencies. Will your employer provide it?

What about illnesses? How's the medical care where you're going? Click here to read about my medical evacuation for an emergency appendectomy in Bangkok! Any medical concerns requiring special treatment? Handicaps? Allergies? I've seen lots of folks who forget about their asthma only to be reminded of it under dusty or polluted skies abroad.

Believe it or not, your body will change internally while you're abroad. Bring laxatives and diarreah medicines. Over the length of my international career, my body now rejects home foods with chemicals and accepts foods abroad. Any cases of the trots are killed with one sitting. Flu strains are different across the world. Always inform your doctors that you've been living abroad and that they might see stuff that's a bit different than they're used to seeing.

What is the political stability of this country? Are they friendly or hostile towards your country? It may be a critical question when you may be responsible for you and your family. Think about your own physical security and any love ones you bring along.

Can you and/or your spouse get into your future host country? Some countries may not have diplomatic relations with other countries which prohibits some nationalities from even visiting other countries.

The CIA has a great web site about any country.

Get Skype...and learn how to Skype out. Skype will allow you to call home for pennies as opposed to paying international rates. I pay 2.5 cents a minute to call home. I have an account that if I connect through my VPN, I can call for a flat rate of $3 a month which includes voice mail and a direct line/phone number that anyone can call at US rates. You'll be wanting to talk to your family and friends a lot...teach them to video conference as well.

Cell phones...get an unlocked cell phone. Amazon.com has a great selection. Then, all you'll need is a SIM card and minutes. Typically, I use prepaid cellular service. I like Samsung but most of the leading brands will work so long as they're unlocked international versions. It has GSM with multiple bands and GPS where you can download the maps with the Here App for free. iPhone...wait until AT&T charges you for an international call and you'll wish you had a different phone. You can get unlocked iPhones (as well as other unlocked phones) but you pay the full cost of the phone...major shocker!

I use the Here App to help me navigate. The Here App allows you to download country maps. You can go to their web site and landmark desired destinations before you go. You can even download voices of languages you don't know. This is really useful with taxis and navigating to strange destinations. Taxi drivers may be reluctant to use GPS but in the end, they often admit that they're pretty cool. You can use it to find out if they're taking longer routes to screw you on the fare.

To help navigate in strange locations, collect business cards and phone numbers. Give them to the taxi driver. If the driver doesn't recognize the location/business, call the phone number and hand your phone to the driver.

A 110 volt appliance into a 220 volt outlet doesn't last long...smoke...pop...history! Computer stuff is already 220 volt. Most other appliances are not. Voltage transformers are too heavy to travel with. You'll have to get 220v appliances and transformers when you land. When I absolutely NEED something and can't find it, I use East-West International or Amazon.com has almost anything you'll need. Get plug adapters at Radio Shack..remember they don't convert voltage...just allow you to plug your stuff into their outlets.

Keep plenty of books (or go Kindle) or stream video to watch American TV...you might consider this and set it up before you go. VPN services are very handy. YouTubeTV works through a VPN. I'm big into mp3 tunes.

Taxes...in the US, there are three different methods to go with tax free/reduced taxes. The easiest is the 330...if you're overseas for 330 days in a 365 day period, you'll get an exclusion around 85-90k. If you make 100k, then you'll be subject to taxes at the 15k level. Then you can deduct away. (Go to IRS.gov and look up the I2555 forms and instructions for more). Living abroad, the IRS will automatically extend your tax deadline by two months for those living abroad. I use Quicken and Tax-Cut. Until just recently, I've only paid US taxes and this software makes taxes simple.

There's a recent trend in international work where the company files and pays your taxes for you. They do all the paperwork, you sign the paper, and the company keeps the return. I'm on the fence on this one.

Check into local taxes. Will your employer pay those? Go to worldwide-tax.com to get info about taxes at your destination. Will you still be liable for US taxes? I bet you will. Recently, my company started deducting taxes as a benefit. When they started deducting for this tax, it was like an unexpected punch in the gut. You can deduct this foreign tax with the IRS but you need to be ready for the added tax.

Housing - who provides? Will you be given an allowance and told to find your own or will it be provided? Furnished, semi-furnished? It'll go a long way on determining what you need to bring. How close to work? You may have to pay the IRS for the benefit.

Though it's uncommon in my industry, consider yourself lucky if you get a house hunting trip or your employer provides you moving services to and from your destination. If you quit or get terminated, will they pay for the return?

Mail from home? How will you get it? Will your company forward it if it's sent to their office?

Married? Is your spouse going? Kids...who pays for school? Local or expatriate schools? Education abroad can be very expensive. What if any of these expenses will the company pay?

What will your spouse do while you're at work? Alcoholism among non-working spouses living abroad is quite high. It's often attributed to boredom.

