Coworking Spaces in Siem Reap

Are you a digital nomad headed to Cambodia? Are you looking for a coworking space for work in Siem Reap?

My girlfriend Stacy and I spent a month working remotely from Cambodia. Lots of travelers will stop in Siem Reap to see the famous Angkor ruins, so I am sharing our experiences with the coworking spaces available in town.

I looked for information before heading to Cambodia and found a decent blog by Chris the Freelancer about his week as a "digital nomad" in Siem Reap in 2016. Using his post as a starting point, we spent a week visiting coworking spaces and then worked happily the rest of the month. For those who only have a few days to get into town, work their hours, and see some sights, I hope this helps you out.

Work Space Requirements

Everyone's needs are different. Here is a quick breakdown of what we were looking for, so you can compare.

Stacy:

• teaches English online for a Chinese company with a hefty teaching platform
• required by contract to have min. 10 MBPS upload & download speeds
• stable connection--no dropping student calls or power outages allowed
• private room--it's rude to talk out loud, repetitively in a common space
• works in 5-hour shifts so time limits on private rooms aren't cool

Alison (me):

• writes web content for a software development company 
• no speed requirements; cloud-based EMS
• Skype for short phone calls & some light screen sharing
• writes for 4+ hours at a time so a busy place with time limits is bad
• prefers ambient noise so phone calls aren't intrusive to other workers

Stacy is the one who needed a dedicated work space. I was fine anyplace that had decent wifi. In fact, I ended up working from various locations throughout the month.

These are the four dedicated coworking spaces in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

BioLAB Coffee & Office
location in town on Wat Bo Road on the east side of the river
Hours: 7am - 10pm daily
Cost: free!
Private Room: $15/day

2nd floor work space, glass doors go out onto the terrace

BioLAB is a coworking space upstairs and cafe downstairs. This means that to work in the common space, there is no fee or membership required. The second floor is a huge area with booths, plants, large coworking tables, and plenty of power sockets. I never saw it full.

BioLAB also has a private "VIP" room. You can use it for a whole day with a minimum food or drink purchase of $15 (per day). They seem open to negotiating this price, but they don't really offer half-day prices. If you want the room, it's blocked off for you alone. If somebody else has the room, there isn't really a calendar or schedule in place for sharing hours.

I worked at BioLAB for a few days straight. The staff are super friendly. Even after you drink your coffee, they will continuously refill your water for hours without any rush to leave or purchase more.

Since it was created for working, there is minimal talking and no music. The space is quiet and safe. I left my computer out on the table to take a smoke break or go to the restroom without a problem.

They serve decent Khmer and Western food if you get hungry, and of course all the cafe drinks you can imagine. BioLAB is also 100% Khmer owned by a man named Samnang. Samnang told me they have a happy hour called "Craft Beer Time" from 6-10pm daily, although I never knew about it at the time so I didn't partake.

Overall it was my favorite coworking space for my needs.

2nd floor work space

1st floor cafe area

coffee + free water

  

me, working long hours at BioLAB

view from the 2nd floor terrace, good spot to take a cigarette break + people watch

Garage Society Coworking Space
location in town 2 blocks east of the river behind the King's Road restaurant complex
Hours: 9am - 6pm Monday through Saturday for daily use; 24/7 for members
Cost: $5/day (discounted for less hours), $25/week, $40+/monthly membership
Private Room: $5-8/hour daily rate with 3- and 5-month discount bundles

common work space

Garage Society is a newer coworking space located above the Lub*D hostel. It runs on high-speed wifi which is piped in via fiber optic cable.

The common room has large tables with plenty of power sockets for laptop work.

Garage Society also has a private meeting room that is well-equipped with a smart board and projector for presentations. You can reserve it ahead of time for presentations or personal use. In November they were open to negotiating the price, but I imagine this will change as the space becomes more popular and gets booked up.

Stacy worked at Garage Society exclusively because it was the only space that met all her needs. She loved the location close to town. The staff were nice and friendly. The Lub*D staff also remembered her and did helpful things like open the doors early before she arrived on Sundays.

They have a free water cooler in the common room and a bathroom on-site. Downstairs you can order drinks from Little Red Fox Espresso (award-winning coffeeshop) or from the Lub*D bar.

Garage Society in Siem Reap is the second overseas location for a Hong Kong-based coworking company, with another location in Phuket, Thailand and a location in the Philippines is coming soon. Members at this coworking space get free use of the Lub*D swimming pool and discounts at local restaurants.

