Moving home is tough.

Moving home to another country is tougher.

Moving home when you have no job, savings and only a rudimentary grasp of the language is arguably the toughest.

Guess what I did? I wouldn't recommend following my footsteps if you want to enjoy and take advantage of everything a new culture has to offer, but there are worse ways to spend your time!

I came to live in the Charente region, France a little over four months ago and there have been a few tough times since then. The Charente is close to the Dordogne and is slap-bang in the middle of all of the major wine-growing areas. It's not difficult to see why it's quickly becoming a very popular destination amongst expats.

There is a wealth of resources open to people for relocating abroad and I would definitely recommend doing a lot of research beforehand. Taking advice from someone who has already made the move is a good step. In addition to the major hurdle of learning a different language, there are a number of other questions that need to be answered, such as "will I be able to work?", "what happens if I need medical treatment?" and "where will my children enjoy school?".

But one of the most important questions you'll need to ask is "why am I thinking of moving at all?". If you are running from problems or issues at home, the chances are that they'll only catch up with you sooner or later. If you go with an open mind and don't intend to simply take your little piece home with you then you're more likely to find success in your new home. And if you're keen to experience a new way of life and you're after a challenge, then I'd say go for it!

I've been living in the Charente since September 2005 and my website, home-in-the-charente is dedicated to help people visiting or moving to the area settle in a little easier. I've been a writer since I graduated from university in England in 2003 and am delighted that I can carry on doing what I love in a slightly warmer climate!

Please visit: http://www.home-in-the-charente.com