We’ve always been a nomadic family! It started with taking our 4-month-old on his first flight to the sunny beaches of Goa and continued with at least three to four small vacations (or slightly longer ones) every year.
But the trip we made earlier this month, from Mumbai to Paris has been different*.
From a mum who flat out refused to carry any pre-cooked meals, or half-cooked rotis, or basic utensils on our many international holidays over the years with the infant turned toddler turned young kid;
To a mum who landed in a foreign land and within a week, had already cooked and fed the family meals consisting of khichdi, paranthas, curd rice and sambhar chawal.
What changed?
Well, first of, we are living amid a pandemic! The choices we have for eating out and exploring restaurants or the cute little cafes dotting the landscape is severely restricted. The only non-home-cooked food we’re able to manage is take-away or some pre-cooked (preservative loaded!) meals from the supermarket. This means that eventually, you end up having bread and cheese in various forms. Sandwiches, pizza, pasta, gourmet loaves. This is all fine for us adults, even if we choose to survive on it for a few days, but it hurts my heart to see the lack of nutrition for the little. And that’s why I found an online Indian grocery delivery website and carried some masalas from Mumbai, and dished out hot Indian food to the piece of my heart.
And secondly, we’re in this country for longer! Now there’s no concept of waiting to get home to have some comfort food. This is home. When we’re out on vacation, the idea is to experience new places, people and foods. But when we have moved, the idea is to feel “at home” at the earliest possible. There is no hurry to experience the culture, that’s going to happen as we move about and start living our daily lives. But, there is a hurry to settle in. We need to be able to sense familiar things – see, hear, smell, taste and feel. And that’s why the desi cooking started so soon.
That’s also why the way we organised our travel had to be different. This move basically made me realise that irrespective of the pandemic and its associated restrictions, moving to a country with a culture different from your own has many challenges. While you eventually find your footing and establish a rhythm on how to adapt, it helps to plan in advance and prepare yourself for the first few weeks after your arrival.
From our hap-hazard packing and chaotic move, here’s a list of things that you too should consider when you’re moving across countries with a young child:
Pack Smart
If you’re shipping your stuff, the container may take anywhere from 5 to 10 weeks to reach you there. That’s 1 to 2 months! Imagine that you’re going on an extended vacation with only part of your stuff available. Smart packing is the need of the hour, especially with kids. They tend to be more flexible for sure, but they still need more stuff in general than adults who can make do with temporary living arrangements.
Make a list of your day to day activities, and try to plan what all you will need immediately after you get there. For instance, hand-washing soap and dish-washing soap is something to be carried with you. You don’t want to arrive in the house and rush out immediately for basic cleaning supplies. You can carry travel size bottles of cleaning and toiletries with you, and pick up full-size ones after settling in.
Also, involve your child in packing their things. Make a clear pile of “Toys/Books going in the container” and “Toys/Books going with us.” This saves a lot of heart-burn. As your child is understanding all the changes around them, knowing that their comfort stack, so to say, is on the way can bring some solace.
Talk to People
No time like now to activate your network – long lost college buddies, school alumni networks, parent’s friends, friends’ friends. Find someone you can have a candid conversation with and find out what exactly regular daily living is like.
An Indian family, hopefully with kids around the same age as your own, is the best placed to tell you what are the essentials you need to carry with you or any other nuances to be careful about.
Think about it – even the daily meal provisions in your destination will be different from what you’re used to. Did you know that flavours of Kellogs’ cornflakes differ per country?! So be prepared to try new things, that are similar to what you’re used to, and ask for help on where to find things once you get there.
Think about your Devices
Plug points may differ across countries, and also the frequency at which electrical devices work. Do a bit of google search and find out what is the commonly used wattage and plug point type in your destination city. You should order multiple plug point converters (get them off amazon once you know what type) and be sure to have these accessible once you land. Your phone and personal electronic devices especially should be juiced and ready once you get to the new city.
Also, consider what kind of mobile data you’re going to use. We decided to activate 1-month international roaming packs on both our numbers. And even after we buy local SIM cards, we plan to keep WhatsApp active on both the India number and local number so we don’t need to lose touch with people back home. Connectivity with grandparents and close friends/family can be a saving grace for your child in the new country.
Visit your Doctor/s
Ask your paediatrician and family doctor to give you a prescription for basic medicines. These should cover regular fever, cough, stomach upset, etc and any other specific chronic illness your family may face. Carry enough medicines to cover you for a few months, until you’re settled in and have found out how the local medical systems work.
This also is a good time to make sure your family is updated on any vaccines and seasonal flu shots. Even if they’re due a few months later, better to have them in your home country if possible.
The same applies to any homoeopathy or alternative medicine that has worked for you and your child. You should consult with your trusted advisors about the impending move and prepare for any medicines that need to be carried for the adults and kids in the family.
Sure, it may seem daunting, and there’s no sugar-coating the fact that it is a challenge with all the restrictions of the pandemic. But moving to a new place and establishing a new home is also an adventure. Be ready to live with equal parts of anxiety and excitement for some time, and don’t forget to enjoy the ride!
*Personal update: We have moved from Mumbai to Paris in the midst of a global pandemic… so, some of the upcoming posts will be related to this epic adventure. Read more about these Relocation Diaries here. Hope you enjoy the perspective of this move on our lives in general and our parenting journey too!
Through the month of October, I’m taking my blog to the next level with Blogchatter‘s #MyFriendAlexa. Stay tuned!
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Very nicely conceptualized article. Traveling with kids is surely a big task and needs so much attention. Visiting a doctor is a must which you rightly pointed out.
Yes! We often tend to overlook the basics.
Relocating in these times wouldn’t be easy. You have shared some great tips here.
Thanks!
These are some really good and informative ways to pack and have a seamless shift
Thank you for stopping by Afreen.
Moving can be stressful hence the right care has to be taken. Your article has given good tips and tricks while reallocating.
Thank you for reading and sharing Anahita
Very useful and informative post. COVID19 has pushed a lot of families to relocate and this post will be very useful for them.
Thank you, Mayura. I do hope it comes in handy.
This is quite informative and well conceptualized writeup. Travelling or relocating with kids needs some basic care tips, and can be less cumbersome when properly managed. You have pointed all the important details.
Thank you for the appreciation Jyoti
I would be terrified of relocating at this point in time, especially outside India but you have handled it so well. I could have never taken it as a stride of adventure…so this was amazing to read! Your meticulous post will be so useful for people who have relocation on their minds.
I guess terrified is the right word! So were we. But you know what, it is turning out to be much better than we would’ve imagined. It’s hard, but not impossible.
These are some great tips for smooth transition while relocating esp during pandemic. I hope u r settling well.
Yes we are settling quite well. Thanks Richa.
This is really informative and I am sure parents with young kids will find it useful. Relocating is tough, moreover during the pandemic.
Yes it has been tough. But we are all also enjoying the newness of it all.
Really an amazing post. So many helpful tips.
thank you for reading!
Traveling with kids itself a huge task, and relocating might give me chills. You have explained it so well, on course hands on experience comes handy here.
You know Dipika, after this relocation, I feel travel is easy-peasy! lol. You’re right, experience teaches a lot.
We have moved a lot and I can completely understand that its not easy with kids. This is a helpful post.
Yes, I’m sure you can relate Deepa. It’s a whole process.
Relocating with a child can be so tough for them, especially when they are beginning to create their social life, this tips would quite be handy for all such parents looking for relocating, sharing with friends.