Stacy worked in the private meeting room at Garage Society.

private meeting room (available for a fee)

view from the landing in front of the work space

restroom for coworkers

perks: members get unlimited access to the pool at Lub*D hostel

AngkorHUB Coworking & Co-Living
location backpacker/night market neighborhood at the southern tip of town
Hours: 8am - 6pm Monday through Saturday for daily use; 24/7 for monthly members
Cost: $8/day,  $25/week, $89/monthly membership
Private Room: $5/hour, rotates use with other coworkers--no block bookings

indoor work space

Neither myself or my girlfriend spent time working at AngkorHUB. Coming into Siem Reap, it looked like AngkorHUB was the front runner. After the initial visit though, it dropped off our radar.

First of all, at USD 89/month it's the most expensive of all the coworking spaces in Siem Reap.

Second, everyone was seated outside on the patio (no air-conditioning) with extension cords for laptops and fans running all across the floor. I'd hate to think anyone paid to work outdoors in the Cambodian heat. One could argue that the patio is more welcoming than the drab indoor area though; this work space has all the charm of a college kid's first dorm room.

Finally, the staff was rude. We showed up asked about prices for the month. The main guy (owner?) was working on his computer and acted like we were interrupting him with our questions. He barely looked up to answer.

We explained that my girlfriend needed a private space with a specific internet speed in order to do her job. He scoffed at her, because "nobody actually needs that kind of speed". Another customer spoke up, saying he also needed over 20 mbps for what he was working on. The rude guy ignored the comment and without getting up or taking his eyes off his own screen, he told us to check the speed posted on the AngkorHUB website if we needed proof.

We pulled up the site, showing a screenshot of the upload/download speeds. So, not only was this "proof" not a live speed reading, but it could have been a screenshot from literally anywhere. Before you fork over $90, you'd want to see the real thing, right?

The woman on staff, meanwhile, was helpful by stopping her personal work and pulling up a speed test on her computer.

Note: the AngkorHUB website claims they have the fastest internet in Siem Reap, but every coworking space in town is using the same fiber optic technology. 

The staff lady also showed Stacy the a private "Skype room", which is not fully-enclosed due to design cut-outs in the wall. If you need privacy for work phone calls or online teaching lessons, it's not a good fit.

After that visit, we didn't bother working there. It wasn't anywhere I'd want to spend my time or money.

Just before leaving Siem Reap I stopped by and asked if I could photograph the space for a blog. The same rude guy asked me what I was going to write about ("I'm making a list of coworking spaces in Siem Reap"), wasn't at all interested in giving me information for my write-up (aren't I his target customer?), made a dry comment about "make sure it's a good picture," and that was that.

It may be a fit for a certain kind of person, but AngkorHUB was not a good choice for either of us.

indoor work space

outdoor work space as you approach from the road

The 1961 Coworking & Art Space 
location is on the western river road north of town just past Phum Trang Market

Although it was the nearest work space to my apartment, I was surprised to find The 1961 closed "for renovation" during the month I was in Siem Reap. I never actually saw any action or construction going on in November, so I'm not sure if it will re-open. I couldn't find information about the end of the closure from on-site staff. Their website the1961.com has an expired domain.

So there you have it. Those are the four dedicated coworking spaces that I was able to check out in Siem Reap. Do you know of any others?

As mentioned, I didn't end up needing a dedicated work space, since I found strong wifi all over town. I spent most of my time working from BioLAB and coffee shops. Read my posts about my Top 3 Work Cafes in Siem Reap or More Work Cafes in Siem Reap for more info.

the GFW

The GFW (Great Fire Wall of China) is real.

This week I haven't had access to any Google applications (including Blogger), social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. etc. etc.) I have a VPN that sometimes works. Here was my first Facebook post from behind the GFW:

DOESN'T work in China: Google (Play Store, Mail, Docs, Drive, Chrome, Blogger, Google search engine, etc.), Whatsapp, LINE, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Viber, and anything that requires confirmation through my Gmail (Skype, bank accounts, PayPal, etc.)
DOES work: Bing, Yahoo, WeChat, Airbnb, Runkeeper
DOWNLOADED since arriving: Baidu, Baidu Maps, Didi (Uber copy)--all in Chinese

Baidu's apps take up too much space on my phone. Baidu Maps drains my battery...but I have no other choice. I have to use it, because it's the only map I have access too. I'm using Yahoo for the first time since 1996 #ffs There's nothing I can do about it. I can't download apps that aren't made in China. This is how the Chinese government has decided that my internet access will be restricted. My paid VPN service works once every few days. I feel closed off from the rest of the world.

I followed the post with panicked warnings about what the US is going to look like if we don't save #netneutrality 😆

I've had a couple of days to get used to being disconnected. I've stopped fretting over Yahoo Search. I get lost a lot since I can't read the map. Nobody would know if I died inside the GFW. Other than these steps back in time in global connectivity, it's actually not so bad.

our neighborhood Beixin Hutong in Beijing, China

a main road connecting some hutongs in Dongcheng District, Beijing

walking around, enjoying the first cold weather in 4 years: about 0C/32F

Wangfujing, a fancy shopping area, 15 min walk from the Forbidden City

When I told people I was thinking of going to China for a month, the most common response was, “Why?!” That's the reason we came.