The most nauseating thing about living abroad is living/working with co-workers who forget their marital vows when they leave their spouse back home.

The folks you work with become your friends. They are the people you hang out with after work...an extended family if you will. They become your support group as if you're living in a small town. You'll learn to separate work and play quickly.

Conversely, you'll find some of the things back home will no longer interest you or you may no longer have anything in common with your former friends.

Religion...what's the local climate? Is it compatible to yours?

Some countries have negative attitudes towards women and minorities in business and make no attempt to mask them. Think you can deal with it?

In many cultures, you address others by their last name. In my culture, without using a "Mr." or "Mrs." in front of a last name is condescending.

Business practices in foreign countries can often challenge what you're taught in business ethics classes yet you're accountable to the US government for ethical behavior? Are you ready for it?

Buy a digital camera or a phone that takes quality photos. Take lots of photos for the memories.

Load up on socks and underwear. Check for annual temps/precipitation to see what weather gear you'll need. Bring walking shoes.

Fodors / Lonely Planet...stock up on travel books.

Stock up on spices and kitchen utensils. We buy spices from the grocery store spice rack. Overseas, you go to the market asking for basil and you're given a plant. I have boxes of decade-old spices that have been around the world many times.

I like to cook which means I bring food and cooking things, keep lots of computer goodies, and ride a bike so I can't bring enough stuff. When I get to the airport, I have too much stuff. When I arrive at my destination, I don't have enough. It all depends upon what you like to do when you don't work.

I travel with these bags I bought at Cabella's. I use the big sizes. Airlines will limit you to two bags plus two paid (50 pounds each). You'll get one carry on bag and one "personal" bag...laptop, purse, etc. Stock enough stuff in your carry on for several days.

Take photos of your luggage before you give them to the airlines. I promise you they've never seen bags like yours (or mine). A digital photo is 100% proof if they've lost them.

International contracts are typically one year. An important rule of thumb about contracts I learned long ago: If it ain't in there, it ain't in there...In other words, anything not mentioned in your contract isn't covered by your employer and they're not bound to pay it. They may pay for something unforeseen but they're under no obligation to do so.

Your hours and working/living conditions should be stipulated in your contract. Will you be subject to local work regulation or those of your native country? Both?

Uplift...will you get raises/bonuses for working overseas? Much of it is not payable until you complete your assignment to the satisfaction of the company. We work a lot more hours...A LOT MORE...when we move overseas. There isn't much time for anything but work and sleep except for Sunday when we're trying to recover from a long work week.

Cost of living adjustments...it costs more to live in some locations than others. Supporting two living conditions, home and abroad, is extremely expensive. Will you get more money or are you on your own? Run estimates...take a stab...is it economically sound for you?

Travel expenses? Standard or full expenses?

Vacation/travel/trips home - how many/often/who pays?

You'll find that your trips home aren't "vacations" though the company deducts days from your vacation allotment. I call them the five F's...family, friends, food, finances, and fhysicians. You'll spend the majority of your leave taking care of these things or other chores such as your home. Note that jet lag will greet you at home and when you return from your leave so your days are further condensed.

You will find that your return flights from your trips home, your luggage will have things for other associates. We call it being a "mule". You mule for me, I'll mule for you. It's those tiny things from home that keep us in this game.

Transportation while in country - will you get a car and driver, use taxies or public transit, or walk? If you're driving...licenses, insurance...local driving laws and customs...things to think about.

Driving while abroad brings up memories of my high school driver training classes. Every possibility, every scenario...it's possible.

Driving abroad is aggressive. You tend to drive the same. It's tough going back home and going back to the non-aggressive driving style.

Does your car insurance cover international driving. What about your driver license?

Work permits / visas - does the company provide? Will your company assist you in obtaining them or are you on your own? This isn't something that's minor...it could be quite difficult. In some countries, you won't be welcome as they view you as taking away their jobs. Will you get your working permits before you go?

Does your company routinely send workers abroad or do you have friends that have done this? If so, ask them your questions.

How will you be paid? Will your employer wire your money to your home bank or are you required to use local banks? My bank charges me fees for wired tranactions from abroad. Is this fee out of your pocket?

Will you be working with other fellow country men and women? The people you work with will become your family. Make sure you put their cell phone numbers in your cell phone...it'll become in handy in emergencies.

When abroad, network with your fellow expatriates. They'll tell you the ins and outs of life in your host country until you can get on your own two feet.

Strive to keep a low profile while abroad. Avoid political/religious arguments with locals. Obey local laws. Stay out of trouble. Be a good neighbor.

Dining out...rule of thumb is that if the locals will eat at a local restaurant, it's ok for you.

You may laugh at the thought of eating at McDonald's or Burger King. I generally skip them when I'm at home but when I'm abroad, they represent HOME!