In China we are just trying to get a feel for what is going on inside this country. Even for Asia, China is an outlier: insular, massive, “Communist”, and famous for bad manners. 

Those things are anecdotal. What is interesting about China is that it’s both futuristic and stuck in the past--as far as globalization is concerned. China charges ahead with technology but doesn't bother to connect to the rest of the world as they do it, which is unique in the world today.

On one hand we have discovered that Beijing works almost entirely without cash. It's the closest thing to a cashless society that I've ever seen. Senior citizens are paying for groceries and hot tea with their phones. Street vendors would rather take money through the Chinese social media WeChat Wallet rather than paper cash. Entrance to the Imperial Palace (the “Forbidden City”) is done by QR code. There is smartphone interaction, automation, and CCTV everywhere.

QR codes on everything--this is a band poster for a holiday show

QR code payment to get into the Forbidden City (Imperial Palace)

Tiananmen Square--under the watchful eye of Chairman Mao + a lot of cameras

On the other hand, without access to global social media giants I am reduced to searching the internet using search engines that peaked in 1996 and searching maps by using Baidu, which has no translation capabilities. As a foreigner, I'm used to my technology adapting to my language abilities as I travel. China is the first place I haven't had this convenience.

Most countries I've been in Asia place a high value the "tourist dollar" and try to cater to foreigners. In China, it seems, this aspect of the tourism industry has been overlooked.

So I can look at a map but I can’t read it. I can use a translation app to display real-time translations of a Chinese menu and point to what I want to order, but I can’t post my dinner to Instagram. I dry my clothes on a drying rack in the freezing cold courtyard and I pay for my hot coffee without human interaction. This is the weird dichotomy of China for me.

order + pay for your coffee at a kiosk using your smartphone (no cash transaction)

Beijing metro is super efficient. the 2nd longest metro network in the world, after Shanghai. 

I’ve only been here a week but I’m beginning to see why China has closed off to the Western world the way it has. They have to preserve their own economy in the face of Western giants like Apple, Google, Facebook, and Microsoft. In China, Tencent rules the roost. It’s just survival.

China is one of the first countries I’ve been to in Asia that doesn’t seem Westernized. Thailand watches American and UK media, South Korea listens to American pop music, and China remains…well…very Chinese. China is almost sidestepping social media users' demand for globalization merely by limiting their youth's access to the rest of the world. They simply refuse to deal with Western social media. Incredible. 

As a result, have they been able to develop technologies that help Chinese people specifically instead of technologies that are being demanded by the entire world? Perhaps. Maybe that is why this country is so fascinating to me. China is hurtling into the future--more than I was aware of as an outsider--but with a tunnel-vision that I haven't encountered in Asia before.

What do you think? How do you think China's internet policies fit into an increasingly globalized world?

Ultimate Guide to Moving Abroad: Conclusion

That’s it.

Get rid of stuff. Pack your bags. Research immigration. Figure out your money. Get on a plane. Then find a house and try to fit in.

Aside from immigration details, these are the same things you consider to move across town, right?

So that’s how you move abroad. Or at least that’s how I move abroad.

Everybody has their reasons for moving to a new country. Whatever the practical reason, I am a believer in the process. It's good for us not to get stuck. I think it keeps my mind sharp.

living in Thailand meant I could go on fantastic 2-day island vacations for cheap

enjoying Southern Thai food after a quick vacation to Koh Ngai in the Andaman Sea

Can everyone do it as easily as I have? Nah. I am aware of my privilege. I’m 33, college-educated, US passport holder, and I’m what they call a ลูกครึ่ง in Thai--a halfling. I’m a Latina with a white parent so I’m white-passing for most of the world. This all makes things easier on me. Everybody will have their own unique challenges.

I’ve snuck out a few back doors to avoid run-ins with the police. I’ve received a deportation letter. I’ve had my pocket picked. I’ve made some stupid decisions and I’ve had to learn some lessons. That said, all negatives pale in comparison to the experiences I've had while living abroad.

where will you move to? this is Lago Titicaca in Peru

Your Partner

Having a significant other will notably HELP or HURT your chances at success. You've heard that couples shouldn't work together, right? Well moving abroad requires serious teamwork.

I’ve recently discovered how easy things are with the right person. If you’ve got somebody who shares your attitude and goals, making your way through these five steps can be a breeze.

I have an amazing girlfriend of 5 years who has made moving abroad 9,000x easier. We research together. We use each other as sounding boards. We trust each other’s ability to read people and to think on our feet in a sticky situation. As my tías said after spending a week with us: we are two peas in a pod, two halves of an orange. If you move abroad and your partner is not the other half to your orange, you will find out soon enough. 😝 Trust me, I've also been there before.

Just last week I followed these exact instructions and made another international move. After 4 years in Thailand, my girlfriend Stacy and I picked up and moved temporarily to Cambodia.

our short-term home in Siem Reap, Cambodia

We are on the road for awhile around Asia and plan to settle in eastern Europe next summer. For now, we are enjoying the slow life in the countryside. We spend our days riding cruisers, speaking broken Khmer, and drinking amazing coffee.

riding bikes in downtown Siem Reap

Final Thoughts

I am not an expert. There are people out there who are doing this better than I am. Jetsetters do it with style and migrant workers who make it happen on much less. I just want people to know they are capable.

In the United States, less than 5% of the population travels out of the country each year. If you are considering a move abroad, you might not hear a lot of encouragement. Despite all that, it's doable. In fact, my mantra is “Idiots do this all the time.”

I run into all kinds of bozos who didn’t plan it out. They didn’t analyze all the things that could go wrong. They just went and they are building successful lives in foreign places. While ‘smarter’ people stay home in hesitation, the clueless expats are the ones that give me positive reinforcement. If they are doing it, a decently capable person like myself (and you!) is going to be just fine.

So that’s all I’ve got--a million questions to ask yourself, some suggestions about research, and a push towards the door. Wherever you want to go, you can make it happen. Now go!

Ultimate Guide to Moving Abroad

If you want to review the series, here's what I’ve included in my Ultimate Guide to Moving Abroad:

• Introduction
• Part I: Stuff
• Part II: Immigration
• Part III: Money
• Part IV: Shelter
• Part V: Lifestyle
• Conclusion

Did this blog series help you? Did you actually pick up and go? Do you have suggestions about things I’ve overlooked? I’d love to hear from you.

Ultimate Guide to Moving Abroad Part V: Lifestyle

How quickly you settle into your new country depends a lot on your lifestyle. You want to feel “at home” as soon as possible.

I am a city person. I like to walk to local shops and I like to have lots of options when it comes to cafes, dining, and nightlife. I’m decently active, but I’m not crazy about roughing it. Bike rides and picnics are my idea of the great outdoors. I like to exercise indoors in a gym. I am also social and like to meet lots of different kinds of people.

fitness, Thai style

Taking all this into account, it should be clear that if I were to move to the countryside of any country for an extended length of time, I would be miserable. Moving to a new place means you have to be reasonably aware of yourself.

Remember that things are subjective. Before moving to Thailand I hated shopping malls. In Thailand though, malls are not merely consumerist meccas for rich teenagers. Malls are giant, centrally-located, air-conditioned meeting places. They are the only place you can walk in the daytime that is out of the relentless Thailand heat. Giant fashion malls are where families spend their Sundays and where local indie bands play night concerts.

students hanging out at Siam Paragon, one of the fancy malls in downtown Bangkok

Malls also have some of the cheapest and best Thai “street food” available in the city. So even though I was never a fan, I often find myself at the mall in Bangkok. I had to adjust my expectations to fit the local culture.

There is nowhere in the world that you can move that will be exactly like your home. You need to be willing to try new things, revisit old things, and build your life in a completely new setting.

If your whole life revolves around surfing and it’s the only lifestyle that makes you happy, you can go lots of places in the world like Bali or Australia or California--but you cannot move to Slovakia and expect to be happy.

Explore your new home and find things to love about it. Build your life.

Social Life

Meeting people. I don't know how to give advice on building a social life.

friends + food = a good mix. meet your friendly neighborhood restaurant owners 😂

Social life just happens. If you are good at making friends, you can make them anywhere. If you are bad at making friends, moving to a new country is probably your worst nightmare.

Loneliness is inevitable for everybody, but it’s something you can work against. The first thing you can do is find activities that are similar to what you enjoyed back home. If you play volleyball, give takraw the Southeast Asian kickball game a try. If you are a gamer, try out the local video game cafes.

At first, you will meet other foreigners. It's a safe way to socialize and build community right off the bat. Naturally you will find it easy to connect with other expats and trade stories about being an outsider.

My suggestion is to make the effort to meet local people as well. You are living in their country. They have rich knowledge about history and societal intricacies. They can explain all the things that drive you up the wall and they will put a human face on all the culture shock you are up against.

When I moved to Thailand, I couldn't communicate the simplest of ideas, much less make a friend using the Thai language. I didn’t have Thai friends until later when my fluency was better. Still, most of them speak great English anyhow.

attending post-grad presentations in Thai--I understood less than 70%. still cool.

For me, it takes a solid 4-6 months to make friends that I like. You know what I mean.

Start with your local shop people. The lady the runs the mini-mart, the noodle shop guy, the security guard at your apartment. Be their friends. They'll talk to you. Some of them have to--it's their job!

the neighborhood shop lady that spoke Thai + traded candy with us for 4 years

Not only will they offer valuable help when you are stuck, but perhaps one day you can return the favor by helping them too. If not, buy them gifts.