Check out the local water...safe to drink or will you drink bottled water?

I took a year of French in high school and studied some Mandarin years ago. Other than that, I only know English. Language skills are helpful though not mandatory if you work with others who speak the same language. I often feel like a deaf person who relies on their other senses when in countries where I don't speak the mother tongue. We generally hire locals who speak English and their mother tongue. They're our translators to the local staff. You might consider language tapes or lessons.

I've lived in some countries where the basic necessities such as electricity, water, sewer...cannot be taken for granted. Ready for that? Will your employer handle these things if not readily available.

There's an isolation about living overseas. I miss family events...cultural events...but I see a part of the world and life most don't. You might consider it sacrifice. To me, it's an adventure.

Remember...more sacrifice should equal more pay. If not...keep looking. Again, is it financially sound for you and your family?

As a youth, I traveled with a friend to their island in Canada. The American flag was flown below the Canadian flag. This symbolizes that you're an American living in Canada. You are a guest and you have to show respect for the host country by putting your host above your own nationality. It took a bit of thinking for me but it taught me an important lesson in life: behave as if you're a guest and you'll be invited to return. Behave as if you own the place (running rampant/criticizing your host and generally behaving like you're an ingrate) and you'll be lucky if you're not asked to leave.

The wife of a colleague kept a blog which was highly critical of her surroundings. The locals read it and were offended. Both had to be removed from the project...quickly. Remember, even if they don't understand you, they can quickly figure out what you're saying isn't too friendly and they can be offended. Put the shoe on the other foot...if it was you that was the brunt of the negative comments...how would you feel?

Your finances will take on a new dimension. Rather than fight over a small amount of money, you will find more and more that you just cave in as small amounts of money aren't worth fighting about. Give yourself a financial "cushion" for emergencies. Cash will become your new financial tool. You'll get used to having large amounts of local currency all the while keeping it hidden/safe from those with bad intent.

Learn the time difference between your location and home. Educate your friends and family. There's nothing like a phone call at two in the morning from someone who doesn't know what time it is where you're at. The conversation goes something like this:

"Did I wake you?"
"Yes!"
"Let me call you back."
"Too late...why did you call?"

Network with the locals. If you want to talk to your compatriots, stay home!

In your host country, you may become somewhat of a celebrity as you're a foreigner. They may think of you as rich. This can work both ways. You can be exploited and/or held in high esteem. It's hard to tell. A competitors' project was shut down and staff was evacuated back to the US by chartered jet as the locals thought the expatriates brought COVID to their country.

As a foreigner, you can also become a target for exploitation. Be on the alert for every sort of con artist there is. Even the police will exploit you.

As part of a security briefing, we were told that expatriates are often guilty by association. Picture this: you're a passenger in a taxi. The taxi gets into an accident. No matter who's at fault, you're paying the fare, you pay the damages. You have the deep pockets. You can afford it. Rule is...when you're part of this scenario, get out of the taxi, pay the metered fare, and walk away before the fingers of blame start pointing...generally, in your direction. You're welcome!

Know that if you have liability, right or wrong, some authorities may not allow you to leave the country until those debts are settled to the debtors' satisfaction

Nervous? The first trip is the litmus test...either you'll love it or you won't. You'll know right away. I can remember my first trip to Frankfurt on the way to Turkey thinking I'd done the dumbest thing in my life. I toughed it out for six months and it was the smartest thing I'd ever done.

Working abroad sounds so glamorous but the hardest part about recruiting folks to go overseas is actually getting them to go overseas. The interest is phenomenal. The excuses are infinite.

If I haven't scared you off, that's great. I've had one hell of an adventure working overseas. Look at the flags at the top of the page. I've been to those places. I've been to the Great Wall TWICE! I went scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. I went on a safari in Tanzania..London, Paris, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Greece...and there's more that are captured in the pictures and text of this web site which cover my travels in the US and abroad over the past twenty-nine years.

Years ago, I lived in Alaska. A priest, in his homily, gave the reason that folks had left their lives back in the �lower 48 states�; it was something more...a spirit of adventure. The same is true for working abroad. If you�re in it for money...stay home...money isn�t everything and you may find you�ll make more working there. It�s the stories you can tell...

Rule of thumb...if you go through life with a smile on your face and a song in your heart, you'll do just fine. Here's an interesting article a friend on Facebook shared about living and working abroad.

I often feel alone in a room full of people until someone brings up travel. Then you can't shut me up. Things you used to find interesting before you started living internationally may no longer be of interest. I used to like to drive. Since I started living abroad...only flying.

Here's a synopsis of where I've worked. or go through all the pages of my web site. It'll give you an idea of what it's like to live and work overseas.

To read about my first trip overseas, Click here, here, or here.