Language

Personally, I am committed to learning the local language. If you plan on staying more than 1 month, you should put forth the effort.

Daily life becomes much less daunting, prices go down, and people get nicer as soon as you start speaking the language. All of a sudden you can speak with regular people, not just the tourist touts. You also gain access to local culture, customs, and a whole different group of friends.

On a much less selfish note, it's the respectful thing to do. 

studying Khmer, the language of Cambodia

If you never learn the language, you will be ignorant of things going on around you. The attitudes and the culture of a community are evident in the way they speak. It's called linguistic anthropology.

You may not end up fluent but you should have basic capabilities like politely ordering food, directing a taxi cab to and from your home, or introducing yourself. Maybe even reading signage and traffic signals.

Is it possible to move abroad and avoid the local language? Sure. In major cities, some people dont bother. You will survive, but with a limited view of the people, culture, and even entire parts of the country completely hidden from your view. Why not give it the old college try?

Click here to read the last part in the Ultimate Guide to Moving Abroad series.

Ultimate Guide to Moving Abroad Part IV: Shelter

If you've gotten this far, it means you bought your tickets already. Congrats! The final two aspects of moving abroad (Shelter and Lifestyle) are things that you mainly figure out after you arrive. 

Finding a place to live in a new country is no different than finding a place in your home town.

First, take stock of your lifestyle. What kind of home do you like to live in? Do you have a partner or a family to consider? Is there a certain type of neighborhood that suits your lifestyle? Will you or your kids be attending a school?

vans + taxis lined up for commuters at Bangkok's Chatujak Park

Now, take a look at your new city. Where do people like you live? Some people like to be near nightlife, restaurants, and bars. Some people like the safety of the suburbs. Others like the solitude of the countryside.

What about transportation? Will you have a vehicle? What is your budget for public transportation? Do you prefer to walk or drive places?

commute times can add up! here is Bangkok's BTS Skytrain

Whatever your preference, research the neighborhoods in your new city. Consider safety and check forums for statistics. Lonely Planet has a Neighborhoods feature for most major cities that profiles the residents and feel of different areas.

Book yourself temporary housing in an area that sounds appealing. I’ve found that hostels work if you aren’t too picky. Private rooms are cheap and hostels usually have large storage closets to lock up big bags until you find a house. Hotels and AirBNB are good for a soft landing too.

Look Around the Neighborhood

Some countries are strict about breaking leases so I’d advise against long-term housing sight unseen.

walk the streets! this is Sukhumvit Soi 38 in Bangkok, Thailand with lots of street food

I like to show up and literally walk around. 3-4 weeks in a big city is a decent amount of time to spend before choosing a place. In a smaller city of less than 1 million people, 2 weeks is plenty.

Look around. Where are the grocery stores? What is there to eat? What kind of shops are nearby? How many people are out on the street? What does the neighborhood look like after dark? What kind of housing do you see?

Remember that as an immigrant/expat, you will stick out in a new place. Do you plan on learning the language quickly or do you need to look for English language signs everywhere?

When you figure out what neighborhood(s) you like best, start viewing apartments. Every country has different rental customs. If you are lucky, your country will have a healthy internet culture and post listings online. Use local websites and social media groups to search. In some places, maybe you have to hit the pavement or get a rental agent.

Once you tell people your budget, you can narrow down your choices pretty quickly. Have a list of your must-haves for daily life to make your search easy. Do you need a kitchen? A balcony? An open floor plan? A security guard? What kind of bathroom (toilet!) do you want?

Be Flexible

Consider the local lifestyle. I originally listed a full kitchen with an oven as a “must-have” in Thailand because I love to cook. My agent made the comment that it’s so hot in Thailand, people don't often have ovens in the home. Oh! Once I removed the oven from my list, things opened up.

Also, keep an eye out for local real estate quirks. In Bangkok, I was staying at a quiet hostel near a night food market. The neighborhood was far from the inexpensive areas that I was originally looking. The building next door had Lamborghinis in the parking lot. It had a rooftop pool and a free gym. So I wrote it off.

I never considered that in Bangkok, having a city view is a big deal. As it turns out, units on the lower floors (below the 10th) drop drastically in price because the view is blocked. I got a fantastic place upstairs from the food market and less than a minute’s walk from the sky train. I may not be able to afford a building like this in many cities in the world, but I got lucky in Bangkok.

So keep an open mind and you will find your dream place in no time.

my dream home in Bangkok, 5 mins from the BTS #homesweethighrise

beautiful lobby & w/ great building maintenance staff

49 sqm 1 BR furnished condo

fitness room (small gym) + a rooftop pool!

Western style bathroom--no squatting for me

the "undesirable" balcony with a blocked view that brought my rent down

Click here to read the next part in the Ultimate Guide to Moving Abroad series.

Ultimate Guide to Moving Abroad Part III: Money

We all need money. Period.

Cambodian Riels KHR 4,060 = USD 1 so this is about $2.75

You don't need a ton for the move abroad itself, but you do need money to settle into a new place and enough to live. So figure out your money situation.

What is your starting point? Are you currently financially stable? Do you have an income? Do you have savings? Do you have debt?

Check out numbeo to see what you can expect for the cost of living in your new city.

Broke foreigners mooching around countries where a large part of the population is actually poor is NOT a good look. Despite rumors, your embassy will not fly you home for free. If you don't have enough to make a new home, hold off and save up.

“Settling Down” Money

Next, think about your transition window. How long can you set up a new living situation before you need to start working again? How about health insurance?

Budget for this time. Plus some. This budget will be highly dependent on your lifestyle, so be honest with yourself. If you aren’t a barefoot minimalist backpacker, don't expect to live like one.

What kind of job can you get in your new home country? Are foreigners banned from any industries? How much does it pay? What if things fall through?

managed a restaurant for a year and a half

perks of the job--endless tacos

Back in 2010 I moved to Ireland planning on an office job at an NGO. I had a job offer within months but the Irish economy tanked and my job offer was revoked by Immigration. What would you do in that situation? Give up? Or just rearrange your expectations and get on with your new life...

Have a Back-Up Plan

Make sure you have something up your sleeve.

me with coworkers, unknown job, unknown place 💀

Though I have a career in NGO work, I’ve been in the restaurant business since I was 17. Depending on the day, I can be a professional chef, a restaurant manager, a bookkeeper, a bartender, or a marketing plan consultant. I can pick up content writing jobs. For English speakers, teaching English can be a first or last choice depending on how much you like teaching. List out your options.

In no way am I recommending that you work under the table. Does it happens all over the world and bring in quick cash in a pinch until you get your situation straightened out? Sure. Have I done it? Never!!! 😉

Lining Up Work

This is a controversial one, but I’m a firm believer that you do NOT need to have a job before you move. In fact, unless your current employer is transferring you overseas, it’s nearly impossible to get a job lined up from overseas.

Would you hire somebody without meeting them in person? A few industries can handle virtual interviews, but for the most part this is not a reality. 

me at my writing job in 2017

I know it’s scary for some people to imagine moving without a job in mind. The truth is, if you are employable you will find a job. Are you ready to go yet?

If you have the first three things taken care of in this blog series (Stuff, Immigration, and Money) I am happy to tell you that you are cleared to actually get on a plane. Go ahead. Make the leap and buy those tickets!

Click here to read the next part in the Ultimate Guide to Moving Abroad series.

Ultimate Guide to Moving Abroad Part II: Immigration

Before moving abroad, immigration policy is where you need to do your research. 

my first Thai visa - a triple entry tourist visa from the Thai Embassy in the USA

Your visa (or lack thereof) will dictate how long you can legally stay in a country and any financial requirements along the way. In some countries, you can get thrown in jail for minor visa infractions like overstaying a few days. So pay attention.

Keep your passport as clean as possible. Follow the law and obtain the proper visas as you enter and exit new countries.

Visa Basics

Every country gives visas differently.

Visas depend heavily on the international relationship between your home country and your destination.

Some countries have very few options for foreigners (visa exempt, tourist visa, or long-term visa) while other countries have extensive hoops to jump through. To get into the United States for example, foreigners have to meet strict requirements for one of more than 36+ detailed visa options.

8:00 AM line at Division 1 Immigration in Bangkok, Thailand

Some people are lucky and are born in a country with rights to roam the world freely. Some people, due to politics beyond their control, are not allowed to travel much at all.

Here are some tools that decipher where you can move to most easily:

• Travelscope a world map that shows the power of a country’s passport using visual graphics
• Passport Index a dynamic list that lets you compare passports from various countries

Helpful hint: if your country has been involved in armed conflict in the recent past (👋 imperialists) or if your country is involved in economic sanctions against a foreign country, you will have especially stringent visa requirements--if you are allowed in at all. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been to the airport in Bangkok and seen US citizens fighting with the airline ticket agent because they didn’t realize they need a visa before setting foot on a plane to Vietnam.

Dont forget to find out about money. Some countries do take US Dollars, but most don’t. Some places give you change at the immigration counter, most don’t. Again, I’ve seen plenty of fellow Americans pleading with immigration officers to accept their US Dollars as if it were universal currency. Don't be that person.

Working in a Foreign Country

The other key aspect of immigration is your work status. Your visa will strictly regulate how much you are allowed to legally work. For example, in Ireland a student with a US passport can work freely up to 20 hours per week during the school year and more during summer break. The spouse of that student, however, is not allowed to work at all.

By contrast, a student with a US passport in Thailand is prohibited from working altogether. Non-students with a work permit have to be aware that if they quit their job, they lose the visa and work permit immediately and are forced to leave the country within 7 days. Know the laws of your new country. Google it.

on a trip to Vientiane, Laos to apply for my work permit--which cannot be done from inside of Thailand

this is what a Thai work permit looks like

Note to digital nomads: Lots of countries consider working online illegal. Even if your work is for an employer outside the country, it’s technically not allowed. Same goes for volunteer work. 

Life Isn’t Fair

Remember, not all countries have stable immigration laws or ethical oversight. In the 4 years I lived in Thailand, laws concerning my status changed every 6 months. This is the gamble. 

the wait for visa extensions in Jang Wattana, Thailand takes between 1 and 7 hours 😇

Not all countries function according to the written law. Sometimes you have to hope your immigration officer is having a good day. You cannot convince a foreign official that just because the website says XYZ, they have to honor it. Getting angry or indignant will make things worse. Trust.

Research ahead of time and be familiar with typical issues. You need to cope in these circumstances without spoiling your plans. Immigration is probably the #1 area where your research can make--or break--your future in your new home.

Click here to read the next part in the Ultimate Guide to Moving Abroad series.

Ultimate Guide to Moving Abroad Part I: Stuff

Let’s talk about how much stuff you own.

total baggage for 2 people leaving Thailand 2017

Without a doubt, you own more stuff than you can take with you on an airplane.

I watch a lot of Hoarders: Buried Alive and people have an unhealthy attachments to things.

I’m also from the United States. People in the USA own a lot of sh*t. US home sizes are huge--twice as big as in the UK and almost 4x the size of the average Chinese home. Like pack rats, we fill up whatever space we have.

Before you can move abroad, you have got to get control of your stuff. Unless your company (lucky you) is paying to ship your belongings across the globe, you will need to physically carry everything you own. The only way is by owning less stuff. A lot less.

Get Rid of Your Stuff

Detach. Read a book on minimalism. Meditate on the emptiness of possessions. Do whatever you have to, but emotionally detach yourself from your stuff so you can get rid of it.

Stacy, packed for a 1 month in Peru 2015--including a 4-day hike + a wedding

Are you motivated by money? Sell!

It takes a good month using online marketplaces to make a decent amount of cash. This job falls to people who are responsive to messages and extremely patient. Buyers have some wackadoo requests (“Can you write me a receipt for this second-hand desktop computer?”) and you have to deal with them if you want their cash.

Whatever is left can be given too a friend that will find it worthwhile. My favorite vintage bar stools live at my local Indian restaurant in Oakland. My treasured bike from Bangkok went to a friendly coworker.

Go paperless. Scan photo albums, documents, and everything onto a cloud storage system. Turn it into thin air. Then throw it out. This feels AMAZING.

Once you have felt the sting of regret for getting rid of a little too much (OOPS I needed those flip-flops!)...that’s how you know you are finally ready to pack.

Should I store it?

It’s taken a few tries, but I’ve learned that it’s best not to leave anything behind. Your stuff loses value while you are away. Furniture warps, clothing degrades, and records break.

Also, your leftover stuff can cause you some sticky situations. True story: I left my ex-husband shortly after an international move. I had things stored in his parents’ basement. Long after we had ceased being friendly, I had to fly across the country and sift through it all with him. Talk about awkward.

Listen, anything you want can be purchased again. If you really love having a guitar, you’ll buy one in another country. Will it be as nice as the one you've had since you were sixteen? No. But you’ll use it and you wont leave a nice one rotting in somebody’s basement.

Stuff Worth Storing

If you are 100% sure that you will return soon-ish, it’s fair to store the following items:

• Treasured Collections that are impossible to replace: family Christmas ornaments, a lifetime record collection, heirloom jewelry, etc.
• Expensive Hobby Equipment: musical instruments, sports equipment, etc. 

Disclaimer: if you love your new home country, it could be years before you go home. In an emergency, your generous friend should be able to abandon it all without causing a rift in your relationship.

Take It With You

Each time I move, my bags get smaller. I have learned to be precise.

total baggage for 2 people on the road for 5 months. ok so 3 are mine 😅

So what do you actually bring? Though you may be tempted to leave important things in the 'safety' of your home country, do not leave these items behind:

• Personal Documentation: Birth certificate, legal paperwork (probate, divorce, taxes), high school/college transcripts, diplomas, medical information, dental records, insurance information, etc. You will need original documentation in your hand for various travel and job applications. You will usually have less than a week to produce them and sometimes your visa is riding on it, so FedEx is out of the question. Take it with you and be responsible for it.

• Extreme Weather Clothing: Assuming you have nice clothes that you like, keep 1 of each of your most expensive items. As a Latina woman with boobs and hips, clothing options are sparse here in Asia. So take a swimsuit to Antarctica and take a winter coat to Vietnam. Maybe Antarctica has fabulous indoor heated pools! Maybe you’ll visit the snow in Japan! You will be traveling more than usual. Having this 1 item will buy you time.

• All Occasion Clothing: Have one outfit nice enough for a wedding or a job interview. Have sandals that you can wear in a flood, at the beach, or as slippers. The same floor-length dress can be worn to a funeral or on a motorbike trip around ancient temples--you get the idea. I’m not talking about trekking poles--just the absolute basics. I hiked to Machu Picchu for 4 days through snow and mud in old tennis shoes. 

you don't need a yoga mat or lulu-lemons to practice in the Andes!

Leave It Behind

This one is hard. It goes against every instinct we have, but do not pack FOR your new country. I know you’ve spent weeks reading up on the local weather patterns, but you need you to trust me.

It’s a waste of energy to haul things that you won't end up using. Start off by admitting that you know nothing (!) about your new home, the standards of dress, or the accoutrement of your living space and you cannot possibly pack well for it.

Don't trust what the internet tells you. Most bloggers are tourists and have no handle on local customs. As an example of the blind leading the blind, see every single “How to Dress in Southeast Asia” blog and then read the local papers that shame Western tourists for how they dress.

cant get into Thailand if you are dressed like a hippie! SoThai

As for gear, the country you are moving to has quality products suited to that environment. Don’t carry a winter coat from California for the harsh Mongolian winter. Don't bring a raincoat to Thailand because it’s too hot to wear long sleeves in the rain.

Where You are Going is Civilized

This one is for anyone headed to developing countries for the first time. Assume the country you are going to has a large number of totally normal, completely modern human beings living there. Privileged Americans and Europeans think that Latin America, Asia, and Africa are remote jungle locations. They pack basics like bug spray, aspirin, pencils and paper, or water filters. I guess they imagine everyone lives in a hut, wears pajama pants, and drinks muddy water from a gas can.

Honestly, anywhere you are likely to touch down is a capital city of the world. It has all the modern conveniences of your home country. There is no need to bring that water filtration system.

Even foreign products are readily available in large cities. You are not Indiana Jones. If foreigners have gone before you, they have created a market for these things long ago.

Specialized items can be less popular in some cultures (where my moon cup ladies at?) so be adaptive and you'll survive.

don't pack alpaca snacks! they like home-grown Peruvian grass 

Every country has online expat forums. For example, I used these to find out about life in Thailand:

• Thaivisa - visa and immigration questions
• BKK Expats Facebook group - private group for expats in Bangkok (10,000+ members)

There is almost no need to ask questions to the group--just search the posting history. Each country and decent-sized city will have its own forums where you can mine information from thousands of people who have already asked.

Bottom Line

Remember to use your head as you travel. With the world at your doorstep, all of a sudden you are a global consumer. Buy your umbrella in London. Get your winter coat in Moscow. Buy your bikini in Rio. And never, ever buy your prescription drugs in the United States of America again!

Click here to read the next part in the Ultimate Guide to Moving Abroad series.

Ultimate Guide to Moving Abroad: Intro

Every so often I get a call from an old friend. They just got a big job offer/divorce/new boyfriend/fed up with life and they need to know how hard it is to move to a new country.

I’ve moved around a bunch. From the US to Spain, Ireland, Thailand, Cambodia, China, and now the Philippines. After all those international moves, I’m not an expert, but I have learned some things. I hope what I’ve learned can help you too.

The truth is that moving countries is not hard. You can do it tomorrow--all you need is a passport. You can literally pack one bag, fly around the globe, step off the plane, and simply just stay there forever.

Let that sink in for a moment.

You just...go.

There is a Thai saying: อย่าคิดมาก or “Don't think too much.” If you don't over-analyze moving to a new country, it can be easier than moving across town.

Once you understand this, the real question is about how to do it well.

Making it Stick

Moving to a new country AND doing it well simply means making it stick.

If your idea of your new life doesn’t turn out as planned, you will turn around, and go home. It's an easy way to end the misery of a bad move.

Going home is a lot of people’s Plan B. There are plenty of blogs out there about people who “moved” but returned home within 6 months or less. I’ll leave those stories to other bloggers.

double rainbow over the Amazon means you can do it!

With a little planning, you can slide “going home” down to Plan G/Plan H territory, and your move will stick.

Based on my experience, there are 5 things to consider about your life. Once you have those 5 things figured out, you are golden. If you are reading this because you are contemplating a big move, I hope these posts help you to make it happen.

• Part I: Stuff
• Part II: Immigration
• Part III: Money
• Part IV: Shelter
• Part V: Lifestyle

Let’s get started!

Click here to read the next part in the Ultimate Guide to Moving Abroad series.